What is the purpose of art?

What purpose does art serve in our lives, on a personal level, as part of a community? What purpose does art serve in society, for the present time, or historically?

There is art that is beautiful and functional. There is art that is beautiful and serves no other purpose than to move us. There is art that shocks us. There is art that is decorative and beautifies our surroundings. There is art that makes a statement and is meant to increase awareness of a problem, encouraging us to find solutions. There is art that documents life during a certain time, as a record for future generations.

Obviously, there are many purposes to art, but there are also many purposes to the making of art. Why do we make art? Some do it for the pleasure and satisfaction found in the making of it, or the feeling of accomplishment felt afterwards. Some do it for the practical reason of manufacturing something for sale, to make a living. Some do it as a means of sending a message, making a statement. It may be personal self-expression, or it may be a means to address social problems.

Is one type of art better than the other? Must art have a ’greater purpose’ like changing society’s views on certain subjects? Is art that enriches and embellishes our lives and homes less worthy than art that makes a statement?

For those who buy art, what is their motivation? Do they do it because they love the work in question and can’t live without it? Do they do it to keep up with the neighbours? Do they do it to show how successful or affluent they are? Or do they do it simply because they want to embellish their surroundings? And does it really matter why they do it?

I have a lot of questions today, but no answers. And perhaps the answers are different for everyone. Different answers for different viewpoints. And that’s quite alright, I think. We don’t all have to agree, that’s what makes life interesting.

Suzette

"Making art, like having children, is one way of making life worth living. And artworks, like children, are essays of our lives and a measure of the things we hold important." (Ted Orland)

Do you call yourself an artist? Are you able to proudly proclaim ’I am an artist’, without feeling uncomfortable about it?

I have talked to several artists who seem reluctant to apply the ’artist’ label to themselves. They think they don’t qualify for the title, or they’re not worthy of it, or they’re not talented enough, or experienced enough, etc. etc.

Recently on Painters’ Keys (Irwin Greenberg, February 17, 2009), there was a list of 100 pieces of advice from artist Irwin Greenberg. Advice #67 was "Don’t call yourself an artist. Let others name you that. “Artist” is a title of great weight." (For the full list, go to ’Irwin Greenberg’).

So that made me ask myself, what does it take to be artist? What makes an artist? Who decides who is an artist, and who is not?

This is how I see it: If you write, you are a writer; if you bake, your are a baker; if you make art, you are an artist. What could be simpler. The difference lies in what kind of artist your are. Your could be a professional artist, a part-time artist, an aspiring artist, a struggling artist or a student artist, but if you make art, you ARE an artist. Frankly, in my book, if you love art, you are an artist at heart.

There is no ’special’ meaning to the word ’artist’. It’s not like being a president or prime minister where you have to be ’elected’. It’s not like being a doctor or lawyer, where you have to complete the necessary schooling, and the practical training, and then be certified by the governing body for that profession.

Being an artist is something you feel, something you live, something you are. So go ahead, call yourself an artist. Why not?

Suzette

“I am an artist… I am here to live out loud”. (Emile Zola)