Chapter 2

This chapter is all about “What is art” and educates us in all the aspects of what makes art art… including the aspects of who the artist and the audience is, as a way of determining what gives art it’s meaning and purpose. 

In contrasting and comparing artists for Chapter 3, I would first like to compare and contrast the artists: Louise Bourgeois,   

and the Navajo man creating a sand painting.  

 We don’t necessarily know this Navajo man’s name, but we do know his intent and purpose as a Hataali singer, a religious specialist who calls upon spirit powers to bless and heal the patient who has an illness. 

I was fascinated by the drive and cause of both these artists to do what they do    it is the same product:  Healing of an illness.  For Louise Bourgeois, it is the healing of her own illness, and for the Navajo man, it is the healing of someone else’s illness.  Both driven to do art for the same product, but the reasons are different and the process is quite different.  I really believe that ultimately, all of us are driven to do art to either express and relieve ourselves of something for a positive result, and usually the product is either the helping of someone else first with a secondary byproduct and benefit of helping ourselves…or vice versa:  We are driven by our own need first, and in doing the work, somehow benefit others.  I believe that this is God doing for ourselves and others what we cannot do for ourselves and others.  This is expressed in the New Testament bible:   He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us               (2 Corinthians. 1:4 NLT).

I know that I am definitely carrying baggage from my childhood and past, just like Louise, just like we all are, that I am dumping or turning (my junk) into someone else’s treasure,  as I contribute and participate more and more in life whether it be work, hobbies or classes etc.  I am reminded of Gregg’s story of an artist finding a bullet-ridden metal barrel on the road side that he sold to someone for a mutual benefit.

I see many successful comedians who were shy, depressed and out casted kids find that making others laugh was their ticket to freedom from some of their pain.  I believe that I am in the same category as they are that Louise is, and sometimes, the Navajo man is in:  I want to create out of finding a solution to pain.  It doesn’t matter who’s…where you find pain, you will eventually find gain.  This is part of what makes us human, and what makes humans in the likeness of God.

This brings me to the next two artists that intrigued me: 

Joseph Beuys

and  Ann Hamilton. 

They are both performance artists who do the art to make a statement, implant a thought and maybe to effect a change, one viewer at a time.  Their art is temporary, as in the Navajo man’s sand painting, although there is no remaining photo recording for the Navajo man’s final product of his artistry skills.   The process is obviously worthwhile enough for them all to accept that the final product object to be mostly forgotten.  It is in the doing, the viewing and the contemplating that their work matters, not in the after effects of pride, prestige or price.   So I tip my hat to their principles as much as their product, as ingenious as it is.    

I am moved by their commitment to their ideals and respect the contribution that is directed for the greater good.  This is the artist I hope to be, if one at all.  I am not blind to the truth that I want accolades and material gain, and that I have to be careful not to let myself do art for purely the commercial and narcissistic reasons.  I am in Palm Desert area this week on vacation.  I was privileged to reconnect with my brother’s -wife’s -niece who has a job at one of the upscale galleries out here, and I visited not only this gallery, but half a dozen others.  I first viewed a $60.000.00 art pieces that seemed very easy to do and very simple in design.  I thought, ‘Wow…easy money’ and ‘I bet this is instant acclaim once just one of these artworks sells’;

(This shown was that piece).  

But I also have a side of me that I hope wins out.  The side that does art for the bigger reasons, more about using the God-given gifts and experience I have received to give back to my sphere of influence, as small as that is.  I never want to “Sell Out”.    And also I get concerned that I will lose my way, and not really produce anything that uses my true gifts and full potential.  I know there is something in me, in all of us, that is truly unique and genuine and authentically ours to give and present to the world.

As for what the actual artworks by these artists do for my emotions, enjoyment etc…I can’t really expound on them other than the principles because I did not witness the performances and the actual artworks as a whole.   In this chapter were artworks that stood out for me. 

Rebecca Purdum’s “Chin Up”

   

 intrigued me and made me curious to stare at it.  It invoked the detective in me, as did

Jan Van Eyck’s “Arnolfini Double Portrait”. 

Both have mystery in them and both make me wonder “Why?”  What did they have in mind?  Van Eyck’s was probably just recording the event, but why do the couple look so sad?   Maybe it is the spiritual moment that is causing a more serious appearance, or that is the artists feelings recorded.   And Purdum’s title causes me to wonder if the face I see of a man looking down to the left side is her telling us to keep up a positive attitude.  Why leave the piece as it is and not give more clues?   The amount of details given is very different when comparing both pieces of art, but both cause me to feel a little sad and melancholic.