What is Art?

The nature of "What is ART?" has been a subject of much discussion in my work place in recent weeks. Being in a conservatory setting in NYC, with classical music, jazz, dance, and drama going on all around us, we can pretty much identify those performing arts when we are faced with them.

However, the subject of "fine art," i.e. paintings, sculpture, modern, etc., has been hotly debated and parodied lately.The instigator of this discussion was the installation of a new piece of art. Commissioned by, paid for, and donated by a Trustee, the artist was one of five selected to submit a work to compete for installation. The Trustee was motivated to identify and mentor an emerging, contemporary artist, and to bring the first new piece of art to the campus in about 40 years.

The artist selected is apparentlhy known for his works in a variety of formats, including sculptures and installations, with a focus on combining text and images. According to the press release, "the subject of his art often concerns ideas of tact, the trappings of careerism, the construction of persona, and the pathology of addiction."

Imagine our surprise when this showed up:

The work is called:According to the press release, "this thirty-foot long wall piece consisting of a twenty-foot ripple-fold drape with [the artist's] own custom printed fabric alongside a text piece in metallic relief which reads, "last in the elevator, first out." The curtain hints both that something is being concealed and gestures toward a private space free of distraction. The text is a double entendre that offers not only a literal strategy to entering the nearby elevators, but also advice that success often requires determination beyond immediate reward. [The artist] says that he has created a work for students and professionals with talent, both intuitive and trained, participating in a practice that goes well beyond discipline alone. "

UMMM. WHAT?! The Trustee paid HOW much for THAT?!

Is it wrong that I like the name of the "art" better than the "art." Apparently some of the students were wondering if these were instructions on HOW to use the elevator, while other wondered if the curtain was hiding the actual art.

In any event, the big, pink shower curtain (as I'm calling it),

inspired creations all around the building, including this little one:
Personally, I think this is more artful than all of them together. Maybe I just like "natural art."

Which do you like?