August 29th, 2007
A recent chat with a friend turned to the subject of the nature of art. (Hey, every once in awhile I DO think about something besides sex and chocolate.) I have long held the opinion that art is a form of communication and, as such, takes two: the artist, to initiate creative expression and the observer, to be affected by it.
One of the first songs I ever wrote and performed publicly was an odd little piece called “Invisible Town.” I was perpetually surprised by the reactions it got. People loved to tell me what they thought the song was about. And usually, it was not even remotely related to what was in my mind when I wrote it. At first it was disconcerting. Was I not communicating? How could I take credit or responsibility, as the artist, for meanings I hadn’t meant? That’s when I started to realize that art is a collaboration between the artist and the audience.
A simple dictionary definition of art is “the product of human creativity.” I’ve also heard art defined as “intentionally created by artists.” But for me, a critical element is that it has to affect others - leave them changed in some way.
So what about canvasses that lie stacked in attics? Compositions that never grace a music stand? Poems tucked between the pages of old books? These things still have value - to the artist. But they are children, still waiting to leave the nest and become themselves.
Art informs us about our humanity, reminds us that we are not alone in the world, shows us all they ways we can be in the world. I don’t put artists on this pedestal - artists go about the work of expressing their own creativity for their own reasons. It’s in the sharing of art that real meaning arises. Even when it was not what the artist intended. Maybe especially when it wasn’t.
OK, next time it’s back to sex. Promise.
Or maybe chocolate.
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