Volume I:
What is Art? Banner House on an Open Field
Chapter I – The Introduction
A question that has plagued artists, historians, art critiques, and the public is the simple question, "What is Art?" Although, the better question maybe what is "good art"? It might surprise some that Greek statutes from antiquity, generally believed today to be art, may not and some argue were not considered art when they were made. So if classical statutes were not art when they were carved from stone, what transformed them on the centuries to become art? The Abbey Normal Arts Project does not necessarily aim so much to answers these questions, but rather endeavors to engage in a meaningful dialogue where no voice is to small to be heard.
As a starting pointy, the Abbey Normal Arts Project asks you to consider what makes something art. In just two days the first project in a series of projects will be ready for everyone to see, touch, and most importantly discuss. What is Art? Banner House on an Open Field may be nothing more than a simple structure covered in used Buffalo Bayou ArtPark advertising banners, but then again it may be art. In the end, that is something that you must decide for yourself.
- Is it art because it creator says it is art?
- Is it art because the City of Houston gave it a permit stating that it was art?
- Is it art because one child sees it and is moved to think about what it is and what it means?
- Is it not art at all?
With all of this in mind, Abbey Normal Arts Project invites you to come out on November 17, 2007 and witness for your self:
What is Art? Banner House on an Open Field
by
Abbey Normal Arts Project
in conjunction with
Pabb Tra Draob
So, this is what happened to Abby Normal Arts Project "What is Art?" I find it both amusing and sad. Amusing because the vandals did, in a way, respond to the question. But it is sad because they defaced a piece of "Art." Its also sad that we didn't get any good shots of the piece before it was graffitied because it actually would have made a really beautiful image, if you believe it is art or not. Here is an excerpt from wikipedia on what art is: "Generally art is a (product of) human activity, made with the intention of stimulating the human senses as well as the human mind; by transmitting emotions and/or ideas. Beyond this description, there is no general agreed-upon definition of art, since defining the boundaries of "art" is subjective." Basically I believe its art if you say its art. That, of course, doesn't mean in any way that it is Good Art. These "taggers" obviously had a different opinion. By the time to deinstall the pieces for the Trail Show, people had gone beyond just tagging the piece, and started to destroy it. I know that is always a possibility with something in the public sphere, but seriously, what is wrong with the public? I'm all about breaking the boundaries around art, its one of the reasons i am interested in public art. I want the audience to be involved, to be able to experience the pieces on a different level, and even touch them. But there is a difference in breaking the boundaries and breaking the art. Artists work hard on producing pieces for the outdoors, and have to worry enough about things like wind, rain, and floods, so please don't intentionally destroy the art.
