When people ask, "What is Art?" or state that something "is not art,"
they usually are not seeking a philosophical definition but are instead
expressing an opinion that a painting is not realistic enough, that it
is offensive, or that it does not use traditional materials. Defining
art too narrowly, or in a way that only affirms what we already believe,
deprives us of many delightful and thought-provoking experiences. An
awareness of all the things that art can be should encourage us to enjoy
many different types of art, or at least to wonder why we value one
type above another.
The art museum is a natural place to start learning more about the
visual arts, but many people find it difficult to sustain interest when
faced with so many objects by so many artists they have never heard of.
Next time you are in an art museum look first at the other people. Count
how many are looking carefully at the art; then look at how many simply
read labels, walk away, or do other things without looking at the art
itself. Most of us share a tendency to look for works by artists we
already know something about, especially those we know about through
their odd or interesting lives. This is one way to appreciate art, but
it is not the only way.
Try looking for only one specific thing: kinds of paint strokes or
particularly energetic brushstrokes, the use of a particular color, or
sculptures that are constructed of many parts or from different
materials. Or you might seek out more conventional groupings, such as
portraits, landscapes, and still lifes.
Make judgments, but get specific. Go into a room at a museum and
decide which painting shows the most interesting use of light and dark.
Which painting is most colorful? Which artist is the best at capturing
emotions?
With a painting, try to imagine the steps the artist took to paint
the work. Does the canvas or wood backing show through? Did the artist
paint quickly or slowly? How do the paints sit on top of each other?
Look at the way shapes are repeated or ordered. If you had no idea what
the painting was about - and with some modern art, you really might not -
would you still feel something simply by looking at the colors or
brushwork?
If you are looking at a sculpture, think about how it might have been
seen in its original position, perhaps in a church or on the front of a
building. Can you walk all the way around the sculpture? Is it more
interesting from a particular point of view? Is it on a pedestal, and if
it is, does its added height make you feel smaller or more distant from
the subject? As with painting, you might think about how the artist
made the piece. Is it wood, stone, or metal, or something else entirely?
With architecture, try to become aware of the shape and size of the
spaces around you. Notice how doors and windows are spaced. Sometimes
they frame special views, sometimes they create pleasing patterns when
seen from the outside, sometimes they are framed or made of special
materials for interesting visual effect.
With decorative arts and craft objects, consider their use and
whether the changes that the artist has made to the basic form add to or
detract from their function. How would it feel to hold the teacup, sit
on the chair, or wear the clothing on exhibit? Museums often display
decorative arts in rooms that replicate historic rooms. If this is the
case, can you sense a pattern of how the people of that time might have
felt about ornament, wealth, or simplicity? How might you think
differently about these objects if they were displayed on pedestals?
As with the decorative arts, museums often display arts of
non-Western cultures in an evocative setting, to demonstrate not just
their form but also their function. Here, too, you might ask what the
display itself is telling you. Would you respond differently to these
objects if they were displayed like the masterpieces of Western art?
New media - video, film, digital arts - can sometimes be difficult to
appreciate as art because we so commonly see these same forms in
advertising and entertainment. As viewers, we may find them intriguing
or amusing but still wonder if they are art. Some artists who work in
these media try to set their work apart from commercial uses, while
others consciously use commercial imagery and techniques. Rather than
decide on a verdict (art or nonart), consider works like these as a
starting point for a dialogue. What do these pieces say about images in
our lives, or about the distinctions and values we give to certain art
forms?
Similarly, many works made today are deliberately provocative.
Conceptual art sometimes seems to mock everything we value about art,
from beauty and craftsmanship to the precious and timeless nature of
art. Many works take stabs at cultural traditions that we value
enormously, including religion, patriotism, and morality. It is not
necessary to agree with every artist, to like every work of art, or to
visit every gallery or museum. But it is important to think and talk
about the art before passing judgment.
