Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Who We Are And What We Do

Last night, listener offered this simple - once she pointed it out - and wise summary of what this group is all about:

So, what constitutes being an artist, poet, or musician, for our purposes?

Could it be Dean Supporters who naturally create and express through art, poetry and/or music?

My impression is that the purpose of coming together would be to support one another in our creative endeavours and to, at times, offer our creativity to a group endeavour, so to highlight, support or otherwise enhance whosoever and whatever we deem is serving to create this country and world rather than destroy it.
Though she modestly asked for other idears, it seems to me listener's spot on. What do others think?

10 comments:

Jessica said...

"Have a Dean-related web site or blog? Have a non-Dean-related web site or blog? In eitehr case, let us know so we can list it."

"eitehr" is spelled wrong ;-)

My Vote is My Voice Blog
http://blog.myvoteismyvoice.com/

Catreona said...

Oops! Thanks for catching that, Jessica. Can you tell I didn't write that sentence with benefit of spellcheck? *sigh*

Hmmm. I'm confused. You said last night you're not an artist, poet or musician. But, by indicating that you'd like mvimv to be included, you seen to be indicating that you'd like to join the group.

Don't get me wrong. I'd *love* to have you! I just need a llittle clarification. ultimately, I would llike the group's permanent web site and/or blog too include a complete list of Dean-related organizations and sites/blogs. But, at the moment, I had in mind only links to members' sites/blogs. If you'd like to be a member, let me know so I can send you the blog invite thingy.

Jessica said...

Thanks catreona. I accepted the invitation *and* I thought of something I do that might include me in the artist group :-)

I like to do crocheting and needlepoint, and I've done a little quilting.

I know that's not what people generally think of as art, but I feel like some of the stuff I've made are works of art (and they've won blue ribbons at the fair ;-) Does that count?

mbriggs13 said...

on my 1st trip to haifa, isreal, i took a tour with one of the local kibutzs. a highlight of the tour, at least for me, was a brief visit at an artist's kabutz. it was explained to us that "all" of the residents of the kubutz, including the children, had to be artists and had to be voted in by the current membership. this seemed a little harsh at first, especially regarding the children, but the more i thought about it, the more sense it made.

let's take jessica (sorry to use you as a test case jessica) as an example: she states that she "like(s) to do crocheting and needlepoint, and I've done a little quilting." now that's ok. but, if we could see a picture, maybe, of one finished article, then we could judge its artfulness and welcome jessica as a full member. one doesn't have to be picasso, or miles davis, or gunther grass, or et al, to be an artist.

so, i looked in the dictionary to help define art, but it only seemed to be concerned with process and characteristics:

*the conscious use of skill, taste, and creative imagination in the production of aesthetic objects.

that's a fair description of process, but what is art?

to me, art is an intention, a process, and an outcome. the intention is to create in order to express. the expression may take the form of banal beauty, or it may be intent on enlightment or exchange of ideas. the intent must be, but is not always necessairly, an attempt by the artist to "relate" to an audience even if the audience is a single person. the way in which the artist relates involves the process, or form, employed in conveying the communication. if the color, design, feel, or useful nature of jessica's articles produce an emotional aesthetic or ambiance, then she has created art. most often the receiver/audience determines what the communication has become no matter the intent of the artist. some would say that the closer the audience is to the intent of the artist equals the success of the art, but i really don't like to narrow a plausability to the level of a near yes/no.

vague? sure, and intently so. art has many descriptions and forms. as artists, i would include, but wouldn't limit the list to:

physical artists (painters, sculpters, jewelry makers, etc.)
musicians
dancers
poets and writers of literature
performance artists (talking about a vague description)
actors
story tellers
dreamers & liars (maybe)
film/video makers
(some) clothing designers
architects

the "what are we to do" portion should perhaps take the form of expressing the world as we would see/have it be. to attempt to create the mental image, a lasting image, that would cause people to wrestle with their own hearts and minds as to the right path we should take as a species. will it be together, or apart? will it be to ensure common health, or individual excess? will it be to replace a face full of fear with a smile, or will it describe a coming holocast?

sorry for being so dramatic. this is art after all.

mbriggs13 said...

p.s.,

thanks for the invite catreona.

Catreona said...

Certainly that counts, Jessica! There are needleworkers in my family, and they would be offended to think that what they do is not art.

Catreona said...

Hi mprov,

have you considered placing your 5:22 post on the front page? As a blog team member, you have the power to do that. I think it would be a great discussion generator.

I had also thought of actors, like Edwin, actually.

I think ART as such doesn't need to be overtly political but, yes, I agree that the best art conveys a vision of the world as the artist would have it. That's why Dark Fantasy, Horror and shading into pornography disturb me. It is possible that on some level such works portray the world as it is, or one dark vision as it is, but it does not strive for the betterment of the characters, the reader/viewer, the world at large. Such things may be very well crafted, but I hesitate to call them art. Beauty, on the other hand, be it majestic like Michelangelo's David or homey and humble llike a lovingly and well made quilt, is always a good, a lift to the spirit of the viewer and, thereby, makes the world better to some extent.

*scratches head* Extemporizing here, as I think you were.

mbriggs13 said...

catreona,

i don't mind the post being a thread, but realize that it was just off-the-cuff thinking. nothing too grounded.

but, i haven't the slightest idea how to post a thread?

mbriggs13 said...

some interesting art/music sites i've found over time. maybe they could be used as models for this site???

http://www.ipecac.com/

http://www.weirdomusic.com/

http://www.worthlessproject.com/

http://www.radio-media.com/

http://www.wholewheatradio.org/

http://www.peoplelikeus.org/ (allow the pop-up, for cat lovers.)

http://www.dorkist.com/fantasia/7dots.html

http://www.dancingimage.com/home.html

http://technic9.com/emerge/

well, i guess that's a good start. do we want content on this blog?

Catreona said...

mprov -- listen up everybody! -- when you became a blog member, you got access to something called a Blogger Dashboard. It shows who you're logged in as and whatever blogs you're a member of. There's a doohicky, a big blue plus sign I think, that says "Create a new post" on the line listing the blog's title.

Alternatively, you can click the blog title to get the whole, uh, salami. This shows a sort of control pannel, one choice on which is "Create." It's very simple. Believe me, if *I* can doo it, it *must* be simple.

Over at -- I was going to say "the Big Blog." Renee's Big Blog, they're calling us "arty types." *chuckle*

Good night, arty blog. See everybody tomorrow.