A Conceptual Argument

When working with found objects and assemblage - or working on art in general -  many questions may come to mind, such as: at what point does something become art? At what point is an object so transformed that it is no longer a found object? Is something art just because I say it is? Does being an artist mean I can do whatever I want in class? Does it matter if anyone else understands what I do? Does my art have to mean something specific, does it mean only what others think it means, or can it mean nothing at all? Am I making artwork for myself only, for others only, or for both myself and others? Do I desire to teach, confront, challenge, shock, or bring joy to people with my work? 

Do I feel content when I make art, or do I feel uncomfortable? Is there more satisfaction in the process or the outcome? Do I allow or reject compromise? What is compromise when it comes to being an artist and in an art piece? Do I want to make a living as a practicing artist, or is this all for personal enrichment?

Am I a visual artist or a conceptual artist? Is composition the main focus, or is expression of utmost importance? Is technical skill building important to me, or is it really about ideation? Does my feeling of validity as an artist come from others' opinions, or only my own internal value?

The answers to these questions are completely up to you, except for the one about doing anything you want in class. In taking a class, you are placing yourself in a setting designed to give you ideas, competency, history, a space to explore, and challenging problems to solve. To not take advantage of this opportunity is a waste of time and money. A person who chooses to do what ever they want without regard to the structure offered needs no class or instruction, and is better off on their own.

It is important to allow yourself the time and energy to be challenged. That is the value of placing yourself in an educational setting: things that are easy may bring temporary satisfaction, but rising up to a difficult challenge helps you grow. If you find yourself in a situation where projects don't seem challenging, push yourself deeper into the nuances.

As an artist asking and answering questions, it is a matter of how far you have journeyed in your own thinking as to what holds true for you. Questioning is a never-ending part of being an artist, and dare I say, a human being. What may drive you to create might be completely different than what drives someone else. Yet, there is a commonality among those who continue to consider themselves artists: a personal need to be part of the creative community. To call yourself a practicing artist, you also need to actively create. The drive to create is not present in everyone. In fact, relatively few actually are so driven that they make creating art a central part of their life, no matter the costs financially and in personal relationships.

There are times where it feels there are no answers. Sometimes you may know the answer only to change you viewpoint later.

When I was a young graduate student, I thought, "the art world is already completely filled up, and there is no room for me". And then I realized everybody dies. Evolution sees to that, and in fact requires it. People die, ideas die; but like life, ideas also evolve, standing on the shoulders of those which came before. Art and artists today are the products of a continuum of change.

I read on a website selling used limestone fence posts that, “A person who works with their hands is a laborer; a person who works with their hands and their brain is a craftsperson; but a person who works with their hands and their brain and their heart is an artist.” I paraphrased from the original quote by Louis Nizer, to remove its sexist tone.

I enjoyed that quote, though at times I find myself questioning its definitions. I am sure many world renowned artists have at one time or another created works that were done without heart, and even without mind purely because of the myriad demands placed upon them. At that point, the definition of artist may be, "a person who others consider an artist".

One of my all time favorite quotes is - to paraphrase - "In a room full of reasonable people there will be disagreement".

We are at a place in history where the old rules about art and artist have been dashed to pieces, and in a way this can be frightening. Or it can be exhilarating. One can consider the modern definition a lie and invalid, or spectacularly real and sizzling with possibility. It is all up to you to decide.