What is Art?
posted: July 15, 2011
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When I was a student at Art Center College of Design in the early 1980's I had the pure joy and opportunity to take a class taught by, Eugene S. Fleury (1913 - 1984). It was rumored that he was the character study for Jiminy Cricket and I am not kidding you, this man looked like Jiminy Cricket and he was funny, and as sharp and witty as all hell. During one class meeting we had a debate over what constitutes art? It was unanimously decided that any mark made by man, animal or machine on a substrate of any material was a form of expression and therefore a work of art. Photography aside, and video was still in it's infancy and the internet had yet to be invented. Eugene told some great stories.
Today, I received through the post my promised box of art that I passed on to Jeff Dodson without expectations other than I knew that Jeff was into recycling and producing a zero waste lifestyle and studio and that my work was subject to fair game. All of my tube contents of art sent to Jeff have been recycled and then compressed into 3 small hand bound books and a box along with a transporter tube (taped to his camera lens) used for his documenting of the project. This must be a composted work of expression, worms and all, I am thinking. :)
Thank you, Jeff!
*below are a few of my favorite pages
Today, I received through the post my promised box of art that I passed on to Jeff Dodson without expectations other than I knew that Jeff was into recycling and producing a zero waste lifestyle and studio and that my work was subject to fair game. All of my tube contents of art sent to Jeff have been recycled and then compressed into 3 small hand bound books and a box along with a transporter tube (taped to his camera lens) used for his documenting of the project. This must be a composted work of expression, worms and all, I am thinking. :)
Thank you, Jeff!
*below are a few of my favorite pages
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ward schumaker July 16, 2011
very nice!
Gwyn Stramler July 16, 2011
Excellent work, a very successful collaboration. I hope it doesn't stop here! Nice tribute to Eugene S. Fleury too, Richard.
jeff dodson July 16, 2011
when i/it hit the 'ohmygodwhathaveidone' (to your stuff) stage your open-ness let it just keep going...thanks!
Rob Dunlavey July 18, 2011
That's a very satisfying transaction. And it was very illuminating of your respective modes of expression and values. Imagine that Art truly is transitory in nature (like music or cooking perhaps). The accepted idea that fine art is mysterious, timeless, unique and of great (economic) value is a stumbling block to freeing Art to be accessible as a way of living. What if that special notion was clearly and emphatically not true?
What I like is that you got to make your imagery and delight in the process and that Jeff got to process it in his form of Art & living. This is evidence of a premise that the creation and reception of Art is a collaborative process. As a friend of mine might say "this butters no parsnips" but it is a generous and interesting demonstration of some very vital thing.
