What makes something art?

According to the oxford dictionary, art is “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.” This is not a bad definition, although I think it could be expanded to better define art. To me, art is anything that makes you think harder about the subject pictured. This applies to every type of art: painting, drawing, photography, music, digital painting, sculpture, printing, design, architecture, and even crafts.

Personal Outlet of Expression

The idea that art can be anything that invokes deep reflection, means that art becomes a personal outlet of expression to anyone, not just those who create it. Art is watching a movie that makes you rethink your life. It’s that feeling of wanting adventure when you look at photographs of nature. It causes deeper thought and invigorates the mind. Personally, art is anything visual that alters my mood or mindset. That is what art is. For example, this morning I was watching Treasure Planet (the underrated beauty of Disney). This film puts me in a sense of awe when I observe not only the beautiful scenery, but the flow of the story, the connections made between characters and how the movie itself progresses. These all solicit profound thought which make this movie an artistic masterpiece.

Utah Arts Festival

So go out and invoke meditative thought. Go look at some street art. Go to your local art museum. Take some pictures on your phone. Do anything that makes you look at the world a little differently. If you need some help don’t hesitate to grab a ticket to the Utah Arts Festival which will be taking place from Thursday, June 21st to Sunday, June 24th. Festivities will be held from 12 noon to 11 pm each day at the Library and Washington Squares in Salt Lake City (200 E 400 S). So much inspiration will be present and I hope to catch you there!