why art is like god. sort of.

Here are my slightly disorganized thoughts on art...

Art is expression. For me, in both making and viewing or experiencing art, this is what it boils down to. There are so many kinds of art, but this has always tied them together for me. Some might be simple, guttural, emotional expressions. For some the act of making a quilt is more an expression of love or caring than anything else. A graffiti tag, at its most basic being an expression of ownership. Some art might not be intended for an audience--it might not be intended to be art at all. Then there is more "intentional art". When we make a film we agonize over every detail, every meaning--all trying to make sure that we are conveying the meaning or story that we want-expressing the ideas we want. When it's all said and done I think everyone is just trying to express something. To communicate.
In terms of the creation of art, this might not be the most specific definition, but it seems like a bottom line of sorts.

As I said, I don't think conscious intention is a necessary prerequisate for art, so I don't think audience matters in the question of what qualifies as art. (I do however think it's important in any consideration of the value of art or of the significance of art...more on this at a later date) I think an expression can just as easily be intended for yourself as for someone else. It's probably not necessary to get into a discussion of Freud or psychology here, but I think it's entirely possible that through our art we are trying to find a way to communicate with ourselves. (call me crazy if you want :)) We're constantly changing (and I mean constantly--I rarely feel the same about a scene or a drawing ten minutes after it's done as I did before I started).
I guess all I'm trying to say is that if audience is important, that we shouldn't forget or devalue the idea that we can be our own audience. Sometimes communicating with other people has to start with communicating with ourselves.

And sure there might be holes in this theory. It's an extremely broad definition; it could include practically anything. You might say "what about this couch/road sign/tv set/whatever? is it art too?" and I would just have to say sure....it's art. I don't get it, but somewhere there is a person who looks at that couch and sees something that I don't see. I don't think it's all that different than seeing a film or seeing an abstract painting and saying to yourself... "I don't really get it".

If we don't see the art all the time, it's okay. Doesn't mean it's not there. Doesn't mean it's not art. When it comes right down to it I don't want to change (limit) my idea of art to fit what I am able to see as art--I'd rather change what I see or more precisely, how I see it.

I think in order to make "new" art, I might have to learn to see art in new places.

I don't know. I think this could just be a matter of faith. I don't believe god exists, but I believe art does.