There is a perception that wealthy people have first claim on the “good” art. Indeed, the value of a painting by Van Gogh or Monet is substantial. In the end, it comes down to the art of economics 101 – somebody has to pay! We owe a great deal to the wealthy patrons, past and present, who used their resources to preserve invaluable collections. Where would the world be without the Renaissance Pope, Julius II who supported the great Michelangelo?
I would argue however that beauty, colour, form and structure belong to everyone. Art can be found in surprising places – ready for you to enjoy.
I’m trying my e-mail post for the first time on Chasing Art. My whole life has been the grand pursuit of art and symmetry. I guess that everyone has had the same goal in some form or other. We have different approaches. But in the end, what we construct is a life that is filled with beauty as defined by our goals, values & traditions. Without knowing, we have been Chasing Art. Art is life fully lived in the moment.
Beginnings always start with definitions so as to supply a baseline for investigation. It seems a logical, and objective, first step in any inquiry. And here is where it gets interesting – art is not easily defined in a few words or paragraphs. There are literally volumes of books and notable libraries that seek to give substance to this three-letter word. Dictionaries, nevertheless, provide an excellent overview that can be used as a guide for further research.
Dictionary.reference.com defines art as ” the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.” Britannica Online defines art as “A visual object or experience consciously created through an expression of skill or imagination. The term art encompasses diverse media such as painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, decorative arts, photography, and installation.“
These were the primary definitions. But there were concepts that sparked my curiosity: advertising art, industrial art, performing arts, art of philosophy, literature, music and theatre. And the most all-encompassing definition associated art to skill in conducting any human activity such as, mastering the art of conversation or baking the perfect cake.
The bottom line – there are infinite possibilities for ongoing dialogue. It’s a good place to set off on the journey.
ChasingART 
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