Neighborhood Art Matters and Local Art Critics Matter →

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Art criticism is a crucial aspect of the art world, serving as a means of interpreting and evaluating the significance of specific works of art. Art critics, whether esteemed national figures or relatively unknown local voices, play a critical role in helping viewers to perceive, analyze, and form judgments about works of art.

While critics tend to focus on modern and contemporary art from cultures close to their own, it is essential to recognize that they may need to included valuable insights from other cultures and historical periods. By expanding their horizons and exploring art from diverse sources, critics can gain a broader perspective and enrich their understanding of the art world.

Moreover, when we critique the work of others, we not only offer helpful feedback and suggestions, but we also learn to identify effective problem-solving strategies that can be applied to our creative endeavors. By examining other artists' approaches and evaluating their solutions' effectiveness, we can improve our artistic skills and grow as artists.

Overall, art criticism is an essential element of the art world, facilitating a deeper understanding and appreciation of the diverse and complex works of art that shape our cultural landscape. Whether you are an artist, a critic, or simply an art enthusiast, engaging with the critiques offered by others can help you to expand your horizons and develop a more nuanced understanding of the world of art.

MORE NEIGHBORHOOD ART

Does Art Reflect it's own Spirit: Is the Artist's Spirit changed by becoming Art? →

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Artists’ inner feelings and emotions can be the voice of their spirit wanting to be heard. Feelings turn into powerful emotions that have their say and reflect the happenings in their life. Art becomes the tool for the spirit expressed using art.

Art may be presented to entertain or influence others; in those cases, it may draw more from the art’s goal than the artist’s feelings.

The totality of society and culture can be represented in art, becoming a form of collective expression.

The positioning of people, objects, and colors reflects the artists' personalities and spirits. When an artwork has a hidden or obvious meaning, you may feel the artist’s soul. The goal for the author would be for you to feel what they feel or think you should feel.
Joseph Heinrich Beuys, a German artist and art theorist who died in 1986, believed in the "extended definition of art" in which everybody was an artist.

He once said, "every sphere of human activity, even peeling a potato, can be a work of art as long as it is a conscious act,"

For some, art depends on its purpose. I can be a means to truth or knowledge, the acquisition of truth. Art has even been called the avenue to the highest knowledge available to humans and a kind of knowledge impossible to attain by any other means.

Why would different people perceive art differently? One answer has to do not with art creation but with the perception of what is created.

Perception is conditioned by many factors, including political, social, cultural, gender, racial, and even the life story of the viewer. For all an artist intends to present, the object for the viewer is the art, not the artist.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

Art will impact our life journey we experience along the path. The influences change as we change. The forms of art that appeal to us change. We may at some point find art painted on canvas profound and then find we are influenced more by nature surrounding us. Those are influences of choice, but what society deems art impacts us all as well.

Age and Wisdom Embodied with Strength in a Stranger's Face →

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Age and wisdom embodied with strength in a stranger’s face, no artist identified, no name for the man, identified and named by texture, color, and layers of paint- each conveying meaning.

The painting started showing with the first brown sketched layer the empty face of a man. Just an uninteresting mystery alone without the colors of paint.

Color filled the space, the second layer showing light, darkness, pain, stress, and wisdom. The shadows are purple with white borders suggesting strength.

Eyes and wrinkles, behind glasses, and strength are both present.  Three layers likely and maybe six to tell the story. 

Age and wisdom are embodied with strength.