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March 12, 2002
NO ... an event like 9/11 has nothing to do with the meaning of art...the event
has everything to do with the meaning we attach to our external world and our
place in it ... art responds and leads us through our moment in time ... we
may have changed, art did not.
March 6, 2002
Art is and will be art, its boundaries may stretch further but it is still connected
to its origins.The first artists were shamans, they conjured disorder through
songs, dances, paintings, they explored the future and the past.The difference
with todays artists is the lack of respect and knowledge of the shamanistic
knowledge.We still look to shamans as medieval ages did upon witches, thanks
god we do not burn them, but we do exclude them.
January 22, 2002
Art will always be connected closely and intimately with those who are in the
know and have the power and bucks to prove it. Artists, when it comes to technology
and science, need to be educated, funded, connected. Art can no longer be timeless
once it links itself to science and technology. Art has been co-opted and that
is nothing new.
January 16, 2002
visit the virtual monument--http://www.world-eternity-center.net
January 7, 2002
The meaning of art is an abstract concept reliant on the perceptions, human
beings have of themselves and others, the physical and metaphysical world and
finally the work of art to which they are applying themselves.
Art therefore really has no meaning. It is just a series of interwined perceptions.
People need to have open, inquisitive minds so that they can perceive the truth
which ultimately must be the goal.
Hopefully September 11th has given people a better perception of the truth of
the world and humanity in 2001. Artists need to show this truth.
Its not Religions or Gods or Dreams or Empires that matter...its people and
their perceptions of each other that matter...and hopefully these have changed
for the better.
November 1, 2001
Art is an expression. Some art expresses turmoil. Some art expresses an escape
from turmoil. Now more that ever, those of us who do not create art need to
see the art created by others that will transport us from turmoil.
November 1, 2001
Art, like life, is change. If it does not, it is static and boring. Meaning
changes within the context of life experience.
October 10, 2001
Art has not lost its meaning or been trivialized by the events of Sept. 11,
rather, its exploration into what it means to be human, is all the more poignant,
moving and meaningful. Art will continue to beautify and trouble our world,
but now these questions and this beauty go deeper, because they are underpinned
by the fragility that was always there, and only now just made horrifically
evident, more profound and sadder. --Annabelle Clippinger
October 10, 2001
Has the meaning of Art changed since this event? Has the role of the artist
changed? It is certain that one thing alone, for example, has never changed
the meaning of art and the role of the artist in any period. Throughout time,
it has always been a series of various events and aspects that have gone into
the changing of the meaning of art and the role of the artist. I hope we will
keep this in mind when we address these questions; otherwise we will look at
art and artists through one lens. We have worked too hard in changing rigid
and severe viewpoints on art. Let us look at the assemblage of mechanisms that
moves art, shapes it and brings it forth. Our senses have been heightened because
of what has happened but a higher sense of awareness is a crucial ingredient
in producing art.
October 4
Can the meaning of art do anything but change? The impact of a potato famine
in Idaho alters the perception of the Mona Lisa in Stutgart. A saucy affair
in the administration of the Brooklyn Museum of Art involving a luscious tart,
a spot of tea, and thirteen circling assmonkeys will inevitably dip the Nasdaq
index a hair. Every action a proportional response, and cataclysmic repercussions
of perception.
October 3, 2001
The meaning of art can never change but circumstances in life change and are
reflected through the art of a true artist. The tragedy was enormous and I hope
that an occurrence of this magnitude would truly take the artist to the source
place and walk away from empty doodlings of a meaningless kind. I am a filmmaker
and performance artist and sometimes have felt very alone as my work seems so
often to come from source and often people do not have time or patience for
heart and soul. I hope that content of all kinds will change and Hollywood especially.
It is unfortunate that such a huge tragedy may be needed for humanity to remember
the truth of life and ART is the pulse of life.
October 3, 2001
Yes. I regret the change. But I am old, and though I still believe that the
depth of an idea behind the work is of overwhelming importance, the (conflicting
with art making) pull of anecdote is compelling. The role of the artist is strainer
of society - the artist as revealer of complexities - artist as unraveller,
as seer, as philosopher. I have not seen much video art but what I have seen
is too self-indulgent. Except for Viola- which does all of the above. And sends
a chill.
October 2, 2001
The killing of innocent people is indefensible. What is surprising however is
that as soon as this happens in America, the world has changed. Why did it not
change when thousands died in The Sudan, Iraq, Palestine, etc. etc., partly
initiated by US foreign policy? America is realizing now that it is part of
the world, not exempt from it. The same goes for art, American or otherwise.
September 29, 2001
Has the meaning of art now changed?--NO. It has always been meaningful to create
art and observe or interact with works of art. This series of events just makes
that interaction more necessary and cathartic.
September 28, 2001
No. The meaning of everything has changed but not the meaning of art.
September 28, 2001
Before 9.11.01 art was about creating from within, and about looking at others
creations, speculating on what the artist was trying to convey or capture. Concerning
art in (as?) media, I would say yes its changed. Rather than capturing the environment
or representing the view of the soul of the artist, the use of a video or photographic
camera was used almost solely as information transfer to those not in NY and
it brought reality of the situation to people in their homes and on the streets
wherever they were. For once, movies, CD covers, and videos containing any visual
or idea associated with something sensitive to the incident were altered out
of response and respect compared to the otherwise free form of creating whatever
was desired. With all of the memorials and Union Square type displays, the impetus
behind what was being created was an incident rather than an inspiration- though
the incident inspired- and there was SO much more meaning behind what was being
produced. As a viewer of those pieces- be it musical, visual, or poetry, I knew
the motives and meaning of the art I saw. And, as far as my dance community
goes, rather than the usual self-involved interest of going out to enjoy oneself,
everyone I spoke with wanted to dance to shed away the tears, to express, to
celebrate being alive, to lift the spirits of those around them.
September 28, 2001
The meaning of art and the role of the artist; a devoted parallax. Namely, the
petri dish runneth over, or the two tall buildings crumble. Vision of allahpocalypse
ask yourself this; just because a bacteria does not have a vision of limbs and
scorched flesh and bedlam before it becomes something else, does not mean it
will not suffer tragedy when it is eradicated from its present state.
I mean yes the meaning of art has changed because people are less prone to accept,
now more than ever, that its all about consciousness. Civilians want pilots
with ak-s and solid answers, not wishy washy soul searching.
Spiritual bad habits are about to take over -so beware. History is poised to
enter a vacuum, and trust, there will be no room for art.
Has the meaning of art changed? Absurd question. the meaning of art is in the eye of the beholder, each person understanding art in her/his own way. So, the meanings have changed, in the sense that we probably SEE differently now, but The Meaning of Art in its most metaphysical sense, has, obviously, not changed a bit. Nina Menkes
September
27, 2001
The meaning of art has absolutely not changed. War + mans inhumanity to man,
have been such since the beginning of time. What is a million times more frightening
are occurrences like Columbine High School, that is where you know the infrastructure
of a society has cancer. When the children massacre each other. Not when known
radical terrorists act according to their radical terrorist doctrine.
September
27, 2001
On September 15, after four days of television coverage, I visited several exhibitions
of Asian art here in NYC. I must say that it was a great relief and very refreshing
to see flowers and trees. I, too, have been doing socially engaged art for some
time. But there is much to be recommended in an art which reflects the cyclical
constancy of the seasons and the joy of transient beauty.
September
27, 2001
The role of art has changed. Just as all perspectives and roles in America have
shifted. One of the most overlooked parts of being an American artist is that
you have the freedom of expression. With the terrorist attacks that freedom
is shaken and the foundation has changed.
September
27, 2001
I do not think the meaning of art has changed, but rather, its context within
which it occurs has, making the public who perceive it more receptive and open
to multiple views and perspectives of various artists. With emotions and memories
still fresh with people, we have a rare opportunity to affect them, as well
as be affected by them and their thoughts. It is also a rare time to document
how people collectively and individually remember and deal with adversity and
chaos.
September
27, 2001 September 27, 2001 September 27, 2001 September 27, 2001 September 26, 2001 September 26, 2001
No, just the context of it.
This question is like comparing waterbuffalo and oranges. Maybe the meaning
of meaningful art would connote the events at hand.
No, but then I never know what the meaning of art can possibly refer to. Art
is always dialogic, a discursive formation, highly dependent on demographics
of all sort for the reading. Alan Sondheim
I am very very skeptical about this rush to respond to the greatest human tragedy
my city has experienced in centuries, the dimensions of which we can only barely
perceive. Perhaps some artists who didnt think about the political will contemplate
its relevance to their practice at some level. Others will continue pontificating
on line as if doing so with enable them to outsmart our right wing government
and the mushrooming war machine. Some feel the effects of geopolitical conflicts
in the most direct way that they ever have. Some cyberfanatics might rethink
their previous love affair with terms such as hijacking and terrorism, but I
am not sure they will recognize the limits of translating Baudrillard and Virilio
into a dystopic virtual game...as far as what the war machine wants of artists,
we have already been instructed to use our craft to heal a suffering populace
and to champion patriotism, and some have already heeded...certainly, more critical
views of US policy coming from the arts sector will not be applauded for a long
time...I only hope that at some point some of us will deepen our sense of empathy
with those in other parts of the world who suffer massive violence on a regular
basis...many more have died unjustly abroad than the victims the attack on the
Twin Towers and the Pentagon...
September 27, 2001
Everything, including art, has changed. I have a different perspective now. I
always preferred work that had social or political content but I feel even more
strongly about that now. Its the same old dilemma--do I want to spend my life
making collectibles and decorations for wealthy people, or do I want to try to
communicate something? BEAUTY is for sunsets and flowers. Art should have a responsibility.
If Art is the expression, in tangible form, of an idea, the role of the artist
hasn't changed. Meaning, however, sits as a responsibility between the artist
and the viewer. This relationship can be the site of change.
I don't think that art and the practice of making art has been fundamentally
changed. However, the power of art to reflect the now has been given new and
greater poignancy.