Ansel said: My purpose is to offer a sense of pressence.
Morely Baer said: My purpose is to follow the path of light.
My purpose with photography is to offer an understanding through metaphor; or not.
Atget said: Look there!
Cartier-Bressens is the famous one: To capture the decisive moment.
If, as you present, the artist statement of purpose is to say: "Here are some interesting ideas," that's it.
A crappy purpose usually tells in the work -- consistancy, that is. Many of us make one good picture; but can you capture was you mean to capture and begin with a statement of purpose, which is to 'step up' as an artist and show.
That's all.
Steve Shapiro
----- Original Message ----- From: <lookaround360@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students" <photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2005 11:03 AM
Subject: RE: Rules
Steve,
The expression that comes out (conscious or otherwise) in the doing of the art might have a value to the artist but is less interesting to others. I think it is better that art reveals something different and surprising to each person in the audience. The artist may say "Here are some interesting ideas, see how they effect you." Rather than, "Here is what I think about this."
RE "Truth and Beauty - Picasso said "Art is the lie that tells the truth."
AZ
Build a Lookaround! The Lookaround Book, 2nd ed. NOW SHIPPING http://www.panoramacamera.us
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: Rules From: "SteveS" <sgshiya@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Date: Mon, January 24, 2005 10:53 am To: "List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students" <photoforum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
----- Original Message ----- From: <lookaround360@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: RE: Rules -- snip --
>Originality may be possible but is not a
> requirement nor are personal statements which more often than not, I
> believe, diminish the experience of art.
>
> AZ
>
I heartily dissagree. To define your personal statement is to bring the
unconscious mind to the conscious that makes the art work a much more
enjoyable process, in terms of satisfaction to what you've set your mind to
do.
The original question: what is art for? I believe what several fine
teachers have said: To enhance the beauty in our lives. Given the
Aristotelian definition of beauty. "Truth is beauty, beauty is truth."
And, not to omit what Andy Warhol said: "Clean is beauty, beauty is clean."
Steve Shapiro
