What is Art Anyway?

Well, this is the first blog post of my visual journal and I just wanted to explore the simple question—what is art? As I've been going through the weekly readings, watching the videos, and listening to the lectures (yes, I actually listen), the meaning of art is slowly unfolding to me. Art is not just what is seen, felt, or touched; what's just as important, if not more essential, are the thoughts that are provoked in response to the image, sculpture, or painting. Is the piece trying to communicate a message about the society we live in? Is it simply trying to evoke a certain emotion? Or is it just something pretty to hang on a wall? Whatever the answers are to these questions, they do add a side to the multifaceted face of art. The problem is you cannot pin an exact definition to the word "art." What is considered art and what isn't is really up to the person creating the piece; but what one person may consider to be an absolutely brilliant work may be thought of as a horrific piece to another. But despite the encouragement or negativity coming from onlookers, the value of any particular work of art is determined by the personal importance to the artist. So what is art anyway? Well, the possibilities are limitless.