So you found some Art you like and you think to yourself, “I want to find out about this Artist!”

Beware.

You may find out something about the Artist that you Don’t Like. You might even Hate It.

This is another “art” question for the ages: Must Art be considered in the context of the Maker, or can It be evaluated in a void? Should Art be Moral?

As with my feeling about what makes something “art” – I don’t think this is a valid question. Yes, if you find a contemporary maker offensive but like what they do, it can be a conundrum. This is more a question of supporting “the arts” but… What if the maker is dead?

Again, I feel like any evaluation of a person’s work must begin with the reaction and an understanding or knowledge of the making. This gives the work context. Comparing reactions pre-knowledge and post-knowledge can be a transformative experience. But once a work is presented, it does become its own thing, independent of the process and the person. The audience brings its own language and interpretations – and, in doing so, becomes a participant in the work.

Ultimately, I think the Artist is at the mercy of the Work. And we need to stop apologizing for the shitty things that dead Artists may have believed or done, because in most cases, their Work is the only unfiltered voice we have be given to listen to.

I think the question that we should be asked is, “Does the Art matter more than the Artist?” and I think the answer is “Yes.”

So NaBloPoMo’s them this month is “ART” and while I might be tempted just to post pictures of people named Arthur for 30 days, I think I might try and go a little deeper.

Not much, though.

Trying to determine what counts as “art” is something that everyone with half a brain takes a stab at trying to figure out. I don’t think there is a single true answer to that question. I think asking “But is it ‘art’?” is the wrong question to begin with. Art just is, man! And I think the most important parts of Art are the making and the reaction.

Knowing how or why something was made and how it makes a person react, that is the beginning of Art.

Last physical therapy appointment today. Neck feeling so much better. Never want to stop going.

Saw a bee. It flew right by my face and it smelled like honey. Amazing.

Perfect Tommy’s vacation is over. He starts school next week. Swears he needs at least one more week of vacation. Ha!

The Expendables stars several big screen action heroes, past their primes, in what may be their last big roles.

It also stars small screen sensation, Jason Statham.

Dare I see The Expendables on the big screen and risk my love for Statham, whom I have only ever seen on the television?

You can see the difficulty in this decision.

Good news is that my blood pressure is low/normal, I have more energy and endurance on my walks, and I’m feeling stronger.

Bad news, I’m not losing any weight!

But I’m not gaining any more weight, either, so that’s good?

I think I may have to really take a look at what I’m eating/not eating because I’ve had HORRIBLE heartburn for the last week and rather than suffer through it without indulging, I chose to indulge in a cheeseburger, a milkshake, pancakes, and a bottle of wine over the weekend. The heartburn wasn’t as bad.

STUPID MIXED SIGNALS.

My favorite thing to eat for breakfast right now is a 1/2 cup of greek yogurt mixed with 1/4 of wheat bran and 1/4 cup of flax meal. So yummy, so filling. If I have to give that up I will cry.

Also, I think I may have to start schlepping out to the organic hippie store in Palm Desert for my produce. The selection that I can get in the regular markets is not good enough, same with milk and eggs. But cheese? Everyone has excellent cheese. Go figure!

Today my left hip really hurt so I supplemented pain meds with chocolate chip cookies. Sometimes, it has to be done.