The time is almost four in the morning. As I lay in bed opening and closing my eyes to adjust to the darkness, friend spoke gently asking if I was awake. Since then we talked about little other than the last post. He tells me not to explain anything. The concept and fact hits with a punch, as it should. I need to move on to answer other questions. Out of encouragement he posed to write about what is good art for a few days. I felt the writer’s block from late evening yesterday slip out of joint, but I was left with an open space and nothing to consider. My mind has formed little around the question, except to let an immediate response resonate.
Good art does not rest its reputation on a flash of an emotion. Titillation, when used, should be subsequent to a theme. Arousing the sexual intellect must not be the only aim of a work. Thinking into the Renaissance mystery schools, I am convinced allegory must play higher in art than sport, decoration, or sating corporal hungers. As a result, good art raises the viewer and artist to a higher level of understanding the human condition. The spiritual brain is more at play than the reptilian and its penchant to deal with appetites and safety. Good art leaves an impression on the soul by giving relevance and clarity to personal life through classic interpretations of life passages. This way artist and viewer eventually find inclusion of their life, concepts, and ethics I the greater body of human history.
Good art is a preservation of civilization by recording rituals, concepts, and practices. This type of work requires the artist to be a bit of a conservator and preservationist with every piece. We know then the artist takes themselves seriously and deserves as much consideration in response to their queries to galleries and play in competitions.
Good art does not always have to reflect a high degree of labor. There is that which demonstrates a flash of brilliance, but I doubt masters in the visual arts rest their laurels on epiphanies. Good art comes after wrestling the angel. Good art comes with discipline. Good art comes with arguments into the wee hours of the morning, leaving you restless. Good art is not a task for the weak hearted. It is a reward of the dedicated.
As ever, stay hungry and curious.