Thursday Thoughts...

"What's really good about the word 'art' is that 'art' is a word like 'love,' or 'god,' or whatever. It transcends so many things. "

Tracey Emin

I have been re-reading journal articles about the world of artists' books; and the Book Arts; and what makes a piece of work Book Art; and on and on in the attempt to characterise and catalogue artists' books.

These articles are nearly 20 years old so it has been interesting to see how they hold up - what is useful now; what fell by the wayside; what new direction took off afterwards etc. So yes, defining art is an interesting notion!

The openness with which Ms Emin describes art - the way in which it can encompass so much, can make room to hold and support diversity is a real strength of art I think.

Of course there will be divisions and categories within any gathering under the title of art; and purists will be annoyed by new things that purport to be art; and will no doubt say "yes... but is it really art"? And for me it broadly doesn't matter. I think lots of things are artistic and creative; does that make them art? It probably doesn't make them Art!

I am interested too in how she uses both love and god as the comparatives, and uses the words transcends. And yet I immediately read the meaning as to encompass and include. Whatever way it goes, I think art as a word, can be a very big umbrella.  Or many umbrellas.