Is It Art?

I sit on the board for the Girdwood Center of Visual Art and this question comes up often. We will have a artist interested in joining the co-op gallery and will present their art for review. Here is where it gets complicated. Is it art or is it craft? I probably tend to be one of the toughest judges. It's important to me to stay true to what a gallery represents, ART! Not that a craft item can't be creative or interesting. But being 'craft' it belongs in a gift shop or the like. But who decides?

Here is a bigger question, who decided Jackson Pollack was an amazing artist? NOT ME! For those of you without an art background who have ever looked at his work and thought,"Isn't that just splattered paint?" The answer is YES! If you have every looked at his paintings and thought, " I think I could do that." The answer is YES you could! Would I complain if someone who controls the art world looked at my work and said, "By Jove it's brilliant!" Of course not. Maybe Jackson did the same thing. Did he go to bed and night and snicker that his splattered paint became worth millions...maybe.

Attached is a photo of work that confuses my definition of art and craft. This was created by Lance Lekander. I love his work and even have one of his serigraphs hanging in my house. Lance is without a doubt an artist. His work is clearly art. But recently he began making these creatures. The first one I saw in a gallery and HAD to have my very own monster. I called Lance and placed my order for a Portugal Fishermonster. A few weeks later I had Chique to call my own. Chique and Sal ( the fish) greet me every morning from the bookcase in my bedroom. In it's simplest definition it's a stuffed animal right? But it is so creative! Is it art? Shouldn't it be craft? I am glad I don't have to sit on a jury for that one because I would be tainted by my love for Lance's work and his amazing creative ideas. I do know that if Lance and Pollack were in a paint off Pollack would have to leave shame faced and Chique and I would be smiling in the stands.