This was how I defined the meaning of art recently. From this definition, I developed some goals.

Before I discuss these goals let me comment on the picture above. This is the Black Square, an iconic painting by Kazimir Malevich dated 1913. Much has been said about this piece including the suggestion that it was either the end or the beginning of art, depending on your perspective. I think that it fits my definition of art, although controversially. To start with this piece uses skill and imagination. While the skill levels might seem minimal, apparently, viewed in person, it is apparent that some effort was exerted to paint a square perfectly. Also, viewed from our perspective, more than 100 years later, a simple square on a white background does not seem to have required too much imagination. Since that time there have been many minimalists who have possibly exceeded Malevich in terms of minimalism. It takes much more imagination to be the first, artistically, no matter what you are doing.

Then we come to the last part of my definition… which communicate with people so that they see the world differently. For me this is the best part. Art should make people think of the world differently after experiencing art. There is little doubt in my mind that Malevich achieved that in this piece.

Turning back to our own work. This definition may be handy since it can be used to set goals.

Based on the definition above here are some goals to aspire to:

• Use skill and imagination
  • Develop and enhance skills and knowledge and use those skills when creating art
  • Set your imagination free, be aware of preconceptions, biases and social pressures, be attuned to inspiration wherever you can find it
• Create aesthetic objects, environments and/or experiences
  • Aesthetics is subjective but we strive for grace and beauty as much as we can
  • While we make objects, our hope is that they will be the keystone for environments and experiences
• Communicate with people so that they see the world differently
  • While this is a 19th century view, I think that art is about communications
  • The goal of that communications is to create wonder, amazement and transformation so that people see their world differently