First Thoughts

The great paradigm of art history by which art is studied and discussed is that of form and content. So that seems like a good working title for this blog. It's important to recognize the interdependence of these elements. Specifically, there is no form without content. Even the most abstract art has content because the core elements of form always convey some type of meaning. In my work as a clinical psychologist I try to be sensitive to the form of a person's communication. Often, that says more than their words, and I think art functions in a similar way. In this blog I want to explore a range of ideas about art and artists. It's hard for me to imagine anything so important as art, that receives so little critical attention. I'm aware of great art critics and insightful writing about art. I'm also comforted to go to museums and see many visitors. Yet I rarely encounter much public discussion about art other than appreciation for how art might be a decorative complement in a particular setting. I think art is a way of life, a lens through which we can understand ourselves and the world around us.

I will almost certainly get a little philosophical in these posts because that is my natural way of thinking and valuing discussion. I appreciate art that is challenging, and which works toward the excavation of deep personal truths. It is that effort which makes art a way of life and knowing. I've reached a point in my life where I am less inclined toward judging art than I am in noticing what it reveals. I like the idea that everyone is entitled to be part of the realm of picture making, and that the entirety of that realm is an integrated, big picture of the human condition. Thanks so much for taking a moment to be part of this conversation.