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Sharing from FYS Math Art students Fall 2003 Response by Dani

 I wanted to share with you what
one student in the class wrote about Art.
Art is seen in many different ways to different people.  To some it
could be a sport or a stereotypical painting in a museum; for others, it
is
a state of mind.  To me art is a variety of things but one prevails over
the
others.  I have found nature to fulfill my perception of nature.
At the age of ten I went on a cross-country vacation with my
family.  I never truly appreciated the nation’s beauty until this trip.
It is
one thing to see pictures of the land, but it is quite another to
interact with
the magnificence first hand.  As we traveled around to various locations,
the sights only became more astounding.  This journey opened my eyes
to the true beauty and grace of our country.  I feel lucky to have been
able
to experience a new world.  The beauty of nature I saw and learned about
has become art to me.
The way nature affects people across the world is amazing.  The
unity in nature
should be an example of how people can join and work together.  Art is
portrayed to me in the lakes, fields, mountains, valleys and forests.
All
these elements contain many similarities but it is the differences that
make the phenomenon so amazing.  The way nature is able to come
together and produce such astonishing results is art to me. Overcoming
obstacles, such as various aspects of nature coexisting, and thriving as
nature does is a wonderful lead we should all follow.
It is now with great pleasure I can look around and truly absorb
all that I am surrounded by.  I am able to appreciate all nature provides
for

Response by Dani

 More Sharing about What is Art:
By Petrina Cheng
Art is an expression of emotions, transferred from the person's emotions
to a physical form (i.e. paintings, music, novels).  In every work of art
there is at least some emotional thought emphasized in the piece.  This
is the reason why people want to become artists and musicians: t express
there emotions through a physical outlet, such as songs and cartooning.
Obviously this is not restricted to the fine arts, but also it is
incorporated with every other vocation because each person has fueled
emotions that drive them to a career.  What they wish to become and what
they do is considered art to them.  A surgeon operating on a patient
believes that when they cut a delicate incision using their own hands is
art.  Mechanics fixing on a Mustang is art to them.  A novelist writing
the climatic scene of their latest book is an art to them.  Only a few
examples to emphasize the fact that art is based on fueled emotions, and
the expression of it varies.  Emotions are what inspire novelists,
painters, cartoonists, mechanics, and doctors to perform their specified
task so well.
It is like a driven need to think what they want to express, and then
actually express what they want to other people to perceive.  Although
people in their artistic rights, believe they can d better, which is why
Monet burned his paintings and why 1, also tend to throw away half-
finished drawings because it is not the full representation of what I
envision in my mind.  The artistic vision is perceived differently by
every artist, but the vision boils down to fueled emotions which inspire
that person to create something out of the vision.
Examples in my life would be that I sketch pictures based on a single
image created by an emotional impulse.  Only if the emotion is strong
enough is the picture physically drawn onto the paper.  Same thing goes
with the half-finished stories, and poetry I like to write.  The artistic
compositions I create are almost always done with an emotional impulse.
Emotions seem to add something to a piece, unlike one that is done for
the sake of doing it.  Only by emotional impulses does a work of art
appear to be a near-perfect vision of what the person imagines in their
head.
What is Art?
Rosie Barki
09/03/03
There are many definitions to the question, what is art.  I feel that the
actual definition exists within each person, varying from person to
person and experience to experience.  My idea of art is different to that
of others, and likewise other beliefs of what art is vary from me.  I
believe that art is the ultimate; it is the awe inspired moment of
inspiration that levels and rebuilds in a thousand ways that had hitherto
not existed.
Art exists in paintings, sculptures, graphs and nature.  It is the lines
that are perfect even as they are imperfect.  It is the beauty that
exists despite the seeming lack of beauty within the world.  It is
finding beauty in even the smallest object, idea, thought or movement and
conveying that to others in a way that allows them to share in the
experience of your own discovery.  In essence, art becomes the conveyance
of one brilliant inspiration to others so that they too may understand
the beauty that you see.
Art is more than paint supplies and paper, more than canvas and brushes.
Art is that which offers out to others that which is important to us.
Art can be the view out a window or the configuring of lines into a
pattern that defies understanding or is the sum of understanding.  It
lies in the overflow of emotion that creates something greater than the
simple individual.
Art lies in the mastery of a form of expression from one person to the
world.  It is discovering that which is beautiful to the soul and relying
it to others in a manner that allows them to partake in your own
discovery and appreciate it is its unadulterated state so that they may
experience your own appreciation.

Response by Dani

--------------------------------- What Art Is To Me: The term "art" has been used in the past to describe many forms of self- expression. However, the term is much more important to me than simply a mode of expression. Being an electronic musician, self-expression is one of the most important things in my life. Several times, expression of my feelings through music has saved me from myself. I now realize how important my musical development throughout high school was in aiding my personal growth. Without artistic expression, I would have lost interest in living, and felt like a bottle under pressure, my emotions waiting to come out. So what is art to me? Art can be compared to water: it is a stream of emotion, flowing through the pipes of our mind and out to the tip of a pen or the keys on a piano. Art flows as if it were liquid, with no set beginning or end. When I write poetry or compose music, I do not plan the course I will take. I allow my artistic utensil flow on its own, creating a tapestry of my own internal entropy, rendered in a physical form. Entropy could be the best word to describe my definition of art. From randomness and chaos can come understanding and appreciation. Through the right medium, an artist's internal chaos can be better understood, because he or she is able to share his emotions with others in a more organized fashion. I also feel that art is sacred. It is not to be criticized, nor changed from the artist's original vision. Rather, it should be treated as an extension of another person's feelings. Hence, I believe all art must be treated with utmost respect. Would you want your feelings tampered with? Art has always been and will always be a very important part of my life. I will continue to cherish the artwork of others because I know how much devotion goes into its creation

Response by dani

Response by Dani

Art is a way of expressing oneself in a freeing and enlightening manner. Art can be the expression of emotions, thoughts, fears, and beliefs. I believe that art is designed as a means of self-discovery, expression, and enlightenment. Art can be expressed through many different means such as painting, writing, music, sketching, dancing, or singing, just to mention a few. For me, art is a way to get in touch with myself. I am able to delve deeper into my soul with art. The main form of art, which I enjoy, is writing. Through my writing I am able to learn more about the person I am, the emotions I feel, the thoughts I have, and the beliefs I have. This form of self-discovery is priceless for me. There is nothing in the world that could replace it, and without it my life wouldn't have the same meaning. Art is also a way for me to express myself. Too often in my life I quiet my thoughts, feeling, and emotions in fear of rejection, or failure. Quietness may be my front for the outside world, by in my world of art it. is never considered. When I write, I write purely for myself. Any thought that crosses my mind is explored until I am satisfied, my emotions are expressed without apology, and my feelings are the most important things in the world. I am never in fear of rejection or failure when I am enjoying art. Expressing yourself is one of the greatest blessings in art. It is only through expression that one can truly become comfortable and confident with the person they are. Art has allowed me to really understand who I am, and to be more comfortable with who I am. Growth is one of the most beautiful aspects of life. The ability we have to learn, explore, challenge, and change are the most wonderful blessings in this world. I have a constant desire to search for knowledge, and through art I am able to gain the knowledge that I desire. My writing allows me expand my mind, and reach into aspect of life that are too often forgotten in my day-to-day life. I believe that life should be challenged- you should challenge yourself to expand your mind, challenge yourself to face your fears, challenge yourself to speak your mind, challenge yourself to find out who you really are, challenge yourself to defend who you are, challenge the world around you, and challenge yourself to become a better person. Art allows me to challenge myself in each of these ways. I don't believe that I would be the person I am today if I didn't have art to express myself. I can remember many times throughout my life when art played a very vital role. Often I find myself in challenging situations, times when my strength and my will are challenged by the situations I am in. When difficult situations arise I often turn to art as a release. Art has played a very important role in my life over the past few weeks as I have struggled to make the transition into college. At many points over the past two weeks the emotions I have felt and the situations I have been in have really challenged me to deal with things that I have never before had to face. Emotions, in general are a foreign thing for me, and therefore facing my emotions over the past two weeks has been a true challenge. In order to understand what I was feeling, and to better appreciate the situation I was in I turned to art. My writing has played a very important role in understanding my emotions and accepting that they are a part of who I am.

Response by Dani

---------------------------------- What Art is to Me? To me, art is a form of expression. It can exist in many forms, and is different to each person. Two forms of art that are especially meaningful to me are music and performing arts (i.e. film). Musical art is one of the highest priorities in my life. I surround myself with music as often as I can. I feel that music is a universal language, and is understood throughout all different cultures. When I play my instruments (piano and drums), it puts me in a completely different frame of mind. I can feel the sounds all around me, and I feel totally at peace. Performing arts are also very important to me. I'm quite a movie enthusiast, and enjoy films of all different genres. I particularly like films that I don't understand at first; films that make me think. A favorite movie of mine as of late has been Donnie Darko. It involves time travel, schizophrenia, and philosophy. Watching the characters act out their parts so carefully and believably makes me question my own thoughts and the world around me. Art is very important to me in its many forms. Music and film in particular help me think about my life and the surrounding world. I'm able to question things more easily, and I feel at peace. In a way, art is an expansion of my mind and soul. ------------------------------------------------------------- Art has many different faces, and the beauty of art is seen in the eyes of the beholder. Everything from nature, music, math and paintings can be seen as forms of art. Each individual piece of art hold different meanings, to both the artist and the viewer. An artist is someone who expresses himself or herself in a creative and different way. To me I experience art the best through music. Songs are a beautiful way of combining creative language with ones own musical piece, that reflects something the artist experienced, or a story they are trying to tell. Just like other forms of art there are many genres in the musical world, and some forms of music do not interest everyone. When I listen to music, I love to hear how certain artist blend their thoughts and emotions together with their musical capabilities. I relate most to the guitar and its- vast capability of different sounds. One can express any type of emotion, be it melancholy, love or rage. Music does not limit an artist one bit. I find that writing music also helps to relax and sooth me, and others also find just as much enjoyment in it as a painter would to a great painting. Drawing, or painting is one of the most recognizable and primitive forms of art that almost everyone can relate too. Even if a person does not like classical art does not mean that they do not like art. Anything that is pleasing to the viewer's eyes, ears, or heart can be seen as a form of art. In this math class we are taking art to a mathematical level. I think that this class will help me appreciate more aspects of art, that I never really paid attention too. I also love the thought of blending both sides of the mind together into an amazing work of art that can be seen on many different levels.