I am a firm believer that true art is much different than what most people in common refer to as art. There are multitudes of artsy personalities that produce a lot of artsy works that appeal to the masses but I truly believe that there is in fact a demarcation line that separates true art from artsy works.

Now I am not implying that artsy people should not continue producing artsy work but art galleries should educate themselves so that they can identify the difference. Real fine arts should never be shown in the same venue as artsy works. This not merely confuses the public but it does grave damage to the art industry and shows a disrespect to fine arts artists, ultimately devaluing the real and true fine arts.

I am aware that all art is subjective but this subjectivity of art deserves serious consideration by those that hold themselves out as art dealers or professionals in the business of art. Anyone can can go into the business of selling art though they know nothing about art except that they like it. We must also acknowledge that there are many 'con artists' out there that will try to sell you anything while leading you to believe your buying a masterpiece.

Art truly is a fabulous thing to bring into your private world but you should do everything you can to educate yourself as to identifying fine art and the artsy crafty stuff so you don't appear foolish. Perhaps in some situations ignorance is bliss but I would rather strive to become as educated as possible when I buy art. If you like the artsy crafty stuff that is fine but don't try to pass it off as fine art or you will appear ignorant. Always tell it like it is, as you should realize you reputation will proceed you.

I must wind up my thoughts for the moment but I assure you I'll be back soon because I have many thoughts to talk about.


Finton

I have been reading The Painted Word by the author Tom Wolfe. He professes that there is truly only approximately 10,000 personalities in about eight cities throughout the world that makes the difference of which art and artists greatly succeed in this art world. I think that I am understanding Wolfe correctly, and if I am it does almost seem fruitless to continue expressing your creative impulses. However it just makes me tend to dig my heals in deeper and focus on making sure that my work always does honor to the space that it occupies. To me this should be the goal of every artist that wants his work to survive and challenge the minds of many for as long as it can.

Every serious artist that I have ever had the opportunity to speak candidly with shares to a great degree the same feelings and challenges as I experience on a continuum. It seems that the vast majority of artist experience rejection and ridicule quite often when they delve into controversial matters.

Why do we artists find it necessary to wade in to troubled waters? Is it because we like controversy? Do we enjoy being taunted and criticized and rejected? Perhaps some of us are a little sadomasochistic but I think that most artist merely have a deep sensitivity to these issues followed by a strong compulsion to express our feelings in an artistic manner. It just seems to follow that many viewers feel an equal or even stronger compulsion to lash out at us. Everyone has feelings, one way or another on most issues that deal with the human condition or our ecology. It seems to me that there is nothing in this universe that does not have some effect on the human condition and the world. I think all is interconnected in ways we may never understand, and I firmly believe that it is this vast lack of understanding that drives and motivates our creativity and our ongoing controversies. We can't have much of a controversy on matters we understand and agree on, can we?

The point I'm trying to get to with all I've written thus far is that artists must do art. We have a compulsion to do art. If we can't do art we seem to become more difficult to deal with and we lose much of our lust for life. This would become devastating to the artist and in my opinion a tremendous loss to the world.

When I look at the big picture and I think about only 10,000 personalities that truly decides the fate of our 'GREAT' success it does not seem to me that the true artists will be discouraged. We can't help ourselves, we must keep on keepin on.

I would offer a bit of advice to these honored few but it is not necessary because they really don't need my advice, they have all they need that was fed to them from birth or was coded into their DNA.


Finton

This is a time of political upheaval. Elections are right around the corner and there is a tremendous amount of lashing and gnashing of teeth taking place and an abundance of bullshit tactics in the air.

Why can't politicians just be adult and tell the truth about what they stand for and what they are against without their integrity being attacked and being made to look Un-American? To be American is the status of being a citizen of South America, Central America or North America. Now, within the continental US we just refer to ourselves as Americans, so does it also hold true that those in Central and South America are also Americans?

I personally don't care if our president believes in Jesus, Ala, Santa Claus or Peter Cottontail as long as he takes a stand for maximizing our freedom.

In any society equality among the people should be the goal of not only the government but the goal of every individual citizen.

Obama is not the man who brought this country to the brink of financial disaster but many people are on their band wagons blaming Obama for the state of this Union. Have they forgotten that we have had other presidents in our resent past.

I like Bill Clinton but I do not believe he was without his faults in this financial crisis. Bush also had a part in this national financial crisis but lets not stop there. The greedy capitalistic
auto industry, the banking industry, the credit card industry and yes, even you and I always wanting more than we can afford. We all want the finer things of life 'NOW'. We don't like to tighten our belts. We don't want to pay taxes to pay for roads and highways. We want everything handed to us on a silver platter but we don't want to pay for it.

Lets not forget the Senators and Representatives within our state legislatures as well as our US congressmen and congress women. I will not forget our governors either. I really don't have enough fingers and toes to count the many categories of people that have put us in this financial crisis.

I just think it is shallow and even childish to blame Obama. I think that if you would be honest you would just admit that not even you could run this country any better.

I'm not tooting my horn for Obama yet because frankly I do not know if his agenda is the right one, but I truly believe he is trying to move this country in the right direction. I believe he is a good man regardless if he believes in Santa Claus or Peter Cottontail.