To further the discussion of whether Model Railroading is or can be art, I am submitting the following picture for discussion. Is it art? Why or why not?
People who have seen this on another forum please keep your yaps shut. [:D]
No, Chip, it’s styrofoam… [:D][:D][:D]
Sorry, couldn’t pass up a chance like that. [:)]
You beat me by 13 seconds… [:D]
The photo may be art; I don’t consider the model railroad to be - with no slight intended to the modeler or the layout. I explained why I think a layout isn’t in another thread.
Hi Chip,
It is as much art as much of the “art” that can be found at museums and galleries around Canada and the US, et all countires world wide. “Art” is in the eye of the beholder. I think is IS art. I appreciate the effort it takes, and the creativity that goes into it. Those outside of our hobby might not agree.
I don’t think a lot of the stuff I see in galleries is truly art. The federal government of Canada spent over 8 million dollars on a “work of art” which is nothing more that a 60’ x 20’ vertical purple strip with a red strip down the centre. Is that art? I’m sure someone thinks so.
Trevor[:)]
Does this require an answer??
Good question! Let me ask you this… When you call out “Art”, does the guy on the horse respond? If not, try calling out Bob or another name!
To answer your question, Yes. Simply because it is expressing a form of creativity.
Fergie
It’s expression, not art.
Art and expression are two different things, something that the art community has chosen to ignore. A black canvas is expression, not art, since it doesn’t require any real artistic talent. A pile of gravel on the floor is expression, not art (both are on display at the Chicago Art Instute as “art”. Normal people laugh at them, while the hippie artists in their college study them)
Shakespeare is art. Me clacking away on a keyboard to post something online is expression.
Chip,
According to the Dictionary it is.
art1 Audio pronunciation of “Art” ( P ) Pronunciation Key (ärt)
n.
- Human effort to imitate, supplement, alter, or counteract the work of nature.
- The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty, specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium.
- The study of these activities.
- The product of these activities; human works of beauty considered as a group.
- High quality of conception or execution, as found in works of beauty; aesthetic value.
- A field or category of art, such as music, ballet, or literature.
- A nonscientific branch of learning; one of the liberal arts.
- A system of principles and methods employed in the performance of a set of activities: the art of building.
- A trade or craft that applies such a system of principles and methods: the art of the lexicographer.
- Skill that is attained by study, practice, or observation: the art of the baker; the blacksmith’s art.
- Skill arising from the exercise of intuitive faculties: “Self-criticism is an art not many are qualified to practice” (Joyce Carol Oates).
- arts Artful devices, stratagems, and tricks.
- Artful contrivance; cunning.
- Printing. Illustrative material.
Okay, take the compostion of the piece. It is intended to evoke a reaction. Certainly, it is not meant to be a depliction of reality although there are elements to it. For instance, I chose to use a broken Pacific when I could have chosen any nuymber of working engines. If it is not art, what elements are missing?
almost i like the pic though.
Well I could approach this question from one of two directions; literal or interpretive. I chose to approach it from a, hopefully, more literal direction and so I went and consulted the dictionary. This is what I found:
Art (ärt) n.
-
Human efforts to imitate, supplement, alter, or counteract the work of nature.
a. The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty, specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium.
b. The study of these activities.
c. The product of these activities; human works of beauty considered as a group.
-
High quality of conception or execution, as found in works of beauty; aesthetic value.
-
A field or category of art, such as music, ballet, or literature.
-
A nonscientific branch of learning; one of the liberal arts.
a. A system of principles and methods employed in the performance of a set of activities: the art of building.
b. A trade or craft that applies such a system of principles and methods: the art of the lexicographer
a. Skill that is attained by study, practice, or observation: the art of the baker; the blacksmith’s art.
b. Skill arising from the exercise of intuitive faculties: “Self-criticism is an art not many are qualified to practice” (Joyce Carol Oates).
a. arts Artful devices, stratagems, and tricks.
b. Artful contrivance; cunning.
- Printing. Illustrative material.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin ars, art-. See ar- in Indo-European Roots.]
Synonyms: art, 1craft, expertise, knack, know-how, technique.
These nouns denote skill in doing or performing that is attained by study, practice, or observation: th
Dang it ya beat me to the punch. tips his hat Good show.
Peace.
Coyote
sounds logical to me.
Let’s see if I follow your logic. And i’m using your post form the other thread. The photo is art because it was created for it’s own sake. The layout is not because it was created with the function of running trains. However, this engine will not work and was placed for effect. So that would make it art again?
Yes
Why,
Because I think it is.
This entire discussion thread, and others like it, is tedious beyond belief. If you haven’t realized it by now, there’s a spectrum of opinions on this, and it looks like few people are open to changing their opinion based on the discussion.
I don’t care if some else calls it art or not. I’m only interested in whether it’s a good job done at the craft of model railroading. Is it something that I would strive to emulate, because it’s a good depiction of a realistic situation.
This picture depicts a situation that would be almost impossible to occur in real life. All you have to do is think about the elements involved. For how long, if at all, would that rope be taut?
Enough, already, about whether it’s art or not.
-Ed
I found this paragraph to be funny not because of the intention of the content nor the actual thought that went behind it. What I found funny is that you chose to compare it to a realistic situation and why it failed the standard set for real life.
To answer your question though, about as long as Pecos Bill rode the tornado he roped.
no…that’s a cowboy wrang’lin a locomotive…Art lives down the hall in apartment 3 B…couldn’t resist that one Chip…but in my opinion yes…MRRing is art…ever paint trees, mountains, clouds and sky on a back drop?..well what do you think that is?..i even used to watch old Mr. “Happy Brush” on the PBS station to learn some of the techniques of landscape painting so as to paint backdrops…maybe we can start calling eack other “Model Railroad Artists”…well …maybe in California or something…chuck