The word “art” is a catch-all term utilized with the same function as “other”, “they/them”, etc. It simply signifies the unknown or some randomized variable operating outside of socio-cultural spheres of comfortability. Nevertheless, art cannot be removed, dissolved, forgotten or disassembled. Art belongs on the periodic table (metaphorically) as it is a core element of the universe. With that said, there’s an illusion in play when we apply simple questions to art -- it’s as if art hears us ask “what is art” and it becomes reflective or we ask “when does something become art” and it becomes a vacuum of space and time. Questioning art with the words, “Who, What, Where, When, Why and How” causes an illusion of depth in flatness. When we ask questions about art and posit theories for its structure and existence, we are adding on to the base element of Art; which is fine if we can simply comprehend what we’re doing and take ownership of it.

To truly capitalize on art, we must take note of the chemical reactions that occur when art interacts with other elements. For example, our goal might be to add a ‘who’ or a ‘what’ or a specific ‘how’ to art, then mix it with love or anger or ambivalence. We might see a result of controversy or complacency, perhaps nothing at all, but we must be aware of the exponential complexities when we add to art before we test its reactions to the natural world. Art is a subtle element that assimilates almost everything it touches. It absorbs and pulls properties from the world around it, making it hard to distinguish on its own. Honestly, if we could truly experience the base element of art, perhaps we would see nothing at all; at least until it comes into contact with something else. We tried to sell art and it exposed the raw hide of capitalism, we have put art in a white cube and it ate the cube. We tried to make it our own and it shook free and dispersed itself to everyone. Art will take something mundane and make it interesting or take the exciting and providing disillusionment. Art can melt the most rigid ideas and give strength to undeveloped concepts. Sometimes I wonder if art needs us to activate it, as if it would be dormant otherwise, or if art is struggling free of our refinements and would become more active without our interactions.

To call ourselves an artist is not merely to mean that we have obtained a high level of skill in crafting objects or that we are able to form ideas otherwise un-conceptualized. An artist simply recognizes art. Perhaps, in crude terms, an artist can expose, hide, and manipulate reactions caused by art to achieve desired results. But at the core of the artist’s role, is something both scientifically tangible and intuitively intangible. Artist have an obligation to discover art. It doesn’t take genius or some other socially constructed and distributed characteristic to be an artist. To say ‘anyone can be an artist’ may technically be true, except that it’s not. The role of the artist is activated by the search for art, education about art or a simple love for a chemical reaction produced by art. Regardless of how the role is activated, the duty of the artist remains the same in its complex simplicity - go find, know, learn, discover art; but for the love of all things good, please don’t be deceived into thinking it’s something you make.