Art Show at Oldfield Davis Gallery

Some appreciate art and others don’t.

I have a long-standing friend who unapologetically told me that he just doesn’t get art. “What’s the point, what’s the value, and why would anyone spend money on it?” he asked.

I think this is an excellent question and as I struggle to answer my friend, Steve, I realize my appreciation for art has become automatic without consideration or self-reflection. So, with a glance backward and an eye to the future, here is my response to my good friend Steve.

There was a time when artists were the reporters and storytellers and their value to society was immeasurable as the purveyors of tradition, culture, rituals, and rites. Aesthetically, artists will always serve as a mirror to a culture, yet it seems their message has become diluted.

Today, we have Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and Flickr that promote self-expression and encourage an amateur culture. It’s easy to lose professional artists in the mass-produced, remixed works, and instantly broadcast multimedia forms of expression. Professional historians have replaced the artists and cultural commentators have created a niche of popular entertainment, while artists have been pushed to an ancillary, superficial role of decorator or designer. Artists are seen as people who make things pretty and no longer as insightful, rebellious souls who force us to see the truth.

So, what is the value of art today and what is there to get?

Art will always serve as a reflection of our lives and address issues that are sometimes too difficult to face directly. I try to convey a story or express an emotion in my work that connects with the viewer that is difficult to reproduce in an off-the-shelf piece of art. Art has the ability to touch our souls and inspires our minds; it can tap into the human spirit and move us as a people, a community, and a nation.

I must admit I am still amazed at the extreme responses I’ve seen as people view my work. It is humbling and inspiring; unfortunately, these occurrences are rare and many times my art is simply a cute sign for someone’s garden. Either way, I’m fulfilled acting from a place of creativity, but I have to admit what truly motivates me is the hope to create something that has the impact I know is possible.

“Jack,” with creator Scott Trent

I would tell Steve that art is the product of creating and not limited to the commercial products he sees at the retail chains. It is writing, painting, singing, sculpting; it is storytelling, and movie-making. The subtle aspect of art is what happens when a person expresses themselves and another receives the message, independent of space or time. I would challenge him to recognize that the next time he looks at a work of art, understand that a conversation is taking place and whether he understands the artist’s message or chooses to participate in the dialogue, it is there.

One way to experience the artist’s dialogue is to attend art exhibitions and talk to the artists. I participate in The White Rock Lake Studio Tour every October. It is two days of wonderful people gathering to meet the artists, view their studio spaces, and talk art. I find myself exhilarated and energized at the end of the second day when I should be exhausted; the entire experience reminds me why I do what I do. I will create over 100 small and large works of art each year and the White Rock Studio Tour is an ideal opportunity to meet art enthusiasts, reduce my prices on work that hasn’t sold, and make room in the studio for new art and hopefully that one piece that will impact the world! To view my work, visit www.scottrent.com. I look forward to meeting you!

Scott Trent is a metal sculptor and academic who works and lives in Lakewood. He teaches at the University of Texas at Dallas in the School of Arts and Technology with an emphasis on emerging media and communications. He approaches his art as a dialogue with the viewer and continually seeks ways to express an emotion, tell a story, or connect at a deeper level with his audience. Scott’s next show will be the White Rock Lake Artists Studio Tour, Oct. 17th- 18th, or visit his web site.