It's by Thomas Kinkade, but is that Art?

ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By Ernest Britton

Recently a friend's mother commented that an abstract painting in my collection, "Doesn't look like art to me." So my question for her is what is Art? The woman in question thinks that popular Christian artist Thomas Kinkade sets the standard for great art, and covets his annual calendars like the Pope covets a Michelangelo, but what do the experts say?

In 2008, Rachel Beckman wrote in the The Washington Post that, "Mocking Thomas Kinkade is perhaps the one activity that brings the art world together." But is it art or simply commerce? Some think art is gauged by its economic worth, and listen intently to the marketing of the art, or to what the auctions at Christies bring in.

Using that standard, MSN recently reported that "If you stare at the Thomas Kinkade painting on your wall each day thinking, "There's my retirement fund," prepare to pour skim lattes until you're 90." In fact, the highly popular Kincade paintings are listed on MSN's ranking of "completely worthless collectibles" and on Thursday, the press reported that his empire was struggling with $3 million bankruptcy.

So, if money isn't the answer, what do the philosophers say? Aristotle said, "The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance" but not all philosophers agree. What about the artists? American master artist Georgia O'Keefe said, "Art is not what you see, but what you make others see" but others disagreed.

Maybe, my friend's mom was right to stick to Thomas Kincade calendars and just not worry about art.