Art is that which is made with the intention of stimulating the human senses as well as the human mind and/or spirit.

Having run the physical side of the gallery now for three plus years, I am always still amazed to find so much narrow mindedness within the arena of art. I am even more amazed when I am forced to remind artists, that the paint/ink flows out the same end for all of us. No matter who is using it.

I think it's time we all stop and ask just how open are we when it comes to embracing the self expression of individuals other than ourselves? I recently received a phone call from someone wishing to know a little more about the gallery. Eventually, the gentleman asked me the million dollar question, "Do you sell fine art". Later that day, I began to think more and more about how it has become fashionable to challenge what constitutes "Fine art."

The ultimate derivation of 'fine' in 'fine art' comes from the philosophy of Aristotle, who proposed four causes or explanations of a thing. The Final Cause of a thing is the purpose for its existence, and the term 'fine art' is derived from this notion. If the Final Cause of an artwork is simply the artwork itself, "art for art's sake," and not a means to another end, then that artwork could appropriately be called 'fine.'

Tolstoy said that "When we appraise a work of art according to its realism, we only show that we are talking, not of art, but of its counterfeit."

Eugene Delacroix once said to Baudelaire: "The visible world is only a shop full of images and signs to which imagination gives relative value and place."

Therefore, unless the meaning of a thing is understood, it is difficult to appreciate that thing in any reasonable sense. It is easy to misunderstand it, or take it for granted. Artistic creativity is the act of self-expression. The act of self-expression is blind to accuracy or definite form unless it has been tutored.

I just hope we remove the blindfold before it's too late.

Terence E Jackson