ART Is a 3 Letter Word

Good Afternoon All 

I am honoured to be here today, in the National Gallery of Jamaica, to speak to you about ART – specifically the ART in Fashion as we open this exhibit entitled Beyond Fashion. 

This is an exhibit of works by Artists and Artisans - both insiders and outsiders - in the field of  Textiles, Fashion and Garment making. These works are inspired by, and comment on Fashion  as a practical, personal and decorative art form. An art form with the ability to communicate so  much about who we are as individuals, and as a society; How we feel about ourselves and our  surroundings; Our ambitions for ourselves and our collective future. This communication is non verbal but understood in all languages. This communication is universal - and at the core of this communication is a 3 letter word: ART.

The word ART comes from the latin “ARS” meaning skill, craft or craftsmanship. A-R-T is a tiny little word with infinite possibilities. 

Art is something that is “made by humans”. But, the inspiration for almost all forms of ART comes from Nature either directly (like a still life or a portrait) or indirectly like the sleek  aerodynamic lines of a sports car (shapes designed to channel wind and decrease friction to  increase speed and performance). 

Think of any piece of art, or just any beautiful man-made object and you can find nature in it. Let’s ponder that for a second… 

Now, no matter what we believe, all of us humans see something special, maybe a divine  presence or a higher order in Nature, in the world around us. And therefore, so it is with ART.  For us humans, the creative process is the closest many of us will ever come to understanding  the mysteries of our universe. 

You may ask: So what about Science?

September 26, 2018 | M. Simone Clarke/SiiM  

Well, my answer to you is that Science and Math are just different forms of ART using formulas  and numbers instead of paint, canvas and clay. The complex formulas and equations that  describe the laws of Physics are just a different way of seeing nature, describing nature. Just a different type of ART. 

So, ART is our most basic human way to describe, understand and celebrate our constantly  changing nature. 

We make paintings of the perfect sunset as we want to see it. 

We make sculptures of imaginary objects that do not yet exist but become real in our hands. 

We make elaborate jewelry from precious metals and gems to express our individual taste or  social status. 

We cut and braid hair into fantastic, gravity-defying forms. 

We design wonderful parks and plant beautiful gardens. 

We design buildings and bridges not just to live in, or get across a river or a canyon, but to  inspire and awe our fellow humans, and to leave a legacy for the generations who come after. 

We make furniture that makes us comfortable and also beautifies a room. We make cars that look fast even when they aren’t moving. 

We make tiny computers that manage our daily lives, and also match what we are wearing. 

We design clothing that improves the human form and makes us appear more beautiful to each  other – giving nature a push so to speak. 

We design fabrics to cover everything in our world from people to furniture to entire buildings. We create meals that are as beautiful to our eyes as to our noses and taste-buds. 

We write stories, with just words, and create the most amazing pictures in the minds of our  readers.

September 26, 2018 | M. Simone Clarke/SiiM  

We write songs – new songs every day – that make millions of people sing along. We create things, and change our world, our Nature, every single day. 

There is NOTHING manufactured or made by human hands, or machines that does not have  ART stamped all over it. 

Even machines themselves are a work of Human ART. 

So, is ART important? What do you think? 

And is art just drawing? Just painting? No… 

ART is making something where before there was nothing. 

Art is taking bits of trash and building something useful or beautiful. ART is improving a thing – making it look better, taste better, work better. ART is the core of what we are. ART is creative  problem solving. ART is the truest expression of humanity, and no matter what you do in life  ART will be right in the middle of it. You just have to remember that it is there. 

How do you do that you may wonder? 

Many young people start out with high hopes for an ART career and end up doing things that  seem to have nothing to do with art. So, have they lost ART? How do you make ART if you  happen to be a garbage collector? Or a gardener? Or work in a store? 

HOW you make ART is to make something where before there was nothing. 

So, if you’re a garbage collector – then be a garbage magician. Not only do you pick up the trash  but when you’re gone, is was as if neither you nor the trash was ever there. 

If you’re a gardener – you learn to make your plants sing. 

If you’re a store clerk – you make smiles out of blank faces. 

Make your world better in every way you can – and when you do, when you create something  beautiful where before there was nothing, you will be the best ARTIST you can be.

September 26, 2018 | M. Simone Clarke/SiiM  

We also need to change the way we think and talk about ART! 

Often, the problem with discussions about ART is that we keep breaking it down, pulling it  apart, trying to differentiate between this ART and that ART; then make quality judgements  based on current, arbitrary social ideas or trends. This is similar to the Divide and Conquer  principle in War: scatter your enemy and crush him. We compare and define and break ART  down into little bits and grind it under our collective shoes. We need to STOP that. We need to  teach people to see ART as an integrated creative process – a way to build success on top of  success. To be able to observe, learn and progress from even the basest forms of creativity. 

ART is literally in everything we do and experience as Humans. So, it is important to recognize  and appreciate all the unsung, unknown ARTISTS and ARTISANS that contribute to everything  that we take for granted around us. 

We need to seek out, encourage and nurture the talents and skills that will make the beautiful  objects and environments of the future. 

My own journey has been all about ART. 

I happen to have some natural talent, which was supported and nurtured by my parents and  family. I went to college and was trained as an architect – a career that is equal parts science,  fine art and business management. In my life I have been a fine artist (painter), sculptor, 3D  Computer modeller, fashion designer, furniture designer, event planner and designer, interior  designer, landscape designer, graphic designer, writer and self-taught chef and this list will keep  getting longer as long as I am alive. 

My secret is to never be afraid to try something new. To jump in with both feet… and maybe  fail miserably. But to try my best to learn equally from my failures and successes so as to be the  best that I can at whatever I am doing, no matter what. 

And… always… to keep making something out of nothing. 

So today, please join me, and let us experience ART – Beyond Fashion.