Hi, this is Aili Bresnahan. I am interested in why and how artists make art, what this experience is like, and why this perspective matters. What does art mean to artists, to art appreciators, to philosophy, to society, to history? Where does the need to make, perform and appreciate art come from and what kind of need is it? Is there any meaning or purpose in this phenomenon (which seems to exist in every culture)? Is art conducive to our well-being? Is art's origin physical, psychological, metaphysical, cultural, historical, contextual, rational, intuitive, natural, biological, spiritual, intentional or some mixture of all of these factors? Does art exist in every human life? Is it different for those with exceptional creativity or genius?
I would welcome any elucidating or entertaining thoughts on any of the above questions, along with any evidence/reasons you have for them in whatever form.
Aili Bresnahan
4117 N. Kostner Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
ailib@artistsmatter.com