ATM: Art, Tiles, Mosaics... an adventure in creativity

Art in the 21st Century
So, I've been viewing the PBS series, Art in the 21st Century on DVD (Oh, NetFlix, how you have changed my life)... just finished the third series. This has been a love/indifferent/hate relationship experience for me. I can't get my head around a lot of what is presented in this series as supposedly "art." A blue plastic bucket from the 99 cent store, I don't think so. What amuses me is how seriously some of these "artists" take themselves. It must be because they have not lived outside their protective bubble. You go to art school, everybody just adores your work, you get commissions from people who don't know any better, and it's a case of the emperor's clothes all over again. What do I know? I don't have a fine arts degree, I'm not an art historian, I don't own a gallery, I'm only a dabbler as an artist. But I don't have to be a murderer to know that murder is wrong! Do I?
Okay, I am jealous, I admit it. If somebody, anybody, had told me art was a respectable profession and I could be involved in it, had given me the tiniest smidgen of encouragement, I would have been on it like you know what on you know what. But that didn't happen. Just the opposite. Yes, I see myself in these videos, working away in my studio, being PAID to have fun and express myself. But instead, I spent my life slogging away for the corporation, under-satisfied, under-appreciated, under-paid. So I am entitled to be bitter, right?
I can't deny it. I am prejudiced.
But then, I don't even have the expectation that art will be beautiful. That is not the point. But shouldn't art, at least, be meaningful? That is a real question. I know the definition of art is obscure. In fact, I've come to the conclusion that art cannot be defined. But it doesn't stop me wrestling with it. The word "Art" must stand for something. Otherwise it is meaningless. But what is it? Well, I suppose it is like trying to define God. It has different meanings to everybody.
However, I also must say that although I disliked or was indifferent to at least 60% of the art shown on the series, I truly embraced a good 40% of it. I can't say that 40% was my cup of tea, but I did understand where the artists were coming from and what they were trying to do. And of that 40% I probably really loved at least half. On the whole, I found the series inspiring and well worth watching. I'm looking forward to series four.
I could not live in this world without art. It is what makes life worthwhile for me. And I'll gladly take the good with the bad than not have art at all.