Original Question/Why Carve?

["Harry Phillips" <hvp1others@zzzzzzzzzzzzz>]

Dear Stone Folks, As an ageing lurker, I would like to timidly add my two
cents worth to this discussion. In no way is my knowledgs of stone worthy of
this group. I have recently fallen in love with the native stone of eastern
Pennsylvania. My accomplishments so far are five small garden type
decorative sculpts. However I have been painting all of my life (72 years)
and have some knowledge of the arts in general.

Many years ago, before most of you were born. I learned the criteria for
judging art. Through the years it has become increasingly unpopular to judge
anything but popularity does not change basic verities. You all have
recently exposed me to the magnificence of modern Japanese art. Dammit these
people are doing something wonderfully right. I humbly propose that, based
on ancient principles, those things are;
                 1. Technical competence.
                 2. Universiality of appeal.
                 3. Message conveyed.
The Russian sculpts of piles of dung enraged me so badly that I threw the
books away. Duchamp's urinal probably did change the art world. But to me it
will always be self serving and trivial, as is much of the art world. (Hey!
Look at me!) They try too hard to be GOOD. The humility displayed by the
titanic efforts of great sculptors make me want to kneel in their presence.

Thank you for listening to an anachronistic old guy.  Harry