The Freedom of Expression

I like the following quote from Einstein because it represents the tip of the iceberg of what is a very large subject:

"Laws alone can not secure freedom of expression; in order that every man present his views without penalty there must be spirit of tolerance in the entire population."

-Albert Einstein

For example, separation of church and state is one of the greatest things about America, and the ability to worship or not worship in any way that one wants to, is exactly the kind of place I want to live in. Another great idea is what a lot of cities and states have now; a 1% for art program, which require 1% of the money spent on certain public construction projects, be matched with money spent on art projects. The world would be a grey and dull place without art, imagine if there was no dancing, music, movies, television, sculpture, art; the list is endless. Even and especially ideas that are considered distasteful and shocking to some, must still be allowed to exist. To have otherwise is inviting mindless and domineering thought control. A truly free society must never give in to tradition for the sake of conformity.

There is always that question, "what is art?" For me, the answer is another question - "what is not art?" Art can be anything, the way the light catches and reflects from a window, that classic idea of the leaf swirling in the wind, etc. From a deeply personal symbolic language, to a representation of your lover or favorite haunt, to creating something completely new from nothing, to a child's intuitive interpretation of the world. Me personally, I don't think everything has been done already and can prove it with my artwork.