What Is Art?

“Art is a butterfly dancing on Sherlock Holmes’ violin bow as seen by Salvador Dali.” This was Old Mo Clark’s prize-winning answer to that very question; “What is art?” 

The ABC’s Radio National was on a quest to find the answer to this perplexing mystery and the responses where many and varied leading me to the conclusion, “my dear Watson”, that art can be anything you like. 

I recall teaching myself to play the flute some years ago with a book entitled “The Art of Flute Playing”.  “The Ancient Art of Self Defence”, “The Art of Water Colours”, “The Art of Flower Arranging”. The list goes on and on and I think you’re getting the picture. It’s a case of A-Z.

You are now entering the “Art Zone”.

Norm Kopievsky, of Russian descent, (His grandfather was a lieutenant in the Czar’s Army before the Russian Revolution) found himself working on the Snowy Mountain Scheme during the late 1950’s. Living at Island Bend and later running the power station at Guthega it was in this environment of hard work, difficult terrain and multicultural harmony that love and art made an entrance into Norm’s life.

A certain Irene Smeed worked in the engineer’s office at the Warragamba dam some 500kms to the north of the Snowies and as an ex-farm girl from the Bathurst region she shared another interest in common with Norm. They both enjoyed a shot or two. I’m speaking of ballistic shots here although I’m sure schnapps was also on the agenda.

During the construction of the Snowy Scheme it was not uncommon for busloads of tourists to visit the Snowies and witness first hand the engineering marvels being created.  It was on one such trip that Irene met Norm. The result was marriage in 1961 and they’re still a happy couple today some 45 years later.   

On completion of the Snowy Scheme many of the work camps and villages were levelled and returned to the natural parkland state. Island Bend was, at its peak, supporting a population of 2000 people. Wet canteens, housing, office structures and a couple of churches were all moved out or destroyed and this was when Norm’s artistic side surfaced. Rescuing a damaged church pew from the bonfire, Norm fashioned it into a specially designed ladies rifle butt for his new bride Irene.

So, what is art?

“A beautifully carved rifle, on target as seen through the sights by Irene?“