I have personally visited the art competition in Helaman Halls and I found that the distinction 'Kiddie Art' is a truthful one. The pieces classified as such were nothing more than pencil scribbles with little or no artistic value. Surely there is a difference between just and unjust discrimination.
The individuals who defend this 'art' are nothing but tour guides on our quest towards mediocrity and ambiguity, who characteristically glorify the works that push us in that direction. These people are simply whiners and attention grabbers who are jealous of the genuine skill expressed in the other works of art displayed. I have no idea what was meant by 'acceptance of the saints,' written in one letter, but I don't accept the appraisal of thoughtless scribbles above the hard work and genius of real artists, as these people have attempted to do.
All of my peers whose art was 'unjustly' labeled have undoubtedly put labels of their own on the art they enjoy. We have all distinguished between a 'lame' TV show and a good one, or a book worth reading and a piece of junk. Thus, not all 'artistic' works are and should be treated equally, as these protests have suggested. There is a distinction and the day we fail to make that distinction is the day we make mediocrity the standard by which we judge our work. If the individual were to be the only judge of the quality of his or her work (as some have suggested), there would be no incentive for excellence or improvement.
Jeff Thayne
Elk Ridge