If you've been to an art museum or gallery opening, you've probably heard that question. A person may not ask this question aloud. It might only be said in a whisper. It may merely be expressed through body language or could be written all over a person's face. At some point, in some place, you've heard that question: How is that art?

In 2014 I curated my first gallery show in San Francisco. The room was abuzz as people mingled and took in the art. Even above the noise of the packed gallery, my ear could pick up that question. The sting of that question was followed by another blow. It was accompanied by the statement "I could have made that." Not one to bite my tongue, I quickly intercepted with "Yeah, but you didn't"

Rather than try to answer that question, I want to rebuttal it with a different thought; "What is art?" For some, art may purely be the final product. For others it's a feeling that the artistic process evokes. You're free to question "How is that art?", but how can we deem if something qualifies as art if the passions and thoughts around art know no boundaries? So...What is art? To soothe my curiosity, I turned to social media to ask this very question.