More and more these sorts of discussions where we all try to pin down an elusive term like "folk music" or "folk singer" remind me of a conversation I had a few years ago with a friend of mine who makes his living as an artist. The topic of what exactly is art came up and I figured, "Here's a guy who does this for a living. He should certainly be able to define what he does." So, I asked him point blank: "Larry, what is art?"

He thought about it for a little while, took a drink from his coffee cup and said -- in all seriousness mind you -- "Well, I guess I'd have to say that art is what artists do."

- Sean