There have already been a number of comments, essentially relating "art" to "the beautiful".

Art is not always about the beautiful. Take Picasso's Les Demoiselles D'Avignon or Guernica. Anything but beautiful, but meaningful, and worthwhile.

Now this thread is about "Folk Art", not art in general, I realize. So, for an example in the musical realm, take Strange Fruit. Not beautiful, but a powerful communication of emotion. Yes, it's a commercial song, not folk, but it illustrates the point I'm trying to make.

Dave Oesterreich