I realize art is generally relegated to entertainment. i wanted to question the statement but refrained. What would you guys have done? Do any of you come out in defense of art as being equally as important as any science?

Is it a coincidence? I just had this discussion a few days ago with an elementary school teacher. I will refrain from delving into any scientific terms (because I am no scientist) but I do dispute the argument that art is "just entertainment". Art is very much a component of language and a general facet of human communication. Even in the most capitalistic, utilitarian forms of "art" - ads, we are attempting to communicate. Europeans (at least those I have come in contact with) don't tend to view art in such trivial terms, so I wonder if it's distinctly an American phenomenon.

Also, I think the broad dismissal of art as "cheap" has occurred because it is so readily available (book covers for instance) and the public has seen so many instances of people who appear not to have any artistic talent held up by the art elite as geniuses, which leads to the idea that art is all farce and thus meerly expensive entertainment for those who can afforg it. Also the general public seems confounded by the notion of "what exactly is art". In this culture people tend to be turned off by task that require a lot of effort or thought (note the decline of reading). Thus people distance themselves from the concept of art, tend to see it as something "other people do" as opposed to actually learning about it, learning to do it or even collecting. Instead it seems that going to the gallery becomes "something to do" when you have some time to waste on a Saturday or when you want to appear sophisticated to a friend, mate or date.

A HUGE ditto on everything Elkka says!

Also, collectors, imo, look at art for its monetary rather than aesthetic value.

It's sad.

In regard to art being as important as science, it is science, as I said. It is also history - we had art before languages. It is reading - there are volumes written about artists and how to, it is writing - calligraphy is included in many works of art, and it is also arithmetic - angles/graphs/formulas, etc.

IMHO The greatest importance of art is its cultural offering to our society. Through it, we have the ability to develop our intellectual and moral faculties. It enlightens us, and teaches us to appreciate the aesthetic. Art sometimes enables our thinking, speaking and acting - Art enhances all of these. Art was the aesthetic catalyst from cave man to current civilization and will be from now to generations in the distant future. I can only hope that a mature appreciation of the fine arts will replace the interest in violent sports and similarly - war.
jan