I’m on a temporary assignment in New York city, and it feels like 50 F degrees below zero. So what better way than to spend a couple or three hours in the relative warmth of MOMA (Museum of Modern Art), New York city’s home to some of the world’s greatest modern and contemporary art.

A large bowl of hearty, steaming hot soup is always a fine remedy for the chills of winter.

I’ve been pondering a concrete answer to this question, and others like it for some time. I do wonder “what is art?” and “what is great art?” and “what distinguishes fine art from its non-fine cousins?” and “what makes some art better than other art?”

In formulating my answers to these questions I’ve been looking inward and searching outward. I’ve been digesting the musings of our great philosophers and eminent scholars and authors. I’m close to penning some blog-worthy articles that crystallize my current thinking on the subject, but I’m not quite ready. Not yet. So, in the meantime you and I will have to make do with deep thoughts on the subject of art from some of my friends…

Many of us make resolutions to usher in a New Year. I’m no different. So my non-exhaustive list, in no particular order (until my wife inserts several more) will signal some important changes for 2009:

1. I will get more exercise. OK, this one’s easy: I’ll hang, move, and re-arrange art around art251 more often (courtesy of my 10 ft ladder), and I’ll lift weights (thanks to James Johnson’s one-of-a-kind hand-forged steel).
2. I will continue not to smoke. I don’t smoke, and never have. But I do have an old cigarette machine, now living out its life inside art251 as a beautiful blue art-o-mat machine, selling $5 works of art.
3. I will travel more (often vicariously). I’ll revisit Africa and other exotic locales (courtesy of Sean Fitzgerald’s photographs), NYC (thanks to photo-real paintings by Michael Longhofer), and quiet Texas hill country towns (Melinda Brown).
4. I will try to dress more stylishly. If not, I’ll just look at Trish Biddle’s beautiful paintings of glamorous women in fabulous places, and imagine myself in another place and time.
5. I will add more color to my life, thanks to Scott Young, David Gappa, and Melissa Ayr. And I’ll look for patterns for success (Fil Booth)
6. I will be more environmentally conscious; I will enjoy peaceful co-existence with wildlife (Brian Davis), and I’ll say goodbye to the second car and hello bicycle (Kelly Berry).
7. I will tune in my inner child more often – I’ll dream of flying in space (Marnie Vollenhals) and play with my kids’ toys (Ivette Ramos).
8. I will seek my softer side (thanks, Sara Moe).
9. I will stop thinking in terms of black and white, but look at the world more in shades of grey (Drew Liedtke).
10. I will slow down and take more time for tea (using Kim Norris’s unique pottery).
11. I will enjoy the little things and simple pleasures in life (Faith Scott Jessup).
12. I will spend more time outdoors, enjoying nature’s wealth (Dana Blanchard).
13. I will pursue a more spiritual plane in my daily life (Chad Beene).
14. I will build a relaxing and meditative environment (Aditi Samarth).