My opinion is that what could be considered art is ubiquitous. The medium of expression is unlimited: graphic, plastic, literary, musical, physical, even the way some people lead their entire lives.
Its means of creation incredibly varied - inspiration, design, accident, discovery, collaborative or procedural process are just some of the ways someone can set out to produce art.
The appreciation of art is not confined to aesthetic beauty. A piece of art can speak to any aspect of emotion, intellect or sensual perception. Some art is stronger because of its ability to exclude, some to be universal. Art can be cruel, unspeakable and unjustifiable.
A work can also transition between and exist in various states. It could be considered art, craft, functional object or commodity, according to its purpose, perception, the means by which it came in to someone's possesion or the reputation of its maker. All of which can change over time. For much of an object's existence it is not neccesary to 'get' its artistic qualities. A ceramic's success is often measured in its ability to hold tea, for the handle's consistent attachment, its comfort and ease of use and maybe not being so fugly that it stays at the back of the cupboard. All elements that will have involved a qualitative judgement at some point in the mug's development. It's only when it is placed on display and judged on its artistic qualities that someone's not 'getting it' means it becomes a failure. By exhibiting their work artists demand that such assessments are made. Risking artistic failure is essential to avoid art becoming solely a craft, or worse, product than can be endlessly replicated, if that happens, we lose the human component that has driven and informs the continued development of so many aspects of our lives. Artists frequently rely on craft and prioritise creating a product rather than dedicate themselves solely to 'art'. They have to.
I've reached such opinions mainly by working in a couple of collaborative art forms, theatre and film. There are advantages in how audiences tend to judge them both that increase artistic freedom. The experience of either is seen as an event in itself regardless of the artistic merits of the actual work. A film or play can successfully entertain, inform or distract members of its audience without relying on its artistic qualities throughout or even at all.
Every single element, down to which nail or screw is used, which eyelash is focussed on, what thought informs a breath, is to some extent an artistic choice. When every aspect of life is examined on its artistic merits the art in all the mundane objects we use and how we use them becomes apparent.
Tens to thousands of people will be used to bring the project to fruition usually with tight budgets and serious time constraints. The mix of chaos and structure, collaboration and need for attention to detail requires lots of qualitative judgement. There are artists that in other environments would be considered a tradesperson but their knowledge, skills and ability to affect the audience's perception through media diverse as water, light or hair are unarguable when witnessed. World class, gifted artists can be seen day in, day out relying on hard work, trade craft and collaboration to deliver a product. Huge effort, skill and art goes into work that if successful the audience will be oblivious of yet deeply moved by. The recreation of the viscerally unpleasant can be an art. The same goes for the absolutely mundane. There is a huge opportunity in providing contrast for human emotions that requires finding ways of making the conventionally ugly breathtakingly beautiful. It's a strange world but pretty much anything can be elevated to an artform or circumstances may demand that the same people deliver a facsimile of that work now and a hundred times over.
Nothing is a guarantee of artistic success. Frequently it comes out of nowhere, smacks you round the head and runs off.
A piece of work can be considered art in Vienna and Warwick, yet in Northampton and Kingston-upon-Thames it is utterly worthless.
Talking about the arts usually ends up as spouting pure wank. To use a theatre specific technical term.