What makes art?

[Nicole!]

We discussed this question in my french class (we were discussing museums in Paris) and I'm wondering what you guys think of it.

If an artist signs his/her name on something, does it make it art?

For example there is a piece of art that is a snow shovel with an artist's name on it. Does this make it art?
Either yes, it is art because an artist says so, or no, because its something ordinary.

So what do you guys think?

[Power Cosmic]

I think the definition of art is..well, it's something that's a piece of creative expression.

What form this expression takes is more or less infinite, as long as it's creative expression in one way or another.

I know that's rather broad criteria, but *shrugs*, that's just how it is. Or at least, how I see it to be.

[Kanye West]

Straight from Wikipedia (and you can agree or disagree with the definition)

Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items (often with symbolic significance) in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect. It encompasses a diverse range of human activities, creations, and modes of expression, including music, literature, film, photography, sculpture, and paintings. The meaning of art is explored in a branch of philosophy known as aesthetics, and even disciplines such as history and psychology analyze its relationship with humans and generations.
Traditionally, the term art was used to refer to any skill or mastery. This conception changed during the Romantic period, when art came to be seen as "a special faculty of the human mind to be classified with religion and science".[1] Generally, art is made with the intention of stimulating thoughts and emotions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art

Art can be different things to different people. I would go an art exhibit/gallery with the expectation of either seeing good design or thought provoking meaning. The artist signing a shovel on something does not seem to be art to me.