Should I use the term "Creative Expression" more than "Art?"

My niche has become clear over the past decade, and it is the intersection of creativity and liberation. Every time I check in with myself if it still rings true, I feel it deep in my gut with a resounding YES YES YES. I can talk about it every day. I interact with it every day in my own personal life. And I can see myself growing older with it.Tiffany’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.In workshops and webinars I’ve facilitated, I define art very broadly - it is creating something into a different form. From my value set, I bring it further by adding the intention of bringing us closer to ourselves, our community, and to our integrity. Cooking is a great example of how I define art: it is the transforming the form of the ingredients into something that is pleasurable for ourselves and maybe even for our community.Another example is thinking about relationships as art. It is the changing of form from conversations, vulnerability, and experiences together that can deepen our knowing and loving ourselves and one another.Now, I don’t think that’s how most people define it. For most people, the gut instinct is probably picturing fine art paintings or sculptures. We were taught from the get-go that institutions define what is art or at least good art. And of course white supremest colonialism is at the base of institutions…so we also know that we are taught to see euro standards as the pinnacle of good art.Knowing that…I wonder if I should use the term “creative expression” more?There is definitely less connotation to that term and it might feel more assessable for the every day person. Maybe that’s why I’m so drawn to using "Liberatory Imagination,” because it feels like anybody can do it. I also think that “art” might connote more of an end product, where “creative expression” emphasizes on the process. That’s significant for me, because how our bodies and souls feels while creating is crucial to the healing elements of creativity.BUT going back to the term “art,” I want to reclaim it. I want to decolonize the word and bring it back to how our ancestors interacted with art. It centered connection to each other and to the land - it brought pleasure and held grief - it had something to express and to proclaim. I think that art is inherently liberatory.When I create from a place of connection, it opens my capacity for truth and truth telling. I can’t help but be braver and more tender at the same time. My love and hope grows.Over the years, I’ve learned to protect my creative energy. There is no amount of money or accolade that I would sell the integral core of my art for. My existential destiny requires me to embody the true essence of creativity for our collective liberation. I’m laughing because it’s such a funny thing where art isn’t that deep and at the same time that deep.All that being said, I’ll probably use the two terms interchangeably, but what do you think?Tiffany’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to LIBERATORY IMAGINATION at tiffanywongart.substack.com/subscribe