What is art , a question that is often asked.

A few weeks ago I attended a creative persons get together at the Aspex Gallery cafe in Portsmouth.
One of the questions we were asked is if needed to describe what art was how would we describe it?

The old saying its as long as it is short often applies in this case with so many perspectives it is never on that wil receive a definitive answer as it is so subjective.
I often think of such a topic with one that is often associated with a question and a emotion be it positive or negative, as with all relationships in life we often partner with someone who has different views to our own.
When ever I go to London I usually try to visit gallerys such as the Tate Modern. I can't admit to liking everything that I see however my favorite pieces are the ones that challenge me to think differently or leave me a sense of wonder .
I wont admit to understanding  much of the concept art for example a stuffed horse or a piece of tree on a metal fence, after all the horse was amazing in its own right and was not created stuffing an animal and hanging it from the ceiling or cutting a fence that has a branch embedded could be argued to be an  interesting idea or statement however for me just because it is placed in a gallery does not make it a piece of art.
Now I admit that this description can equally be applied to other situations and in my case that usually relates to a scenic view, waterfalls, sunsets or a collected group of sounds.
But isn't that the point .... art should be evoke an emotion, be it wonderment or loathing it doesn't  matter, it should be something that has been created and at its very best ideally inspire.