PLASTIC, Art, or not?

PLASTIC, Art, or not???
Art, Artists, our world, their world.By Christopher Stone, Sculptor.Since the world lost Barry Flanagan whom I considered to be my friend and mentor, I have found myself falling between two stools and although Barry was not one to hand out advice, he was always there, I could, ask him questions, and I could act on his replies.Now I ask him things in my mind, and invent his replies, which I find myself doing daily,When I last questioned him (in my mind) about my move from stone and marble sculptures to new mediums and styles I am afraid that I stumped him, I went ahead however and created a new range of sculptures for the two exhibitions I have planned for later this year, the first being at Lady Audreys in Connecticut, and then at The Forge gallery, UK.Both gallerists have been encouraging in their response, and given me a free hand, for which I am very grateful.Some people who have seen them agree that this is innovated, could be the way forward, using new materials, with colourful,and imaginative designs, however the traditionalists still keep planting seeds of doubt in my mind with comments like, “ Oh, their very light, are they plastic?” or, “Will they last?”, “ Can they go outside?”.I answer, “Yes they are light, because they are hollow, ”Should I fill them with plaster so they are heavier?” and Yes, “They can be termed as plastic, sculpture is a plastic art” and“ Yes, they will last as long as us at least,” how long do you want something to last anyway, forever?” and “Please put them outside if you need to, they will deteriorate like everything else eventually.I need some feed back from fellow artists, ones in the know, what is their idea on “Fiberglass, resins, wire, paper, acrylic, plaster, wood, polymer clay, and other “PLASTIC” materials.Chris Stone, Ibiza,2010.