Maybe a higher way of looking at art is not "art as advocacy".  That's too shallow...too much standard NCR agenda....but instead....

...Art as prayer; art as communion with God.

and to the artist, maybe higher goals would be...how can my artistic skills and insight help others come cloeser to God, how can it help them contemplate the true, the good, the beautiful?

Can my art create sincere contemplation?  Bring them closer to God?  Cause them to self examine?  Lead them to better striving...more generosity, more patience with others, more gratitude, more simplicity?

Todays' Gospel of the Centurion comes to mind.  Notice how it's AFTER he (a pagan Centurion) asks the Jewish  elders to intercede on his slave's behalf for healing from Jesus..he (the Centurion) wakes up...in a moment and act of humility he realizes 'who am I to ask this Jesus for this favor'.

What a marvelous moment of examination and contemplation..leading to deeper humility and faith.