We are all Quilt Artists, so quilting is an art; most of us have been lucky enough to have been bitten by the hobby bug while practicing our art - so it is both.
And what's bad about wanting to stretch your mind? I think when you stop learning you start to get really OLD (and not in a good way!) - I have a dear friend who still, at 97, reads the NY Times every day - his body might be getting frail, but he's definitely NOT OLD!