Comments on: Craft: Still a Dirty Word, or Dare Now Speak its Name? http://hyperallergic.com/120/craft-still-a-dirty-word/ Sensitive to Art and its Discontents Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:58:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Melanie http://hyperallergic.com/120/craft-still-a-dirty-word/comment-page-1/#comment-122 Melanie Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:13:25 +0000 http://dev.hyperallergic.com/?p=120#comment-122 Great article Amy (Francesco C. passed it on to me). I do think there are still many people who think of craft as "dirty", because it has been easier historically to position it that way. But, as an active participant in the craft scene over the last few years, I think there has been a realignment of craft at this point in time with art, DIY and design under a broader/more holistic category of creativity or aesthetics. It will be interesting to see how this current cohort of makers moves craft forward, particularly with the accessibility of online tools and technology in general. I also think it's important to consider that craft is very much an integral part of people's cultural and economic identity in other parts of the world; perhaps it would be worthwhile for us makers to look there for inspiration as well. Great article Amy (Francesco C. passed it on to me).

I do think there are still many people who think of craft as “dirty”, because it has been easier historically to position it that way. But, as an active participant in the craft scene over the last few years, I think there has been a realignment of craft at this point in time with art, DIY and design under a broader/more holistic category of creativity or aesthetics. It will be interesting to see how this current cohort of makers moves craft forward, particularly with the accessibility of online tools and technology in general. I also think it’s important to consider that craft is very much an integral part of people’s cultural and economic identity in other parts of the world; perhaps it would be worthwhile for us makers to look there for inspiration as well.

]]> By: Melanie http://hyperallergic.com/120/craft-still-a-dirty-word/comment-page-1/#comment-2006 Melanie Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:13:00 +0000 http://dev.hyperallergic.com/?p=120#comment-2006 Great article Amy (Francesco C. passed it on to me). I do think there are still many people who think of craft as "dirty", because it has been easier historically to position it that way. But, as an active participant in the craft scene over the last few years, I think there has been a realignment of craft at this point in time with art, DIY and design under a broader/more holistic category of creativity or aesthetics. It will be interesting to see how this current cohort of makers moves craft forward, particularly with the accessibility of online tools and technology in general. I also think it's important to consider that craft is very much an integral part of people's cultural and economic identity in other parts of the world; perhaps it would be worthwhile for us makers to look there for inspiration as well. Great article Amy (Francesco C. passed it on to me).

I do think there are still many people who think of craft as “dirty”, because it has been easier historically to position it that way. But, as an active participant in the craft scene over the last few years, I think there has been a realignment of craft at this point in time with art, DIY and design under a broader/more holistic category of creativity or aesthetics. It will be interesting to see how this current cohort of makers moves craft forward, particularly with the accessibility of online tools and technology in general. I also think it’s important to consider that craft is very much an integral part of people’s cultural and economic identity in other parts of the world; perhaps it would be worthwhile for us makers to look there for inspiration as well.

]]> By: Kirsty Hall http://hyperallergic.com/120/craft-still-a-dirty-word/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Kirsty Hall Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:36:39 +0000 http://dev.hyperallergic.com/?p=120#comment-37 As a fine artist making work which often utilises craft techniques, I sometimes come across prejudice from the contemporary art world but thankfully I think it's starting to lessen. Conversely, I've never had any hassle from the online crafting community, who have always accepted my work with great enthusiasm. I think the two areas are gradually coming back together and intermixing and in the future it may become an increasingly irrelevant distinction. As a fine artist making work which often utilises craft techniques, I sometimes come across prejudice from the contemporary art world but thankfully I think it’s starting to lessen. Conversely, I’ve never had any hassle from the online crafting community, who have always accepted my work with great enthusiasm. I think the two areas are gradually coming back together and intermixing and in the future it may become an increasingly irrelevant distinction.

]]> By: Kirsty Hall http://hyperallergic.com/120/craft-still-a-dirty-word/comment-page-1/#comment-2005 Kirsty Hall Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:36:00 +0000 http://dev.hyperallergic.com/?p=120#comment-2005 As a fine artist making work which often utilises craft techniques, I sometimes come across prejudice from the contemporary art world but thankfully I think it's starting to lessen. Conversely, I've never had any hassle from the online crafting community, who have always accepted my work with great enthusiasm. I think the two areas are gradually coming back together and intermixing and in the future it may become an increasingly irrelevant distinction. As a fine artist making work which often utilises craft techniques, I sometimes come across prejudice from the contemporary art world but thankfully I think it’s starting to lessen. Conversely, I’ve never had any hassle from the online crafting community, who have always accepted my work with great enthusiasm. I think the two areas are gradually coming back together and intermixing and in the future it may become an increasingly irrelevant distinction.

]]> By: Marion Callis http://hyperallergic.com/120/craft-still-a-dirty-word/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Marion Callis Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:54:25 +0000 http://dev.hyperallergic.com/?p=120#comment-36 Regretfully, "craft" has been a dirty word for so long that many young artists neglect that aspect of making art objects. As a long-time museum/gallery director, I often received work by young artists that was so poorly made it was falling apart. I'd occasionally be forced, by the poor quality of construction, to refuse to exhibit work, and contacted the artist(s) (offering the options of repairing it or retrieving it), who disdained my complaint as pedestrian and ignorant about the concept of their work. Often their instructors also had no regard for craftsmanship in their own or their students' work, and neglected to address that critical element in teaching. Their limited, snobbish perception of "craft" shot their work in the proverbial foot - what gallery/museum wants to damage its reputation by showing dismally made and thus inadequately realized art work? Regretfully, “craft” has been a dirty word for so long that many young artists neglect that aspect of making art objects. As a long-time museum/gallery director, I often received work by young artists that was so poorly made it was falling apart. I’d occasionally be forced, by the poor quality of construction, to refuse to exhibit work, and contacted the artist(s) (offering the options of repairing it or retrieving it), who disdained my complaint as pedestrian and ignorant about the concept of their work. Often their instructors also had no regard for craftsmanship in their own or their students’ work, and neglected to address that critical element in teaching. Their limited, snobbish perception of “craft” shot their work in the proverbial foot – what gallery/museum wants to damage its reputation by showing dismally made and thus inadequately realized art work?

]]> By: Marion Callis http://hyperallergic.com/120/craft-still-a-dirty-word/comment-page-1/#comment-2004 Marion Callis Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:54:00 +0000 http://dev.hyperallergic.com/?p=120#comment-2004 Regretfully, "craft" has been a dirty word for so long that many young artists neglect that aspect of making art objects. As a long-time museum/gallery director, I often received work by young artists that was so poorly made it was falling apart. I'd occasionally be forced, by the poor quality of construction, to refuse to exhibit work, and contacted the artist(s) (offering the options of repairing it or retrieving it), who disdained my complaint as pedestrian and ignorant about the concept of their work. Often their instructors also had no regard for craftsmanship in their own or their students' work, and neglected to address that critical element in teaching. Their limited, snobbish perception of "craft" shot their work in the proverbial foot - what gallery/museum wants to damage its reputation by showing dismally made and thus inadequately realized art work? Regretfully, “craft” has been a dirty word for so long that many young artists neglect that aspect of making art objects. As a long-time museum/gallery director, I often received work by young artists that was so poorly made it was falling apart. I’d occasionally be forced, by the poor quality of construction, to refuse to exhibit work, and contacted the artist(s) (offering the options of repairing it or retrieving it), who disdained my complaint as pedestrian and ignorant about the concept of their work. Often their instructors also had no regard for craftsmanship in their own or their students’ work, and neglected to address that critical element in teaching. Their limited, snobbish perception of “craft” shot their work in the proverbial foot – what gallery/museum wants to damage its reputation by showing dismally made and thus inadequately realized art work?

]]> By: Craft: Still a Dirty Word, or Dare Now Speak its Name? « found curve http://hyperallergic.com/120/craft-still-a-dirty-word/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Craft: Still a Dirty Word, or Dare Now Speak its Name? « found curve Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:57:15 +0000 http://dev.hyperallergic.com/?p=120#comment-35 [...] first piece for the new art blogazine Hyperallergic posted last [...] [...] first piece for the new art blogazine Hyperallergic posted last [...]

]]> By: Victoria http://hyperallergic.com/120/craft-still-a-dirty-word/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Victoria Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:12:00 +0000 http://dev.hyperallergic.com/?p=120#comment-34 Etsy is quite a phenomenon, not just for artisans but for fine artists as well. With 3.5 million viewers a month and growing faster than the retail behemoth QVC's online audience, it offers a global viewership impossible to find in any local or struggling gallery. Some of us are beginning to make a living on our art, once an impossible dream. Etsy is quite a phenomenon, not just for artisans but for fine artists as well. With 3.5 million viewers a month and growing faster than the retail behemoth QVC’s online audience, it offers a global viewership impossible to find in any local or struggling gallery.

Some of us are beginning to make a living on our art, once an impossible dream.

]]> By: Victoria http://hyperallergic.com/120/craft-still-a-dirty-word/comment-page-1/#comment-2003 Victoria Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:12:00 +0000 http://dev.hyperallergic.com/?p=120#comment-2003 Etsy is quite a phenomenon, not just for artisans but for fine artists as well. With 3.5 million viewers a month and growing faster than the retail behemoth QVC's online audience, it offers a global viewership impossible to find in any local or struggling gallery. Some of us are beginning to make a living on our art, once an impossible dream. Etsy is quite a phenomenon, not just for artisans but for fine artists as well. With 3.5 million viewers a month and growing faster than the retail behemoth QVC’s online audience, it offers a global viewership impossible to find in any local or struggling gallery.

Some of us are beginning to make a living on our art, once an impossible dream.

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