Catherine Bertola. Scratching at the Surface (detail). 2001. Found painted surface. Newcastle Upon Tyne, ©Locus+ Archive, Photo Steve Collins.
Art versus craft. I’ve been thinking about this topic for a while now. After looking through the images from an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum entitled Out of the Ordinary: Spectacular Craft, I am left contemplating the nature of craft. For me, craft is about making beautiful functional objects. These artists are definitely pushing the limits. I suppose that fine art has traditionally moved ahead of craft in setting trends. I am particularly moved by British artist Catherine Bertola, whose work is shown above. She evokes a sense of the past and questions the traditional domain of women, as she frequently uses dust as a medium. Her work is about the forgotten; making something beautiful from the decay of the everyday.
The distinctions between fine art and craft are becoming more ambiguous these days. I was a slack art history major and spent a few years working in a museum, so I felt that I had some understanding of fine art. Something about having kids has caused me to re-think all the “deep” feelings that I once had. Much of what I see happening in the art world these days seems frivolous to me (I’m certain you could say the same of the craft movement). Still, so many things changed for me once I became a parent. Of course I can see the beauty and the value of art as it pushes society forward and confronts reality, but there is something about fine art that leaves me cold these days. Is there as much value in a beautifully crafted piece of furniture as there is in a painting with a social or political message? For me, the idea of painstakingly putting yourself into a functional object that can be passed down to the next generation is beautiful and I just can’t compare the two things.
Perhaps this is all defensive talk because I love crafts and have no artistic ability. But I also have trouble with the distinctions being made within the so-called “craft revolution”. Sure, I can dismiss the artistic merits of the country style cat quilt, but I am in awe of traditional techniques and if someone spends hours making anything, then I am impressed. Modern crafters are using most of the same techniques that have been passed down from our grandmothers, but re-interpreting them. I appreciate innovation and strive to come up with new ideas in my own work, but for me, there’s just nothing wrong with my grandmother’s crafts.
Lace Tatting from the 1840s. Image from The Ring of Tatters. I saw some women practicing this craft and it is the most amazing and detailed work that I have ever seen. To spend hours on a tiny object like this is simply unbelievable. And then to see them machine-produced! Oh, the heartache.
Very good piece. So glad you’ve discovered tatting which is very much alive and prospering worldwide and thanks to the internet! By the way, this is one lace which cannot yet be made by machine!!!
Jane
http://janeeborall.blogspot.com/
http://www.janeeborall.com/
There’s so much I wanted to say in response to your great post — but there’s too much to say. I thought you posed some interesting questions. It seems to me that art and craft are branches of the same tree. They both come from a place of learning techniques. It seems like there are two sets of historic techniques that divided the two: function (sewing, pottery, woodworking, etc.) and form (oils, sculpture, drawing, etc.). One was a trade to sell. One was a trade to elevate. Now the two branches intertwine and techniques historically used for one are being used for the other, and the purpose of each are up for grabs too. Both can ask us to think differently.
Thought this artist is a great example of crossing over to the other branch and blending art with craft. Amazing.
http://www.artnet.com/artwork/424603828/423788845/dave-cole-the-knitting-machine.html
What is art? What is craft? Also, what is design?
Lovely tatted piece you have there!
I just had a conversation with US Customs regarding artwork I shipped to an exhibition…He said that a man shipped a non-functional teapot (spout and handle were upside down) and it did not fall under either category of art or craft…that it was in fact a teapot and the artist had to pay customs charges. I am going through a similar situation…I made two beaded moosehide bags and he said they could not be classified as art…he also told me about a bag that was made out of candy wrappers and it was classifed as a bag…not art because it was functional and could be used to carry things…Goodness!!!!! If that is the case then most art replicating functional objects are not viewed by customs as art…What next?
This explains your thoughts much more clearly than the quickie (and simple) explanation you gave in the shades of grey post the other day. I think we are far closer in how we feel than it came across. 🙂 It’s much easier for me to differentiate “art” and “craft” when it comes to children. I feel *very* strongly that kids should have open-ended creative experiences, not just be presented with opportunities to make some preconceived kids’ craft project. It’s harder for me to differentiate for adults (mainly because we assume adults are in charge of what they choose to do, while most children are at the mercy of whoever provides them with art supplies and activities).
I very rarely make anything according to directions, at least not more than once. I’m much happier setting out on my own, but of course I need some basic skills to do that, which I probably gained by following some set directions along the way. With a set of skills behind us, we have more options to explore our creativity. Personally, if I’m trying to design even a basic sweater and figure out the math so it fits me the way I want, I consider that using the creative part of my mind. It stretches me. I enjoy the process of figuring out how to make something, no matter the inspiration. But I have no interest in copying exactly something I see in a store–I’d rather be inspired and then set off on my own. (And perhaps here is where I admit I have NEVER been inside an Anthropologie and just went on the website for the first time the other day, curious, due to this whole debate.)
It’s hard for me to elevate “art” above “craft” or the other way around. I do tend towards the functional, but on the other hand, my walls are filled with art for art’s sake (most of it by my kids). When I walk into the Impressionist Gallery at our local art museum, my whole being stills and calms, and those paintings have no other purpose than to hang on the wall. I value that, too. I am glad I live in a world with room for both art and craft and I don’t consider either better than the other.