The Debate on Art vs. Craft Continues

The first article I wrote on art versus craft led me to some interesting insights. Basically the first article was really a question, “What defines ticky tacky and where’s the line between that and art and craft.”

I posted this on the Fiber Arts board and got some fabulous responses. Probably the biggest response was discerning “crafter” from “craftsman” and artsy from crafter. A lot of this was imagination and taking techniques and “winging it.”

“The crafters are the ones who as you say “cut and stick”, use kits, copy trends (usually slavishly), jump on the bandwagon with popular items.”

Not to mention crafters who sell their items to people who have no idea the amount of work or technique that goes into them.

“I just hate to be lumped in with the cut and stick brigade. I wouldn’t want to deny any of these people the enjoyment they derive from their hobbies, but when they fetch up with their cut and stick cards at the same artists and craftsman market as me and tell me that I am putting off customers because my well designed and lovingly created handmade goods are too expensive, I get a bit cross!”

But some defend the word craft and all it includes. After all, many traditional quilters copy and repeat patterns and yet are amazing crafters using techniques that make items special, like color and technical ability.

“I would like to reclaim the word “craft” which I think contains the idea of a special body of knowledge and skill passed on from generation to generation. My art is what I make; my craft is the skills I have learned in order to make it well.”

A couple of great resources came up in this discussion, one is a fiber artist, Gwendolyn McGee who has a wonderful insight into art vs craft. Another person suggested Notes on Camp by the late Susan Sontag.

Obviously, this discussion can go on and on and I find it quite interesting. One teacher I know has a constant battle because she s an excellent teacher, but doesn’t like to create her own kits. In her opinion people who are creative are quite often not the best technical teachers. Does it lessen her talents that she teaches and doesn’t create new kits?

I find a lot of the difference to me is the vast talent and knowledge.