Craft Spoken Here

Craft Spoken Here is an exhibit at the Perlman Building (part of Phila Museum of Art). The idea here is to discuss Craft as Art and illustrate that Art can be created with what is traditionally tools of craft. I listened to an NPR radio discussion about this exhibit and feel, as one of the guests pointed out, "that train has left the station." 

And yet, it is a discussion that continues and good-on, I say. The work in the exhibit is beautiful and in some cases very provocative.

It doesn't matter what a piece of art is made from, does it? To make art, meaning or beauty transcends media.

Some (alot) of what is considered Craft is traditionally women's craft; such as the above piece. There is no mistaking The One for craft, though.

Say you go to the bookstore to look for Gee's Bend Quilter's exhibition book. You will NOT find it in the art section. It is in the quilting section amidst the how-to manuals. 

We have a long way to go, clearly. The train may have left the station in my mind and yours but not in the mainstream. Think about this too: learning to paint or draw (or anything creative) requires craftsmanship. You (or I, someday) could crochet 1,000 granny squares using odds and ends of yarn from relatives' sweaters. Exhibited in a museum, this could be considered Art but thrown over a bed, it is simply a blanket.

Some years ago, I walked into the home of one of my daughter's friends. The first thing I saw was a knitted piece - large: 5 x 5' -ish. Knitted in a gray-white by the mother during her time with the Israeli army, it documented the hours she spent "watching the door" (this is how she explained it). The square was not at all square. The tensions were different throughout as her mood shifted from tense to relaxed to nervous and anxious. Art. 

And your thoughts?

PS: The top photo is the front of the Perlman Museum, gussied up with swags of knit and tapestries of crochet. Yarn-bombed (I love it). And is that graffitti? But that is the topic for another post.

Comments

[Hazel Price]

Diana you always know how to push my buttons!

If you know Tracey Emin's work you will know that among the many other forms of art she produces her work often comprises hand crafted embroidered pieces, cloth she has written on,- even a tent she embroidered with the names of everybody she had ever slept with, and she is most definitely classed (admitted somewhat controversially, but very lucratively,) as high end art. She even represented Britain at the 2007 Venice Biennale. - So the old chestnut - is it art?

Conceptual art can consist of anything, and has been said by somebody whose name I forget, "I am an artist and if I do something and call it art, it IS art." He was talking about a piece which comprised a glass of water on a glass shelf above his head at the time.

So the train may have left the station but it seems what you call the driver is all you need to know about where it will end up!

[lyle baxter]

I am with the person who says "its art" and so it is. Do I really give a hoot what other people call what I do? No! Its how I feel about it that counts . I am happy when people tell me they like a piece that I created. I am really pleased that someone is kind enough to look and comment! But in the end if I say I am an artist so be it! Seriously, you know this is a never ending debate. And I cant take myself that seriously!

[Wendy]

A bit like Lyle, I'm happy if someone likes something I make. I would be amazed just to have someone argue about whether it was art or craft - I call it mucking around with a pleasing result but call something you like art if you want . . no worries.

As for whether quilting, embroidery or any other women's handwork is art or craft - it's the eye of the beholder as far as I'm concerned as 'experts' are not are using a measure and I think art is beyond rules and measurements - it's a question of esthetics which are very personal.

Art or craft? I don't think it's an either/or situation, nor do I think it's a continuum, nor do I think it''s an expert opinion. I might think a glass of water on a glass shelf is nonsense but who cares? My opinion doesn't change what it actually is - a glass of water on a glass shelf that has meaning for the person who created the installation it which they are trying to communicate

[Wendy]

Forgive my pathetic editing, it's 6:09 on the morning here. it should read it's in the eye or the beholder as 'experts are using a measure (of sorts)

Actually I didn't really bother to edit - I barely proof read it!! Grade me down if you're an expert - I don't much care!