Art vs Craft: Part 1178

image by Ed McGuinniss

Hello all.  Greenbeanbaby and Isabella are under the weather so Diego and I are blogging in their absence.  This is her husband, Ramel checking in.  Diego is on our other mac playing some PBS kids games, but he told me he is working too, so he can get some credit on this post.

The topic of the today is one many have discussed, and argued about.  (Hence the part 1178)  I know Ellia and myself have engaged in some pretty heavy debates over this topic as well.

My stance on the issue has been swayed some since marrying a craft person who is also an artist.  I will be honest, in the beginning I was one sided.  As an artist I viewed craft work as a option for people who couldn't create things themselves.  I viewed crafters as second class artist.  You could imagine how this would infuriate Ellia.  My arguments were based on what I knew about craft.  Which was very little.  Craft in my mind was macoroni necklaces and cut out googly eyes.   

For me...this was craft:

Created by Miss Susan from www.kckpl.lib.ks.us/YS/crafts/GRDHOGPT.HTM

Honest and truly that was craft in my eyes.  The even mention of the word craft brought up images of hot glue guns and yarn.  Now greenbean fought hard to convince me that craft was just as important as traditional art, and that people who craft are just as talented as artist.  Seeing my wife work first hand has helped me personally shake some of the negative views attached to the word crafter.  However every artist doesn't have the luxury to be married to and artist and craft-person. 

I mean to say someone is a crafts-person....is that a cut?  Would you rather be viewed as an artist or a person who crafts.  Does it really matter when it comes down to the end product being created?  I believe there are craftsmen and women who take their work very serious who can crank out beautiful jewelery, handbags, greeting cards, etc...that make some so called artist looked "second-hand."  However...as much as I would love their work, it would be hard for me to call jewelry, art. 

example:

from www.orientaltrading.com/products/C342843.jsp

This is beautiful...plain and simple...in my opinion at least...but I would still not call this art. 
The person who created this is very talented, and has a skill above the average person, otherwise they wouldn't be selling these items.  The act of making an item such as this is very artistic, but I wouldn't say the person is an artist based on this item alone.

image by  Alex Ross

  Is there anything wrong with being a crafter?  Craftswomen and men need to stand tall, unite and celebrate the work they create.  There shouldn't be a rush to defend the word craft.

A person who goes out and purchases items such as beads, wire, and other trinkets, and fashions them together in my mind maybe creative but not an artist...once again just my opinion.  Now a person who creates things from scratch, burns and pours the metals, burns and shapes the wire....that person is definitely an artist. 

But wait...what about the artist who buys canvas, and purchases paint???  That person still creates, mixes, blends themselves, and there is nothing you can buy, that will paint, sculpt, or draw for you.  Sure there are tools that will enhance artist ability, but not change what they can create.

So who wins? 

image by Alex Ross

The two categories really cannot be compared. 

I think the debate will rage on forever...but I think new arguments need to arise.  Why can't crafts be crafts and art be art.  Why is there such a need to merge the two different realms in which people  create.  Why can't we all just get along?  (Had to throw that one in there)  One main topic in the discussion should be artist having a greater respect for the word crafts.  I know many artist and craftswomen and craftsmen  read this  blog, so give  me your opinions on this topic.

Comments

[lucy]

Hi Ramel-great topic, which I'm sure will incite passion on both sides of the crafts vs art; crafters vs artists debate. To me, I've always thought of artists as those who created in the fine arts of painting, drawing, and sculpting, photography, and those that make things by hand hand for fun or for smaller scale resale were crafters. However, with the age of internet and the availability of equipment such as digital cameras the worlds have merged closer than they ever have been and many are rethinking their definition of artists and crafters.
As for respect--like you said both groups are obviously creative but yet they still are and should be, in different categories. The quality of the work that's created by the artist or crafters hand is what should garnering respect rather than just whether or not they are are artists or crafters. Not all "artists" are great artists nor are all crafters great at what they do--true they may enjoy it, and they may be more creative than the average Joe--but respect should be earned by the body of work created rather than the category the member fits in by definition of his or her work.

Thought provoking topic.

lucy

[Karbee]

My view on this is that art is what moves and inspires emotionally, a mode of capturing views and essences of life. Craft is making items that are beautiful, that give comfort and joy, expressing for decoration, use and wear. There is a slight meeting of souls between the two by use of materials in each such as paint fabrics etc. could go into it a bit more but then i'd be rambling and at three on a grey cold Sunday afternoon i'm too mellow to wake up the old brain tooo much just yet.

[Amy H.]

I consider myself an artisan. Somewhere in between a glue gun, googly eyes, holiday sweatshirt wearing crafter and a pretentious, dressed all in black, cigarette smoking artiste. I guess it goes by what you consider art. I personally loved the unschooled folk art which I think is just as much art as some pieces that are studied, elaborate and stunning. So the question is what is art? Is art in the eye of the beholder or is there a level where something reaches art? I don't think there's an answer to that question.

p.s. Tell greenbeanbaby that I hope she and Isabella are feeling better soon.

[Aletha]

First off, good feeling vibes to all in the home. My family and I just got over the plague and I feel for a sick family.

Now, the comment. I have to say I agree with you, Ramel. I have high standards for artists. Not to degrade crafters in any way, I am one afterall, but crafting is not art. This is my opinion.

When I design something that has come from within and has inspired me, it is art. Even if that art was some 3D multi-medium piece that called for a glue gun, then it is still art.

If the final project is something that anyone could make by following a pattern, to me it is a craft. Like your wife... she put up a pattern for a cut paper doll for people to use. I used that pattern to make a card for my niece. I did a craft. Ellia, was making art when she first sketched and designed it.

Without her art, I could not have crafted. While you can have one without the other, I have to say that craft, if it does follow something, definitely follows art.

Art is primary, craft is secondary.

I hope that cam across as intended. Your post seemed more eloquent!

[greenbeanbaby]

wow, what a deep post,babe... i don't think craft is a dirty word but i do think the way some artists use the term, it's more offensive... some folks won't even admit there is creativity involved in utilizing pre-made materials to create a new piece of work... what is sewing? is it art or is it crafts? is it only art if you can make your own patterns? is embroidery an art or craft... if you embroider an illustration you made, what is it then? or what if you freehand embroider??

is it the medium you use that determines an artist from a crafter?? or is being an artist based soley on creativity... while i finally feel comfortable enough to declare myself both an artist and crafter, i believe that being creative comes in all titles and labels :)

[Aletha]

Good points, girl! I think that the medium could be for both artist and crafter. But I still think the initial idea is an art. Like your designs (art) and me making a mere copy of your work (craft). I had no real creativity in the matter, save for selecting the papers I used. You put the ideas out there and set out to create something while I copied it (albeit with your approval). You had more work involved than I did.

In terms of sewing, that is tricky. My grandma quilted. Her ideas and designs were quite artistic. When she did something original (as she got much more skilled), that, to me, was art. In the beginning, when she reproduced something that had been done before, that was crafting.

I think my own definition of art and craft lies within the intent. Ar you making something just to make it? Or is there a real reason or inspiration? To make something new and unique, inspired and meaningful, that is art. Busting out your materials to reproduce someone else's work or to churn out 25 copies of something for mass gifting or for Sunday school, it is crafting.

Now, to add to this great debate is my husband's point of view. He says that money decides art from craft. For instance, if you buy something from the "Arts and Craft Movement" from the early 20th century, you're gonna pay a buttload of money. But if you buy something crafted by a 21c craftsperson, it will be cheap. (At least in comparison.)

"Art is in the wallet of the beholder" - the husband.

[greenbeanbaby]

ok, to some point i can see art being something not easily mass produced... and items for resale as crafts [as lucy said]... and i agree that reproducing something makes it more crafty [while the originator is the artist]... so can we say that martha stewart is an artist or crafter?! she gets her ideas from others so she'd be a crafter... a very wealthy one who has the means to mass produce her ideas...

speaking of, then would you say an artist is one who is the originator of the idea?! how come doing a portrait is called art? you are copying what already exists... it's not original- [this is in regards to the idea that art is original]... how come a person who draws a black line in the middle of a white canvas is considered an artist and gets his work in a museum... but the person who has labored hours to create a quilt [using a pattern from a book, lets say] is a crafter... i mean, what about time spent??? does that determine the level of artisticness?? or time is not of revelance and its purely the idea that art uses specific mediums and crafts uses specific mediums [which i believe most artists tend to base their ideas of arts and crafts by this]...

btw, what is wrong with googley eyes?! although ramel and i had a wonderfully deep topic on googley eyes vs buttons, i still fail to see what is wrong with googley eyes... so if i made a wonderful cut paper illustration of ramel hill but decided to use googley eyes, would my illustration suddenly be labeled craft?

and if artist/crafter is based off of finances then i am definitely a crafter with the debt of an artist... maybe in another century i will be considered an artist [if any of my paper creations make it that long]

i loved everyone's comments... and i like googley eyes

[Nina]

Hi I am a thrifter and that takes a lot hahahaha

[simone]

My comment to this has ended up under the blog 'why so slow?'. I don't know how that happened!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ramel Hill]

Thank you all for viewing and for those who posted back. This is such a hot topic because it contains a very subjective content. This post was not a cut at anyone who uses googly eyes. I believe what people consider art has evolved and will always be in the process of evolving. Craft and all the beautiful works created will be in this very same process.

I don't personally think anyone can be wrong or right in this matter. I believe people will have beliefs and reasons for what they consider art. I am an artistic person at times, but some of things I produce...I wouldn't call it all art. But that's just me...Thanks Greenbean for sharing the stage with me!! Viva la Googly Eyes!!!