tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post2263828552995328866..comments2023-09-12T10:35:20.183+01:00Comments on Songbeads: Artist? Designer? Or just crafty....?Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-18149418600189457392010-10-12T16:31:18.253+01:002010-10-12T16:31:18.253+01:00I read your post with interest as it's one of ...I read your post with interest as it's one of those massive questions- what is art?! I mean, it's unanswerable really. One issue which I feel is quite pertinent to the whole craft vs. art debate is the issue of gender- the 'high art' world was -and arguably still is- dominated by men. Even your rollcall of amazing artists, Gaudi, Klimt etc are all of the bearded sort! <br /><br />Whereas craft, and crafting, has so often belonged to a more female world. Basket weaving, textile weaving, quilting, spinning, knitting, sewing and so on all evolved in order to mesh function with beauty. Men could galavant off to Tahiti to paint the underage locals, but the women remained at the heart of a more functional beauty. Gender values and the division of labour in our own culture still uphold these ideas- there aren't very many male quilters out there. <br /><br />Perhaps we feel unsure of the term 'artist' partly because of such entrenched gender divisions, ideals, and senses of worthiness. A bracelet only looks pretty. A quilt is only there to keep you warm. Yet a painting is only oily goop on canvas. And it physically 'does' nothing! But paintings, quilts and necklaces can of course do more than just be pretty or warming. <br /><br />And I really do put them in the same bracket. The painstaking measurements, cutting, mathematical calculations, care, precision and execution behind a life's best quilt, which can take many years to complete, is indeed comparable to a great fresco or Lalique's dragonfly brooch. <br /><br />The meanings and values we attribute to art (and 'the arts' like singing!) are in my opinion utterly gendered. <br /><br />Just my own meanderings to add to the mix...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-21703920705980978362010-06-10T22:55:37.685+01:002010-06-10T22:55:37.685+01:00Dear Rebecca, sometimes people make jeweleries but...Dear Rebecca, sometimes people make jeweleries but's no art. Art needs an other person, who is affected in a way which really touches the spirit of that person. You see or hear it and it is beyond using something, it's a very special feeling. Perhaps you understand what I mean. An artist is someone who has touched an other person deeply, with a talent he uses and brings to surface. So when walking through your blog, I can imagine that you are an artist. But when only you are the person who is overwhelmed by it, are you than still an artist. I thing yes. <br />AnjaAnjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10236336978954355222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-28968067750987255382010-06-10T22:00:38.259+01:002010-06-10T22:00:38.259+01:00Rebecca,
I was in a class recently with Anne Mitch...Rebecca,<br />I was in a class recently with Anne Mitchell and she said of herself "I'm not an artist, I'm a technician" and I fully understood what she meant. The term technician applies very well to me, I'm very good at tweaking and refining. I believe part of this debate could be eliminated if we took the disparagement that is sometimes placed on "craft" verus "art". Being called a crafter can make a person defensive and we're told to aspired to be artists. However, both create great value and both take skill. The labels themselves are subjected and don't always stand the test of time. For example "folk art" is highly prized after it has had the opportunity to age. Art / craft doesn't matter as long as you are creating what you love to the best of your ability and always strive to improve. The best advice anyone had given me (and I need to follow it more) is never disparage your work.<br />ChristineAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14063083454796458172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-2810952164888851172010-06-10T18:35:27.224+01:002010-06-10T18:35:27.224+01:00It's beautiful!!!!!!It's beautiful!!!!!!Las Creaciones de Boricuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13237482705693275161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-69395059443767939462010-06-09T11:49:58.961+01:002010-06-09T11:49:58.961+01:00RNCM. Surprise, surprise, I can't quite leave ...RNCM. Surprise, surprise, I can't quite leave Manchester!! Helen's just been diagnosed with MS (shit, obviously) and I am keen to her to have continuity of care at the moment. I know I'm going to a great teacher however and that is the main thing after all. Now, if only I could stop getting colds...How are your travels going???Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14254291271007836270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8443605610590015121.post-64861414795934537142010-06-08T15:07:01.908+01:002010-06-08T15:07:01.908+01:00There is always the old answer that 'everythin...There is always the old answer that 'everything is art'. I guess what defines so-called 'good' art from so-called 'bad' art is how people connect to it; if people connect to it.<br /><br />I suppose that even in museums Decorative Arts are distinguished from Fine Arts, so I would say there's a difference there in that somehow there the level or mechanisms for the design and execution of art such as furniture and jewellery is different from that of sculpture or painting.<br /><br />Maybe? I don't know - I coming from a completely ignorant perspective.<br /><br />As for the singing... as reluctantly as I am to say there is a difference between a musician and a singer - there's a different mindset I think, and this goes even further as you seperate the worlds of art song and Oratorio from the world of opera.<br /><br />Or something...<br /><br />Where are you 'most probably' doing your Masters?WayfaringJamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00975413508844691112noreply@blogger.com