""Craft refers to works done where the imagination and the hand of the maker are evident. Often the value of a piece is in the workmanship of the artist rather than what it's made of.
Confession: When I tell people I write for American Craft – something I’ve done for 35 years now – I brace for what I know is coming. If they’re not really familiar with our magazine, the reaction is almost always the same: a pleasant look of recognition and genuine interest, tinged with vague puzzlement. “Oh, yes,” they say, “I think I know it.”
Typically, they’ve confused it with a how-to or traditional handicrafts publication – not that there’s anything wrong with either assumption. So I always feel obliged to explain our subject matter. But I’m never entirely comfortable or satisfied with my answer.
You’re holding this magazine, or looking at it online. How would you describe, to the average person, what it covers?
Well, it’s handmade work today, I say. Ceramics and glass, quilts and weavings and furniture and jewelry, all kinds of beautiful objects. High quality, things you’d see in galleries and museums and design shops. Expressive, like painting or sculpture. Or just great everyday items to live with and use. Oh, some of it is a little out there – offbeat materials, giant installations, conceptual – stuff you might not think of as craft at all. Plus some traditional work, maybe with a twist. And there’s a whole history and philosophy in the field; a lot of the work now is socially conscious.
In other words, I struggle, I ramble. Somehow a single, concise, all-purpose definition of "craft”" eludes me. In the end, I just proselytize. Our magazine celebrates a world of amazing creation and inspiration, I tell people, and you should really check it out. When they do, they’re blown away by the work they see.
Let’s face it, "craft" is a curious word. We think we know it, but do we? Richly evocative of tradition, history, and a standard of quality, the word can connote many things: skill, art form, antidote to the machine, hobby, therapy, counterculture, deception. In the past decade alone, with the rise of a new generation, we’ve seen the field expand to include DIY, craftivism, and maker culture. Some artists and art institutions avoid the word – that’s nothing new – but other voices and audiences have stepped up to embrace and claim it.
It feels like a good time to get a sense of what craft means now. So we’ve asked around, seeking brief answers to two questions: "What is craft?" and “What person, object, event, or work of art epitomizes your view of craft?” We sought perspectives from dozens of artists, thinkers, and leaders in our own field and others.
The responses were thoughtful, heartfelt, provocative, some times vexed. While no consensus emerged, a few themes did.
Image Gallery ◀ ▶ Zoom Exemplar: Windsor chairs by Peter Galbert. "His work is exquisite, and it doesn’t end with his seating," Offerman says. "He has even invented a couple of specialty tools – a nifty caliper for turning and a sharpening jig for the drawknife." / Cited by: Nick Offerman, actor and woodworker Dana Duke Exemplars: Pat Metheny, Picasso, Frank Lloyd Wright / Cited by: Nathan East (above), virtuoso bassist Bob McClenahan Photography Exemplar: Artist and furniture maker Wendy Maruyama (pictured: Orkanyawoi, 2014). “She can do everything from handcutting a dovetail, to making poetic/metaphoric work, to organizing a community to support an idea.” / Cited by: Fabio Fernández, artist Courtesy of International Wood Culture Society Exemplar: The late Anthony Bourdain’s TV show Parts Unknown / Cited by: Ivan Barnett, Patina Gallery CNN Exemplar: The force behind fashion and home goods purveyor Alabama Chanin, "Natalie Chanin absolutely epitomizes the embodiment of an artist who is wholly dedicated to her craft. She makes me want to be better at mine, just by being around her." / Cited by: Rosanne Cash, musician Courtesy of Alabama Chanin
This view emphasizes craft as an earned skill in the service of creativity, a way of doing things exceptionally well through study, practice, and dedication. It’s craft as a commitment, a form of expression, a way of life.
"Craft exists at the intersection of skill and creativity. Judith Schaechter embodies craft, in my opinion, because she creates art that is simultaneously incredibly original, skillfully made, and inspired by the material itself." ~ Jennifer Zwilling, curator of artistic programs, the Clay Studio, Philadelphia
"Craft is the mastery of material and technique. Epitome: Lino Tagliapietra. ~ Erik Demaine, origami artist, professor of computer science at MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Martin Demaine, mathematician, glassblower, MIT artist-in-residence.
"It’s impossible to define craft in a sentence or two. Sometimes in the US, people view craft as a laborer’s job, but in reality, craft is much more than that. In Europe, craft is an important and honored part of culture that is learned and dates back thousands of years. In Italian, the word for craftsman is artigiano, which means creating art with culture in mind." ~ Lino Tagliapietra, master glassblower, Murano, Italy, and Seattle
"I believe craft is the outcome of numerous small actions, carried out endlessly and sometimes repetitively. But after a while, something emerges which is substantial and has its own unique character, however commonplace the activity that produced it. As a producer of musical craft, I think above all of the composer J.S. Bach, working ceaselessly in humble contexts such as teaching, but somehow managing to produce wonderful art." ~ Judith Weir, CBE, Master of the Queen’s Music (official composer to Elizabeth II)
"What is craft? Broadly speaking, I follow the Richard Sennett line that craft is about someone doing a job well for its own sake. It’s important to stress that a sense of craft is present throughout all walks of life, from manufacturing industry to fine art, via technology and medicine." ~ Grant Gibson, immediate past editor, Crafts magazine, Crafts Council, UK
"Craft is a way of doing things involving deliberateness and attention to detail and representing the accumulation of skill over time. Craft invites a life in which the objects that surround us speak to us of what is important. For me, craft can be embodied in things as disparate as Cherokee baskets, a Sam Maloof chair, or – I hate to say it – an iPhone." ~ Miguel Gómez-Ibáñez, president, North Bennet Street School, Boston
"I view the notion of craft not as limited by materials, but as a process. I frequently use the term 'skilled making"' when discussing craft, which can encompass most materials. Craft to me is often an integral part of the process when making artwork. Craft, however, always exists as a physical artifact; it cannot subsist as concept alone." ~ Mia Hall, executive director, Penland School of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina
"Craft is a commitment to a lifelong conversation with material and process. While style and technique evolve over the course of a maker’s career, craft is that most fundamental desire to feel, articulate, and understand the complexity of your own work. The potter Byron Temple not only had an effortless and graceful touch with his material, but he also demonstrated that same level of finesse in his ability to contextualize, document, and market his own work. His beautifully designed catalogues showcased his work in such an elegant way and educated his customers on how simple, humble stoneware pots can be elevated to exquisite objects through the mastery of both making and contextualization." ~ Brian Giniewski, ceramist
"To me, craft is expressed by work that reads of the materials and process of its making and the purpose for which it was made – by hand or machine. Favorite makers: Wharton Esherick, Toshiko Takaezu, Lenore Tawney, Ed Rossbach, and Anni Albers." ~ Jack Lenor Larsen, weaver, textile designer, craft collector, and advocate
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"We think of craft as the overlap of science, the technical aspects and boundaries of the medium; art, one’s personal touch and lens; and tradition, the time-tested vocabulary of movements and ideas that are shared generationally. At our distillery, [master blender] David Stewart relies on different makers and craftspeople to orchestrate the liquid as he imagines it. For example, our coopers dedicate their time to the casks for quality and flavor return, whereas our malters work to stimulate the best potential yield from the barley seed." ~ Jonathan Wingo, brand ambassador, The Balvenie scotch whisky, Dufftown, Scotland
"Craft is the intentional expression by hands of what is in the mind, melding respect for materials with mastery and purposeful use of technique. Three exquisite examples of craft: Soundsuits by Nick Cave, cloisonné jewelry by Aurélie Guillaume, and the Crochet Coral Reef, created and curated by Christine Wertheim and Margaret Wertheim of the Institute For Figuring." ~ Lisa Bayne, CEO, Artful Home, Madison, Wisconsin
"Craft is the quintessential conjoining of a strong point of view, appropriate materials, and a maker or makers. A great example is the work of David Pye, who approached craftsmanship and perception as a kind of spiritual personal growth commitment. Another example is the work of Tanya Aguiñiga, who uses craft as a form of political community building and communication." ~ Rosanne Somerson, president, Rhode Island School of Design; furniture maker
"1. No one thinks the word 'craft' is obsolete!! 2. Every artist has 'craft.' 3. Every artist’s so-called 'craft' is simply to *re-define skill.* 4. Now do you see? XO" ~ Jerry Saltz, senior art critic, New York magazine
"At its best, craft exhibits technical brilliance and innovative techniques and materials; most important, it relays an artist’s passion and ideas." ~ JoAnne Cooper, Mobilia Gallery
"Craft refers to works done where the imagination and the hand of the maker are evident. Often the value of a piece is in the workmanship of the artist rather than what it’s made of. Examples: Harvey Ellis of Stickley Furniture, Greene & Greene architects, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and Dan Dailey, a glass artist with imagination and humor." ~ Collector Marian Burke, who with her husband, Russell, endowed the new Burke Prize, awarded by the Museum of Arts and Design
"We like our art well-crafted. Dale Chihuly crafts blown glass elements in the service of creating works of art. Sandy Skoglund crafts installations that she photographs. The photographs are the works of art but the craftsmanship of the installations makes them possible. Another example: sculptor Tip Toland." ~ Dale and Doug Anderson, collectors; co-founders, Association of Israel’s Decorative Arts
"At a gathering a few years ago, I noticed that Stoney Lamar called himself a sculptor and a maker but never used the terms 'artist,' 'artisan,' or 'craftsman.' The distinction is not about the object. Rather it is a celebration of and commitment to the process." ~ Carissa Hussong, executive director, Metal Museum
"What epitomizes craft? Two works come to my mind almost immediately: Joy, a brooch by Sharon Church of meticulously carved wood and fabricated silver; and Wayne Higby's majestic wall mural Earthcloud, of hand-carved, glazed porcelain tiles, commissioned for Alfred University. Both combine technical skill and understanding of material with a unique creative vision. These, for me, fulfill the concept of craft." ~ Helen Drutt English, former gallerist, collector, scholar
Image Gallery ◀ ▶ Zoom Exemplar: Born in El Salvador, Los Angeles artist Beatriz Cortez "crafts extraordinary machines and architectural structures from welded metal to engage the public in interaction, play, reflection, and discovery. These objects are designed to provoke conversation about the effects of war, migration, memory, and how we might envision the future." / Cited by: Suzanne Isken, Craft and Folk Art Museum Nikolay Maslov, courtesy of UCR ARTSblock Exemplar: Chris Wight’s Portland Arcana. The artist used a computer, a water saw, and jasper clay to pay homage to an ancient vessel. / Cited by: Garth Clark, writer and critic Courtesy of the artist Exemplar: Sonya Clark’s Unraveling (2015 – present, above and far left) and Unraveled (2015) / Cited by: Stephanie Syjuco, artist and professor Taylor Dabney Exemplar: Tanya Aguiñiga, artist / Cited by: Mia Hall, Rosanne Somerson, and Kimberly Winkle, artists and educators; Abraham Thomas, curator. Aguiñiga uses "the conceptual toolkits of craft to create communities and dialogue," Thomas says. Courtesy of Volume Gallery
CRAFT IS ACTION
Craft is a verb – an active, activist one, evolving and involving. Whether it’s an artist pursuing a personal vision or technical innovation, a community project to teach children the joy of handwork, a public performance or happening, or thousands knitting pink hats, craft is a moving vehicle.
"Craft grows from everyday human experience, which makes it inherently social and political. It elevates the role that technique, method, materials, and community play in artmaking. The art of handcrafting imprints a piece with power – the power to educate, to challenge, to captivate, to provoke." ~ Suzanne Isken, executive director, Craft and Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles
"I find it helpful to think about craft as a verb – an action, a community, something with agency – rather than simply a noun, an object. The upcoming 2018 Renwick Invitational (“Disrupting Craft,” November 9 – May 5, 2019) includes four artists – Tanya Aguiñiga, Stephanie Syjuco, Sharif Bey, and Dustin Farnsworth – who exemplify these ideas, working outside the conventional definitions of the craft world but using the conceptual toolkits of craft to create communities and dialogue, to be agents of social change. Using the potent combination of social practice and craft, they interrogate pressing contemporary issues of cultural identity and social injustice, and question established historical narratives." ~ Abraham Thomas, curator-in-charge, Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC
"The pushing and pulling of materials and processes in order to test their physical limits and perceptual boundaries. A cultural and critical response to the entire history of making 'things.' A verb. Exemplars include Sonya Clark’s work Unraveled, in which she picked apart a Confederate flag, thread by thread. Also, Jeffrey Gibson’s ecstatic and absolutely gorgeous panels and objects that place at the forefront a Native critique of contemporary visual culture." ~ Stephanie Syjuco, artist; assistant professor in sculpture, University of California, Berkeley
"Craft is a verb, an action, meaning to make or to process. I do not believe in craft as a noun, a thing, as in 'I make craft.' My best example is Chris Wight, who used a computer, a water saw, and a special gift of jasper clay from Wedgwood to make a futuristic homage to the Portland Vase [an ancient Roman cameo glass vessel]. The meticulous planning and hand assembly to make these works is awe-inspiring. No, they do not just pop out of machines; they require superb crafting. Nothing in the word 'craft' suggests that it must be by hand, be absent of machinery, require virtuosity, or have medieval roots. And Wight’s vases are breathtakingly haptic and beautiful." ~ Garth Clark, ceramics critic and historian; editor-in-chief, CFile.org
"Craft is a verb rather than a noun. It is a particular, sustained approach to making. In my 20 years at the California College of the Arts, I’ve seen craft applied to digital and analog tools across disciplines. What’s common is a sustained relationship with materials and a focused, iterative process. We recently awarded an honorary doctorate to Lia Cook, who epitomizes craft today. Her work celebrates material and process while exploring memory and the power of imagery" ~ Stephen Beal, president, California College of the Arts
"The word 'craft' signifies refined thought and execution. As an active verb, craft is used to denote the mark of the hand, technique, and the making of work, and therefore represents a hyper-awareness of execution alongside form, medium, and concept." ~ Donna Davies, vice president, Urban Expositions Art Group, producer of SOFA Chicago
Image Gallery ◀ ▶ Zoom Exemplar: ACC founder Aileen Osborn Webb, who cultivated the studio craft movement / Cited by: Curators Paul J. Smith and Glenn Adamson ACC Library & Archives Exemplar: Ceramist Roberto Lugo, whose vessels represent "a constant dialogue between personal histories and material." / Cited by: Tanya Aguiñiga, artist KeneK Photography, courtesy of Wexler Gallery Exemplar: Peter Follansbee’s expertly joined pieces, which "link centuries of makers together" / Cited by: Denise Lebica, Fuller Craft Museum Courtesy of the artist
CRAFT IS HERITAGE
Skills and heirlooms are preserved and handed down over generations, within families. In the bigger picture, the drive to create is part of who we are, in our very DNA.
"Craft in the truest, most basic sense is about the human need to make and connect; to bring the root of tradition and the power of the human hand on material and form together; with exploration, and without limitation, to connect us all to the world we live in. I’m a textile artisan who specialized in reproduction 17th-century clothing and textiles, and I’ve also done conservation work on originals. Coming from that traditional background, I’m moved and intrigued to witness simultaneously both the evolution and common thread that remains at the heart of craft." ~ Denise Lebica, director, Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, Massachusetts
"I believe the words 'craft' and 'craftsmanship' have important meaning in the 21st century. The instinct to make objects by hand is as old as civilization and is identified with every culture in the world. In the United States, it was challenged in the 19th century, survived and blossomed in the 20th, and persists today. [ACC founder] Aileen Osborn Webb’s work in cultivating the studio [craft] movement was very important. While many programs and activities occurred in different parts of the country, Mrs. Webb’s vision and patronage beginning in the 1930s were pivotal in nurturing a modest activity to become a significant area of the arts today." ~ Paul J. Smith, curator, author; director emeritus, American Craft Museum
"Craft for me is a connection to our body memory, an acknowledgment of labor and all of the inherent context of materials, and the active continuation of tradition while in conversation with it. The works of Roberto Lugo and Teresa Margolles are perfect examples of my personal interpretation of craft – a constant dialogue between personal histories and material, opening up contextual ways that functional objects can communicate current issues, and ways that the histories of marginalized communities can be integrated into American history." ~ Tanya Aguiñiga, artist and designer
"For me, craft defies binary traditions and subsequent categorizations of 'either/or.' It is an idea, practice, or approach that is inherently humanistic. We are makers – builders of skyscrapers, technological marvels, fast cars, and objects of communal significance. Craft is an extension of what it means to be human in this current time and place of history." ~ Elizabeth Kozlowski, editor, Surface Design Journal
"People everywhere are makers – no matter how good they are or [whether they’re] recognized. It is a human need. In 1995, a keynote talk I gave was published in American Craft as 'The Pleasure and Meaning of Making.' The essay has garnered nearly 2,000 hits from 64 countries on my academia.com site. These amazing numbers tell me that making is universally practiced, not just the province of a few 'masters.'" ~ Ellen Dissanayake, author, What Is Art For? and Homo Aestheticus: Where Art Comes From and Why
Image Gallery ◀ ▶ Zoom Exemplar: Family-made heirlooms / Cited by: Author and "craftivism" pioneer Betsy Greer, whose grandmother made the needlepoint pillow. Such objects remind her of "the work millions before her made with love and skill and care." Betsy Greer
Here’s where it gets prickly. The old art-versus-craft debate lives on, accompanied now by conversations about race, class, gender, and culture. People have questions: Does craft have an identity problem? Is openness to interpretation a weakness or a strength? Is craft, without exception, a noble pursuit? Why are we even talking about this?
"Craft is making something skillfully; it’s just that simple. But from that basic definition, infinite complexities arise." ~ Glenn Adamson, curator and historian; author, Thinking Through Craft
"Craft is art." ~ Carol Sauvion, creator, executive producer and director, Craft in America films; owner, Freehand Gallery, Los Angeles
"Plenty of cultural structures ensure that craft is utilitarian and defined by the history of techniques and materials. 'Fine art' prefers a hierarchy, ensuring its superiority; by that definition, craft is the lesser of the two. To me, craft is art that results from indistinguishable melding of process, materials, and concept." ~ Judith Schaechter, artist working in stained glass
"Craft is defined by a series of attributes. None are necessary, but the more you find in an object, the more craft it is. There is a center of craft, and a periphery. Both are valid. Craft can be handmade but does not have to be. Craft can be made of traditional craft materials, such as clay or wood, but does not have to be. Craft can be made using traditional craft techniques, such as weaving or glassblowing, but does not have to be. Craft can use a traditional craft context, such as the vessel or the garment, but does not have to. Craft can address the history of craft itself but does not have to. Function is not a defining attribute of craft." ~ Bruce Metcalf, studio jeweler; co-author, Makers: A History of American Studio Craft
"Ah, such a dangerous word. It can go from the high (collectable, applied/decorative arts, design-driven craft, etc.) to the low (the sidewalk ceramist) and everything in between. If it means different things to everyone, does it mean anything? That’s a question I wrestle with. I think a really modern definition includes the work of people like Joseph Luttwak of Blackbird Guitars. He started by building beautiful guitars by hand using advanced carbon fiber composite, and ended up (in his search for a better, more sustainable material) creating a new eco-material called Ekoa that promises to replace wood in many applications, protecting against overexploitation. Why do I include this within the world of craft? Because it’s about incredible workmanship joining not only with a mastery of material and its properties, but also creating a material that represents an innovation based on deep craft." ~ Regina Connell, founder, Handful of Salt
"Over the last few years I’ve used the word 'craft' to designate traditionally handmade objects that have a decorative or utilitarian purpose – so more like "handicraft." This includes simple decorative embroidery, knitting, weaving, ceramics, wood carving, some forms of glasswork, and a variety of paper arts, but the list goes on. However, in the last 20 to 30 years, I feel there’s been an enormous, consistent effort on behalf of many artists to elevate these mediums into the realm of true contemporary art. I find it increasingly problematic (and some artists are quite sensitive, others not) to label something as craft; instead we might say an artwork has been created with a 'traditional craft technique.' Sometimes it feels like a ludicrous battle of semantics." ~ Christopher Jobson, founder and editor in chief, Colossal visual culture blog
"'Craft' is a tricky word, often misused. Craft implies physical involvement and participation by the creator. My feeling is that when the word 'craft' is used to describe a work of art, it is –wrongly – frequently considered lowbrow. What’s an example of craft? The Sistine Chapel comes to mind." ~ Douglas Kirkland, photographer
"I’m always a little bit uncomfortable talking about craft. In graduate school 20 years ago, I was working with corn husks (a crafty material by Yale School of Art standards), and craft was identified as a pejorative. At that point I started looking at models in Western art history that could help validate my material choices, which were drawn from my Seneca cultural identity. I don’t see art and craft as separate. With that said, craft is a visual expression manifesting in skillfully realized utilitarian goods, discrete objects, and performative works. It’s fun to think that I can sleep with craft, wake up, and look at it, as well as taste, touch, and listen to it, because craft has the potential to engage all senses. As a maker, I appreciate that craft has a long history rooted in collaboration and cross-generational knowledge sharing that connects back to our ancestors but also anticipates future generations. Craft is innovative. Craft is also generous – a noun and a verb. A few artists who epitomize what I like about craft: Shan Goshorn, Rebecca Belmore, Jeffry Mitchell, and Dan Webb." ~ Marie Watt, artist
"I find that 'craft' is a term that illuminates and obfuscates in equal measure. In speaking of process, I prefer David Pye’s 'workmanship of risk' versus 'workmanship of certainty.' But to me, craft is a field of making that holds material, method, and meaning tightly together, no matter the finished work." ~ Perry A. Price, executive director, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft
"Craft is messy and cannot be contained; there is power in rough edges that cannot be neatly categorized. Which craft is the craft to discuss here? Baskets or Art Basel – or everything in between? Craft connects the everyday and the singular. Craft shifts with place and time; craft in the US brings the whole world and centuries of making into the conversation. Craft is persistent; it does not and will not go away. People carry craft knowledge with them; craft is an embodied way of passing on culture." ~ Namita Gupta Wiggers, educator; director and co-founder, Critical Craft Forum
"Is an iron manacle hand-forged in 1830 for slave bondage worth calling craft? What word describes Kabiye blacksmiths Kao Kossi and Ide Essozimna upcycling scrap metal from cars into ritual gongs? Scar tissue in everyday material culture illuminates the ways 'mastery' is a dubious ambition in craft – and in culture." ~ Ezra Shales, art history professor, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston; author, The Shape of Craft
"America’s poet laureate Donald Hall said writers need two essential qualities: imagination to see something with fresh eyes and skill to communicate that wonder to the rest of us. That’s good, but he left something out: a moral compass. Craft is neutral; Leni Riefenstahl had craft but used it to make movies in support of Hitler. Craft married to moral purpose is a blessing to the world." ~ Roy Peter Clark, writing coach; author of more than 10 books on writing
"Craft has historically been modified by 'studio' – as in 'studio craft' – but these terms, over the last 30 years, have become uncoupled. And rightly so. Studio craft as a history has privileged white, middle-class, and largely male artists. It has favored certain programs and particular lineages, and sustained a genealogy of master craftsmen (emphasis on men). American studio craft has a deep and difficult history of cultural appropriation – sustaining its own forms with traditions that are borrowed, stolen, and appropriated from the poor, the indigenous, and from people of color whose own systems of production were destroyed or altered by colonization. Craft is a raft: Try to climb aboard, but it is slippery and flips over frequently. It is a good time to build the boat anew." ~ Jenni Sorkin, associate professor, history of art, UC Santa Barbara; author, Live Form: Women, Ceramics and Community
CRAFT IS PROFOUND
Just when unresolved questions threaten to tie us in knots, an uplifting, even spiritual message comes through. Above all, we’re touched by the love and concern for craft expressed by all of our respondents, many of whom regard it as essential, a means of salvation from the stress, distraction, and disconnection of modern life.
"Craft is the innate drive for humans to transform materials with the goal of bringing meaning, value, and/or joy to existing in this world. The architect Samuel Mockbee, of Rural Studio fame, exemplifies what it means to look at the needs of the world and to transform available resources and materials through thoughtful, human design-build processes. A Mockbee quote that guides me: 'Everyone, rich or poor, deserves a shelter for the soul.'" ~ Michael J. Strand, ceramist; professor and head of visual arts, North Dakota State University, Fargo
"Craft is designing, making, and building something that provides value to your life or someone else’s. Value can mean many things: happiness, usefulness, function, self-worth. Craft is an intrinsic expression of life and creation." ~ Natalie Chanin, “slow design” pioneer; founder and creative director, Alabama Chanin fashion and home goods company, Florence, Alabama
"Craft is like the air we breathe: ubiquitous, ever-present, and an absolute necessity. Its ubiquity can sometimes render it invisible. Society relies on craft but sometimes does not see it or its broad impact. That is, we often only notice it in its absence, when the air gets thin. We long for its oxygen to fill our lungs when society is starving for a deep connection to our humanity." ~ Sonya Clark, artist and professor
"Craft is about more than just making. It is a knowledge, a wisdom, and a power that we can use to improve our lives through a better understanding of the properties of materials. Craft, crafting, and craftsmanship is about a state of being and a way of knowing. Sometimes we talk, in a spiritual sense, about being 'awake' or 'mindful,' and I think it is entirely appropriate to extend this state of awareness to craft. I guess I’m going to sound almost evangelical here, but I do believe there is a virtuous, even spiritual, aspect to embracing craft in your life. Robin Wood has been a real inspiration. His bowl-turning is second to none and matched by the generosity he shows to others. Robin was instrumental in setting up the Heritage Crafts Association, the advocacy body for historic crafts in Britain." ~ Alexander Langlands, archaeologist, historian, BBC presenter; author, Cræft: An Inquiry Into the Origins and True Meaning of Traditional Crafts
"Craft demands care, risk-taking, duration, refinement, flexibility of process, and the conscious application of intelligence, and so stands as a crucial counterpoint to instant-answer, push-button living. Even if it is at times tacit, automatic, and technology-infused, craft holds out the promise of remaining apart from – and gaining perspective on – the machine, and therefore craft remains a deeply human endeavor. In comparing craft to a 'workmanship of risk' and the machine-made to a 'workmanship of certainty,' David Pye brilliantly articulated the deeply improvisational, organic nature of craft. He taught us what it means to strive." ~ Maggie Jackson, author, Distracted: Reclaiming Our Focus in a World of Lost Attention and a forthcoming book on craft
"Working with materials allows us to connect to ourselves in ways that are hard to achieve otherwise. It allows us to tap into the long tradition and lineage of makers who paved the way for us. It builds and reinforces the importance of community and the need for compassion and support. To view craft as only material mastery does not do it justice. It is a way of thinking and expressing through a material, in which both the object and process have tremendous potential and significance." ~ Kimberly Winkle, woodworker; director, School of Art, Craft & Design, Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville
"Craft hovers in the space between the maker’s embodiment of a process and material and the satisfaction that this engagement brings to the maker. An integration of the disciplined work of the hand with the development of new processes that underscore the link between skill and humanity’s eternal need to create, craft is as much about the future of making as it is about its history." ~ Jennifer-Navva Milliken, artistic director, Center for Art in Wood, Philadelphia
"Craft is a voyage, a caravan, an expedition. It has the ability to transform maker and object by way of a creative continuum that transcends technology, material, and knowledge. Key example: Ann Hamilton’s work." ~ Michael Radyk, textile artist; director of education, American Craft Council, Minneapolis
"Craft embodies commitment and community. It offers a better quality of life and a deeper connection to one another. Craft embraces the work of diverse cultures in a way that is authentic and inclusive. I find it empowering to remember that, while the arts are a relatively modern invention, craft has been with us all along." ~ Stephanie Moore, executive director, Center for Craft, Creativity & Design, Asheville, North Carolina
What does "craft" mean to you? Send us a note at [email protected], or share your thoughts on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram with the hashtag #whatcraftmeans.
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