| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 6/19/2008 5:28:28 PM | A craft can be mastered by someone who is skilled. An art can be described as a free form of expression. There is such a fine line between the two it's hard to make a definite distinction - where do you draw the line? Perhaps a craft can be describe as a specialty? Like an artist who only uses Oil Paints could be a Master at his Craft as opposed to an artist who paints with all tools rather than just specializing in one.
That's just my speculation on it. | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 6/19/2008 10:32:07 PM | I think part of the problem with deciding if pottery is an art or a craft lies in the fact that there is a wide variety of pottery. It's a somewhat similar situation as photography. There are photographs that are clearly art, but what is a photograph used in advertizing? Or a passport photo? Pottery is usually (though not always) functional, and sometimes the maker or designer is only thinking of it's function in a very utilitarian way (someone had to design the plates that sell in dollar stores). Often we think of functional pieces as craft, particularly when they are making similar objects in mass. But is anyone here familiar with why DuChamp hauled a toilet into a museum and called it art? Or why Warhol repeated the image of Campbells Soup? They wanted to point out that the line between art and non-art is not so well defined. Toilets and soup cans and Brillo boxes had to be designed, also. Some would say the designers did a good job and are under-recognized, others would argue a toilet cannot possibly be art. So whether pottery on the whole is art or craft would not be possible to answer conclusively.
The other problem with deciding whether pottery is art or craft lies in the word, "craft." Craft is quite a catch-all phrase! We might say of someone, "they're a fine craftsman," when we see something of incredible beauty and skill. But craft is also a word we use to describe plastic canvas tissue box covers and gluing macaroni to a paper plate to make a mask. Anyone who has labored a career over learning how to make fine ceramics tends to cringe to be lumped in the same category as these, and i can certainly sympathize with that. So sometimes i use the term, "artisan work" to describe fine craftsmanship. | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 6/20/2008 9:18:06 PM | I've worked in the fine arts my entire adult life and would have to say, in some cases, the term "art" is used as an elitist tool to censor work that isn't appealing to the individual. "Art" song in the nineteenth century supposedly indicated song literature written for some "higher purpose"; yet many of the composers of that era drew from folk and national songs.
A similar distinction is often made today between "popular" music and "art" music. When working on my doctorate, I was more than a little taken aback by the many comments in class regarding "our" music and "their" music. Again, this is more of a class distinction than artistic one. I even had a professor who was upset that, at a party, people "actually discussed Andrew Lloyd Webber as though he were one of our great composers". Well, what's the problem? The man's work is certainly on par with any of the "show music" written by Mozart or Puccini in their day; only the style and some mediums are different.
We really come back to the old "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" maxim. One person's trash is another person's art. | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 6/21/2008 4:25:20 PM | I am a fellow potter & I appreciate your question OP. And loveprof75, I agree that the distinction has been used as form of censorship. Because of that, the distinction between art and craft is a thing that we are sometimes forced "to sweat" like it or not.
When I submitted my portfolio to the University of Victoria, they would not consider for admission photographs of my wheel-thrown functional pottery (decorated with glazes that I had mixed & tested extensively) nor photos of Morris chairs & Shaker-style furniture (my plans & construction obviously reproduced from old, original designs). UVic does have both clay and wood in fine arts but they only consider sculpture & non-functional (sculptural) wood. These works were, for purely arbitrary reasons, considered "craft." If the university decides to expand its program, the same crafts will become art.
Other universities will accept those examples as proof of artistic ability -- art.
If a door is closed because of what seems like a silly distinction, I do sweat it. | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 6/22/2008 6:37:42 AM | | I've run into this myself as a blacksmith. My opinion is that if it's functional then it's craft, if it doesn't do anything besides look pretty then it's art. That doesn't mean that artistic talent can't be applied to a craft. I don't concider myself an artist, which is someone who makes things that are soley to be enjoyed for their beauty but aren't functional. But I don't concider myself a craftsman either, who makes things that are well made and functional, but of a usually utilitarian appearence. I concider myself an artisan, I make well made functional items that are also pretty. | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 7/16/2009 8:44:05 PM | Craft is when artistic technique is applied without underlying knowledge of the principles that make the technique effective.
Craft leads to replication, while art leads to innovation.
In an analogy to dancing.
Art is, telling someone, "Just feel the music and mess around and see what you get."
Craft is, "Copy what I do exactly." | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 7/17/2009 3:12:28 AM | YAY! im potty about my pots. Started a course in ceramics recently and love it, going back for the next level in Sept.
Art is a craft and craft is art. Art is a form of expresion be it painting, dance, poetry, music, sketching, sculpting, photograpy, writting its all art at the end of the day.
I really do need to get on with painting my pots today. Iv got pics of my work on facebook and myspace if you want to talk potty stuff sometime, pm me. | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 7/17/2009 7:59:52 AM | | My opinion is that the design is art the replication is craft. When I make a piece the first time it is art the second third ect is craft. Writing a song is art playing it again and again is craft. | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 7/17/2009 10:11:41 AM | im no potter, but i am a musician/composer. this is easy
craft is the discipline
art is the expression | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 7/17/2009 6:08:38 PM | Here's two Rolling Stones songs.
Lady Jane = Art / Mixed Emotions = Craft | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 7/18/2009 2:10:30 PM | An artist can be a craftsman and vice versa.
Art is anything of beauty that is created by someone or nature.
Now if you say the word crafting I think of stringing maccaroni noodles or kniting toilet roll covers, something that you just do to kep your hands busy that requires no passion or ideas. | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 7/19/2009 11:56:07 AM | I've dated a woman that was into crafts, so I have been in craft stores.
My first impression of craft stores is that they're stuffy, uncreative atmosphere; in a sense, uninspiring crap.
Come on, it's all about dried up weeds and cut up 2X4s painted white with a novice job of painting the word "soap" on it, then asking $10 for it.  .
Art, on the other hand, is the opposite. | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 7/19/2009 2:27:52 PM |
My first impression of craft stores is that they're stuffy, uncreative atmosphere; in a sense, uninspiring crap.
Come on, it's all about dried up weeds and cut up 2X4s painted white with a novice job of painting the word "soap" on it, then asking $10 for it. .
Art, on the other hand, is the opposite.
Sadly "craft" has absorbed that stuff into it's meaning, but really craft means things like making your own wooden humidor with inset panels of exotic hardwoods by hand, or forging silver jewelery, etc. I've never seen "real" craft supplies at a craft store. Real craft isn't scrapbooking or glueing macaroni to a picture frame. Martha Stewart isn't a craftsman (or a craftswomen I guess would be the term).
Art, on the other hand, is the opposite.
By "art", you mean a canvas splattered with paint? Or real art? Paint splatters is about the artistic equivalent to the board with "soap" painted badly on it. And you think they overcharge for the soap board, heh.
This is an "artist"
http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&safe=off&ei=a5BjSrnXFsGwlAe108j9BQ&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=jackson+pollock&spell=1
This is a chimpanzee
http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&safe=off&sa=1&q=chimp+art+congo&btnG=Search+images&aq=f&oq= | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 7/19/2009 7:50:06 PM | awp I know the punch line of this joke "yes, but the artist has a degree" | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 7/20/2009 12:00:49 PM | To Quote wikipedia:
CRAFT
"A craft is a skill, especially involving practical arts. It may refer to a trade or particular art."
ART
"Art is the process or product of deliberately arranging elements in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions. It encompasses a diverse range of human activities, creations, and modes of expression, including music and literature. The meaning of art is explored in a branch of philosophy known as aesthetics."
I think some of the problem comes as the two skills of 'arts' and 'crafts' come close to merging:
FOLK ART
Folk art encompasses art produced from an indigenous culture or by peasants or other laboring tradespeople. In contrast to fine art, folk art is primarily utilitarian and decorative rather than purely aesthetic.
FINE ART
Fine art describes any art form developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than utility.
Just my 2 cents... actually, it's my 1/2 cent and wikipedia's 1 1/2 cents, but I'll take the credit, what the hell.
James, Sculptor, Painter, Port Orchard, Washington, USA, Earth | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 7/20/2009 1:18:27 PM | | I can't remember where I heard Keef say, "Art is just short for Arthur, in my opinion." He was talking about Pete Townsend, who calls himself an artist. (Keith also calls him "a cantankerous old fart.") It's hard to not give Pete his due. If he isn't an artist, he is one accomplished musican. I think music is a different kind of art. It's different in that it's a form of expression instead of a product that you can pick up and look at. Music is art floating in the air. A craft is can be something someone has made, and even might be trying to sell it. But a craft can also be somebody's trade if he/she has something to say about how it's made and how it should look when it's done. | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 7/20/2009 5:25:31 PM | Personally, I try not to get lost in the labels (which is sometimes difficult). The "established" anything will always attempt to set boundaries or etiquette in relation to 'what belongs' and 'what doesn't' because their entire industry (whatever it may be) is built upon the notion of exclusivity, collectivity, and having something at which to point and say, "That doesn't belong."
The definitive difference between 'craft' and 'art' has been essentially and perhaps utterly blurred over time, excepting in those areas above mentioned. It once was that you were not a credible craftsman unless you had the repute of a known master craftsman behind your name. It once was that you were not a credible artist unless you had the repute of some manner of authority (social, cultural, etc) behind you to agree and vet your acceptance.
It's all changing and we're in the weird place called 'transition'. The labels aren't so sticky these days and there are going to be people with different perspectives because that's just how people behave.
If one is interested in gaining the authority and credibility of the "established", history demonstrates that one usually must first bend their craft or art to the etiquettes and standards they prefer. Once accepted, the lines for experimentation, unusual forms, et al are softer because, despite the 'party line', everyone understands that any form of craft or art requires change, experimentation, and difference to really grow and thrive.
The people who seem to walk without impediment in these areas are usually the people who are truly creatives and whose efforts draw attention, admiration, and respect because (contrarily) they do not look for, rely upon, or in any way ask for acceptance.
It's kind of like knowing something -- when you think you know something, you forever seek acceptance and acknowledgment from others, but when you know you know something, you never bother with it because it's just not part of who you are, what you do, or why you do it.
If you think what you do is art, then it is. Maybe the world will discover it someday. I hope. :) | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 7/20/2009 11:59:27 PM | art is concept, skill and emotion.
craft is a specialized skill
I've done ceramics/pottery in high school and in college (4 years combined), and to me it's an art. | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 7/24/2009 5:03:18 PM | I think the main problem stems from the fact that the word craft is being abused .
When I hear craft I think "an art, trade, or occupation requiring special skill, esp. manual"
And the fact that no one can decide on what exactly art is. Go figure :P
Usually when I see something framed in an "art vs craft" its someones trying to denigrate someones elses creation plain an simple.
When it comes down to it yeh gotta be doing what yer doing because you love it
And if yeh want to make money at it yeh gotta be making in way so other people will love it. | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 7/26/2009 10:59:37 AM | Somehow the word "craft" has less respect attached to it than the word "art" although in my opinion both are the same thing. Philosophically, anything can be art as long as someone, ANYONE, considers it so. To me, art is more than just merely pointing and acknowledging. The artist must have at least some sort of concept and skill in creating the art.
It seems that artists want to set themselves aside from the crafters for artists have this elitist notion that their work is somehow better. This is all quite silly, actually. I have been an artist/crafter/whateveryoucallit for as long as my memory serves me, and no amount of debate or education has made me not chuckle at this topic. | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 7/26/2009 2:17:04 PM | Art is purely aesthetic.
Craft can be 'art', but in any case, it has some sort of utilitarian purpose. | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 8/2/2009 7:42:44 AM | | drink , drink, drink, drink, drink , drink, drink, drink, drink , drink, drink, drink | |
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| Art vs. Craft
Posted: 8/2/2009 12:44:25 PM | | Artistry is thought/vision, whereas craft is vocabulary/physical technique. Mastery of craft allows you to more fully and accurately express your thoughts. But all the technique in the world won't make up for a lack of vision. So for all I know, there are people out there with the minds of Picasso who don't even draw or paint or sculpt, they have no physical ability, but in a way, objectively speaking, they are greater artists than the dudes at the starving artist sales who oil paint cottages. If we were to use a computer analogy, artistry might be the processor and installed software, and craft is the quality of the printer and graphics card. Same in music. | |
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