Now - this is my kind of Art!

[hedgehog]

http://craftcouncil.org/magazine/article/american-made#

[NYC_SKP]

1. K/R. There has been a movement to disrespect "craft"; divorce it from "art".

Fuck that shit, I see more art in craft than in most "art for art's sake".

Check out what the East Bay school formerly known as the "California College of Arts and Crafts" did recently:

The word "craft" has such baggage attached to it. It's overly feminized and makes you think of "unimportant" stuff that women are supposed to do while the menfolk do the real work.

The art college I teach at, The California College of Arts (CCA) changed their name from The California College of Arts and Crafts (CCAC) a few years ago to try to divorce themselves from the stigma associated with the big "C-word".

I thought they should have been brave and kept the word, attempting to change the meaning of it as opposed to just dropping it entirely. Like, "we don't DO craft--we make ART."

http://www.stephaniesyjuco.com/antifactory/blog/2006/09/craftcrap_23.html

grrrr.

[rrneck]

11. One might say that art is craft with content. nt

[NYC_SKP]

12. Or that craft is art with utility.

Or both!

[rrneck]

13. True that.

It has to do with intentionality. Art is anything that is made to give a deeper insight into the human condition.

My first impulse is to desire that everything we use would have some sort of content, but I don't really need everything I own to prompt an existential dilemma. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

But on the other hand, the idea that someone could say, "That's a helluva axe. It's had two heads and six handles on it." Sounds silly, I know. But have you ever had a tool that had been worn wonderfully smooth through wear? It's almost a work of art from having been in your life long enough for your use to have refined its finish. It has been sculpted by your relationship with it.

I think in the end one might say that a work of art describes a relationship between people. Someone is saying to someone else, "This is important." It is a relationship that begins between the artist and the work, much like the well worn tool.

Post modernism has given significant form a bit of a bad reputation, but I think it's still relevant. How does any formal expression achieve significance apart from the intentionality of the artist?

[surrealAmerican]

2. Nice work.

Last edited Thu Nov 7, 2013, 12:46 PM - Edit history (1)

On the site, be sure to click the picture for a slideshow of some of their sculptures.

[enlightenment]

3. Of course it's art.

Is someone saying this isn't art?

I'm confused. Is art not art if it actually represents something?

[NYC_SKP]

4. Yes and No. NT

[enlightenment]

5. Hmm -

Have to say that is one of the least useful responses I've seen around here.

No matter - despite understand that there specific descriptors and tomes of explanations, I will continue to believe that if I think it's art, it's art (just like I continue to like poetry even when the "experts" tell me it's poor).

Since I'm not an expert - nor a collector - I can be as subjective as I want!

[NYC_SKP]

8. Read my post above about how the CCAC changed their name to the CAC.

They dropped the work "Craft" from their name.

For shame. On them.

To your questions:

"Is someone saying this isn't art?

I'm confused. Is art not art if it actually represents something?"

I'd say yes, generally, people are saying that craft isn't art, and...

No, art that actually represents something can still be art.

Thus, my answers were, yes and no; people are calling craft something beneath art and no, representative works are still art.

[enlightenment]

9. Thanks.

You didn't have to explicate - but I appreciate that you took the time.

[hedgehog]

10. It's my impression (and possible misunderstanding) that most "Art" today

is self involved and looks down on any attempt to engage with current life or speak to current issues. These objects speak strongly of values and of peoples' lives.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

6. that is very well done...

nice work!

sP

[rug]

7. Great stuff.

Kyle and Kelly Phelps, The Strikers, 2004, ceramic, other mediums, 24 x 20 x 8 in. Photo: K & K Phelps - See more at: http://craftcouncil.org/magazine/article/american-made#sthash.pLViqT4x.dpuf

[MagickMuffin]

14. The Phelps Brothers Are Amazing At Their Art

Reading some of the comments in this thread, I am reminded of a true story of an "artist" I know who got extremely offended I called him a craftsman. He became somewhat belligerent that I implied his work was a craft and proudly/boldly informed me that "I AM AN ARTIST." I laughed inside that someone could take such an attitude about the term craftsman over artist. While I defend his artistic talents are truly inspiring (he's a painter) I will never truly understand his ego (and believe me he has a tremendous one)!

From looking at the wonderful artwork of the Phelps brothers, I would defend the word craft, because they took a lump of clay and molded it into a work of art. This craft/art is also referred to as Folk Art.