"Footed Pot" ....my ass!

ART/CRAFT

THE subject of contention for a bunch of my friends who are craft.. lovers and makers.

Last week i found a book called: 'Crafts Canada The useful arts' (1974).

Its full of local hero's like Lois Betbridge-Etherington (silversmithing queen) and even Andrew goss (i love his NEW work in concrete).

Using a few of the most interesting pictures from my find,  i intend to demonstrate how I see as the phases in what many view as contradictory terms and why i feel like they are all components of a healthy career as a 'craftsperson'. To me classification is made easy if you view it all from the p.o.v. of "intention".

Footed pot  by Bailey Leslie, Toronto. (NICE well made bong... no?)

A. Craft to me is about the end user. Craft is something that is made to be functional by a skilled craftsperson who has thoroughly considered all aspects of the design before beginning work.  To me this could include industrially produced objects where the designer really cared about the object, its use, storage, durability, aesthetics, and life span.  Something that is well crafted is essentially a pleasure to use. 

Tie-Dye, Eric Nyros. I love this work, i've never seen tie-dye executed like this, its beautiful no?!  Reminds me of being in the back country, if you look closely its all tree's and marshlands!

B. Art is about the concept or impulse of an artist. Art is the implementation of an artists skills in successfully conveying their personal vision. 

'Fibre Sculpture' by Hilde Shreier, Ottawa. This is interesting because it attempts to re-interpret textile techniques into a new form, but who wants that in thier house, really? I sometimes wish we could just write off craft from the seventies as what it was, experimental.

C. Production is anything else, continuing work in a series after the inspiration fades, making things because you know they sell, experimenting with new techniques unsuccessfully etc. This is essential to a makers process too, because well... sometimes its good to make some cash doing what you love, and sometimes you just need to burn out before you can start again, all the while improving on skills.

To me all of these elements are viable and important aspects of the career of a craftsperson.  I consider myself an artist and a maker and i'm getting better at moving through the phases of this cycle without questioning my own motives and goals all the time.

If you can find answers to the 'why' of material arts, it is easy to characterize where it sits on the horizon of the 'Art vs. Craft' debate.

Booyah.

HOODWINK

Hoodwink is a new hat i JUST finished but have been thinking about for a while.  Its sort of a maiden hat, but reminds me of Finnish Christmas elves.  It has earflaps to keep lobes warm and an elastic back strap so that you can wear it with your hair tied back. I am really excited about finally making this pattern and putting it together as it is something i've been thinking about for a while... a little nervous about the reception it will get the next few days though... maybe its over the top 'pointy'.  

This hat kind of has a story too... i designed it because i cut a fringe of bangs in front which was supposed to help me stop tying my hair back all the time but i still do... I like the fringe and i think i look cute and chipmunky with it... but when i wear a regular toque i look like a roadkill chipmunk.

So yeah, when I become a style icon in the future (accidentally of course, who.. moi??)

this may be one of the objects that led to my greatness... all credit due to vanity!

Look for it on the Oscar's red carpet this weekend... 

Hope everyone likes it as much as i do.  

If you want to protect it, WRAP IT UP!!!

That was my grade eight teacher's favourite saying... i wonder how she really meant it back then, but nevertheless it bears relevance!

I love these Furoshiki wraps.... the traditional japanese way to carry parcels... usually in a square of cotton/silk.  YEAH!   i wish i could get my groceries wrapped up like this, but alas...  i'll just have to save these instructions (from the japanese ministry of the environment) for wrapping presents.  

One more way to get rid of left over fabrics!

So for a while now i've been wanting to make something for myself...  and i NEEDED an apron, so i got on a kick last night.

This one is for the kitchen!

Its modeled on the apron i scrounged from my grandmothers house, an apron my mom thinks she made back in finland in the early sixties for a school project!

This one is for Metalwork and other messy non-food things..

Its got a big pocket on the front, its flowery and sort of country which is a nice contrast to using hardcore rotary tools.... its also got a square neck sort of a fifties touch.  I love this one, and i love that i can now get to some of my grinding projects and stay crud-free!

Oh, and i put grommets in the bottom corners to allow me to hook it onto cup hooks under my table and catch all the metalbits for recasting. 

BIG SMILE!