craft or art?
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
United States
August 10, 2010 3:28pm CST
I am a crafter or am I an artist? I create beautiful items using yarn and metal sticks, be they knitting needles or crochet hooks, weaving needles or tatting ones. So here is the question, these old fashioned crafts thought usually as woman's busy work or chores, or crafts since they are practical are often not referred to as art. Do you agree with this statement or do you believe these items to be pieces of art? Now as some one who follows no patterns be it with yarn or quilting I believe my self to be an artist as I do others who work with these materials, but at a quilt and home arts show I had the misfortune of listening to several gentlemen and a woman from a local museum say as how these ancient (all civil war or older articles on display) where merely artifacts and where never art work. I think they are do you?
4 responses
@celticeagle (168478)
• Boise, Idaho
11 Aug 10
Why wouldn't they be art? They are a form of art. Crafts of any kind are forms of art. I think that they are thinking of 'art work' as a painting or something like that. THis is a craft and therefor a different form of art. They may not have any knowledge in that area anyway. And artifacts are forms of art also. Maybe not of today but of yesteryear.
1 person likes this
@Suke002 (311)
• United States
10 Aug 10
Crafting is a type of art. So your both really. Your an artist that specializes in crafting with certain items. And a lot of people don't see crafts as a form of art (i don't know why) but anything you really create is a form of art. If you think about it, a lot of things are artwork related.
@GloomySky (35)
• Bulgaria
16 Aug 10
For me the definition for art is unique creations without repetition. One pattern made into multiple objects becomes a craft in my opinion.
Craft is not a bad word, it's not worse than art. It's just using your brain in different kind of way.
And anyway it depends from person to person. If one wants to name his or hers creations art or craft it's their right to do so.
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
16 Aug 10
it was the condescending tone of the conversation that got to me really.
@GloomySky (35)
• Bulgaria
17 Aug 10
Excuse me, am I missing something?
I don't see anything condescending in my post.
Maybe I'm unclear and I'll try to elaborate my response.
I name art the first unique form of a creation, each next repetition of the same pattern I name craft. In a nutshell I tried to tell that "art" and "craft" are just words for me. Someone may name it A and B, but the process is still the same. The brain works in a different way when we do something for the first time and different way when we repeat it.
There wasn't anything personal towards anyone.
Have a nice week!
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
19 Aug 10
Not you silly the people at the showing it was how they said it! Sorry didn't mean you..... 
