Pin Cushions by Deborah Fisher.
Photo courtesy of Deborah Fisher
Since then, I balk whenever the topic comes up. I just want to make things, not analyze them. Still, I cringe at the use of the word ‘crafty.’ I grit my teeth at other parents talking about making ‘a craft’ at a birthday party and the like.
The word craft is used for everything from the work of highly regarded makers, such as Faith Ringold and Beatrice Wood, to hobbyists who sew, knit, make pots, turn wood, hammer iron, to the awful foam stickers that appear for the before-mentioned birthday party ‘craft.’ While none are less valid for what they are, there is a big difference.
And with that comes the devaluing of the sublime, and the minimizing of what we hold dear. So, why don’t we have different words?
My daughter went to a serious creative arts camp this summer whose core values were creativity, curiosity, grit, and craftsmanship. They specifically chose the word craftsmanship instead of craft because of the association with ‘arts and crafts’ that is often linked to summer camp. Art. Craft. We have two words to describe the entire world of creating with our hands?
The Difference Between a Princess and a Fairy.
Photo courtesy of Deborah Fisher
One word is simply not sufficient to hold all of the ideas that we associate with the word craft. Words do matter and it seems that we don’t have enough of them. It is in our nature to want to name things, so what other words could we use?
A quick search tells us that craft is defined as an art, trade, or occupation requiring special skill, especially manual skill or, skill planning, making, or executing. The word art is actually used within the definition of craft. All of this is hazy – maybe it is specificity that we need. A search for synonyms brings up words such as cunning, deceit, and fraud. That just seems to make things worse.
The Craft Industry Alliance newsletter linked to an American Craft Council article on the new television show “Making It.” The article itself comments on the use of the word craft. ”Offerman and Poehler referred to ‘crafting’ and ‘crafters.’ If we did that in American Craft, we’d get hate mail; the creative people we feature are ‘artists’ or ‘makers.’” This from a long standing, highly respected organization and magazine with the very word Craft in its name.
Tender (parts).
Photo courtesy of Deborah Fisher
A writer friend of mine, with nearly 20 published fantasy books for all ages, has the same problem. She thinks this is all about gender. Of course, in our work it is nearly impossible to escape the issue of gender, whatever gender you are. Recently, I received an email from a well-regarded art center showcasing a new exhibition of the work of Joel Otterson. In describing his work, they say, “Otterson’s art objects become hybrids of paradoxical forces such as high/low, hard/soft, and male/female. Objects from museum collections are juxtaposed with materials from personal home collections, presenting the viewer with dichotomies between art and craft, domestic handicraft and sculptural methods.”
If we can wade through all the ‘art speak,’ it seems that high, hard, male, and art all go together and low, soft, female, and craft all go together. I clicked through to the artist’s website. The artist’s statement says, “Utilizing practices such as sewing, and quilting, traditionally associated with feminine craft making, Joel turns these humble materials into muscular art. The artist blurs the line between high and low culture, art and craft to create poignant sculptures, which are both utilitarian and de-constructivist sculptural objects.”
Tender (heads).
Photo courtesy of Deborah Fisher
So, humble, feminine, low culture, craftmaking materials are turned into muscular art. The actual work aside (which is really quite interesting and beautiful), I feel beaten and exhausted by these words minimizing, yet again, who and what we are.
The sad truth is that there is a hierarchy to words. What do other professions do? There are chefs, cooks, sous chefs, home cooks, bakers, pastry chefs. That collection seems to work well enough for them. The terms create an understandable picture of something that is named.
When we work with our hands, we are creating beyond words. Why should we need to use words to explain our work when it speaks for itself in more ways than words can? But that just doesn’t fly in a world where our work is minimized, disregarded, and dismissed. We need more words.
tools for if you are Afraid of the Dark.
Photo courtesy of Deborah Fisher
Travel Set.
Photo courtesy of Deborah Fisher
Flossie Arend
contributor
Flossie Arend is a writer and editor living in New York City. She likes to read (sci-fi, fiction and non-fiction, true crime, horror, and comic books), write (see previously stated genres), knit (selfishly), play video games (obsessively), and watch television and movies. She's worked for Stitchcraft Marketing for seven years.
At the end of the day, it’s all semantics. The value will always lie in the end product and that is what shall be enjoyed, that and the processes. Value can never really be measured as we are all so very different in our tastes and what constitutes skilful. Naming things is just labelling, a foible that we humans spend far too much time over. Call it what you will, the degree of skill, talent or appreciation afforded, by both the maker and the viewer are what counts and will always be considered variable, but in many cases no less valuable. In my house I call the things I do my ‘handi-crafts’, somewhat tongue in cheek and with a sense of irony. It all counts, from the basic to the ‘serious art’ (a term I particularly do not like to use). I find the intrinsic issue and problem is that craft is so often held to be, and is treated as a pejorative word. I do wish it were not so, and that we worried less about being considered the ‘artists’ we apparently want to be.
At the end of the day, it’s all semantics. The value will always lie in the end product and that is what shall be enjoyed, that and the processes. Value can never really be measured as we are all so very different in our tastes and what constitutes skilful. Naming things is just labelling, a foible that we humans spend far too much time over. Call it what you will, the degree of skill, talent or appreciation afforded, by both the maker and the viewer are what counts and will always be considered variable, but in many cases no less valuable. In my house I call the things I do my ‘handi-crafts’, somewhat tongue in cheek and with a sense of irony. It all counts, from the basic to the ‘serious art’ (a term I particularly do not like to use). I find the intrinsic issue and problem is that craft is so often held to be, and is treated as a pejorative word. I do wish it were not so, and that we worried less about being considered the ‘artists’ we apparently want to be. We all define our own worth.
Thank you for your comments! Yes, it does all count, but I wish it wasn’t so difficult to define our own worth.
“Artisan” is used in New Mexico Art Tours to describe the people who create pottery, woodworking, fiber art, and anything that is not specifically traditional “Art.” It works well.
Your work is beautiful.
There’s still a gap though. Artisan is the person who creates the work. What do you call the work?
Artist/art
Craftsman/craft
Artisan/???
Thank you so much!
Interesting. I wonder how the “artisans” would describe themselves.
I like the idea of the word, “artisan”. It fits the perameters in my mind of what crafters/creaters really are.
From Merriam-Webster’s: Artisans aren’t the same as artists, but it can sometimes be hard to tell the difference. In the Middle Ages, artisans organized themselves into guilds. In every city each group of artisans—weavers, carpenters, shoemakers, and so on—had its own guild, which set wages and prices, kept standards high, and protected its members from outside competitors. In America, however, most artisans have always been fiercely independent. Today, when factories produce almost all of our goods, artisans usually make only fine objects for those who can afford them. And we now even include food among the artisan’s crafts, so you can buy artisanal cheeses, breads, and chocolates—but probably not if you’re watching your budget.
Economics are unfortunately a big factor. In general, craft tends to be more affordable than art.
I respectfully disagree with Sara’s assertion that it’s all just semantics. In fact, I wish it were so. Then, we could move on from the obvious hegemonic gender dynamic that seems to define our creative efforts.
While I was certainly aware that the dynamic existed, I became much more aware of its power while taking courses during my Masters program in rhetoric and composition. When I would propose to write papers on the rhetoric inherent in the needlearts, even some of my female professors would try to discourage me from the subject, arguing that I was trying to address an area of the “soft arts” that was more appropriate to popular culture studies rather than hardcore rhetorical analysis worthy of academic consideration.
In fact, a pertinent case in point is Deborah’s example of the wording describing the art of Joel Otterson, a male artist. The description clearly implies that his male use of “domestic handicrafts” is a more worthy form of art than say the original female needleartist’s design and execution of the same. Frankly, if that’s not a clear gendered perversion of the words “art” and “craft”, I’m not sure what is.
Agreed. It may be semantics in theory, but not in reality.
As to repurposing original “domestic handicraft” and turning it into “art”, when I first saw Robert Rauschenberg’s “Bed” (a ripped, painted and burned quilt), my reaction was “I guess a man has to destroy a quilt for it to be called ART”.
Exactly! I wonder who made the quilt that he destroyed.
I have taken to calling myself a fiber artist. Knitter and crocheter just don’t cut it for all the work I do anymore.
I’m a jewelry artist, metalsmith, and handspinner. I often refer to myself as a maker, a label I wear with pride. But a few months ago, I referred to myself as a maker on Facebook, and someone said, oh no, you’re more than a maker! You’re an artist! Don’t put yourself down!
I hadn’t realized that outside the maker community, people don’t really get what the term means. To her, a maker is someone who *only* makes things, doesn’t design them, doesn’t dream of them, doesn’t figure out how to fabricate them so they will be beautiful and structurally sound. She thought I was being self-deprecating.
Quite an eye opener.
Yet if I say I’m an artist, people assume I paint or draw or sculpt. I do none of those.
We definitely need some more words, and we need to make sure that everyone knows what they mean, not just us.
Interesting! When I used to make sculpture I would call myself an artist and people would assume I was a painter.
I’ve definitely struggled with finding the right terminology as well. Maker is great and encompassing, but more words are definitely needed to help shape clear views of what is really being made and done by the makers.
Yes!
I have definitely been in this boat and am an advocate for making up your own words when you need more words.
I say this not as a joke, but in all honesty. When I didn’t see a way to concisely talk about people who combined craft and activism I combined the two words. And you know what? Other people started calling me by what I defined myself by.
To me, a lot of energy is spent on “not enough,” and not enough energy is spent on “who/what could I be?”
Craftivism! How long did it take until you didn’t have to explain that word anymore?
I still do sometimes.
I just started being amused by what people called me more and caring less about labels, which do little more than divide, both in the creative world and elsewhere. 🙂
I think it is human nature to want to name things. Labeling seems more negative while naming maybe brings a little more order to a chaotic world. Making more names makes us more diverse.
Thank you for writing this, Deborah! (and thank you for sharing images of your work. I’m familiar with your pin cushions and love them, but really enjoy seeing your other pieces)
I went to art school in the early ’90s and faced the exact same issues upon deciding to join the Crafts dept instead of the Sculpture dept when I declared my major. Despite the fact that the pieces I was making were virtually the same, regardless of which dept I was in. Many instructors from the “art” side (painting, sculpture, etc.) had a clear bias against the “craft” people. I remember a painting professor saying “Your group makes things that go in people’s houses. We make paintings that go in museums.” Of course everyone thumbed their noses at the graphic design students (“commercial sell-outs!”). Ironically, we all received the same education in design fundamentals, theory, and the like. So what was the difference?
I guess we might always fight a battle against non-makers failing to understand the difference between high-end creators and the kiddie craft/foam-sticker crowd. But it is truly frustrating to get push-back from other creatives when we try to succinctly title ourselves. I’ve tried: artist, maker, textile artist, quilter, designer, and mixed media artist over the years and none have ever been quite right. Plus they don’t cover all the side hustles like teaching.
At the suggestion of a particularly sassy friend, I’ve started using “Unicorn” (it also works with my other career which is fairly multi-faceted). It probably sounds kooky and aloof but it usually makes people laugh and gets them to ask for an explanation.
This is so interesting, Stephanie. We went to art school at basically the same time. My school had a General Sculptural Studies major that included Sculpture, Fiber, and Ceramics. I started with a GSS major but eventually switched to Fiber. I was still making the same things, as you said, but I felt I had a fiber sensibility and was more at home there. Also, the Fiber and Ceramics departments were definitely geared towards conceptual art making as opposed to functional object making. I admit that now, in some ways, I find “art” to be very elitist and “makers of things that go in people’s houses” to be the more noble pursuit. Basically, art for all!
Excellent essay, such a loaded issue. Reading the statement about the male artist – and whoever wrote it hastening to assure readers that his work is “masculine” despite the needlework – is so aggravating! While some amount of the stigma associated with needlework has gone away (thank you, Judy Chicago and others who paved the way), it’s still pretty much there. If you want to make more money in the arts, be a guy.
Thank you so much! It seems that if you want to make more money in anything, be a guy.
Very interesting article and lovely work, as ever, Deborah. Thank you.
Thank you so much!
I wonder if other languages have the same issues with art and craft?
With both we still get the idea from non-creatives all the time that art should be a leisure time activity and not life’s work. Plus, the implication that leisure time should be limited. Yes, I have been putting a lot of time into my art with not much to show for it as far as money. I have gotten more precise on naming what I do; which is surface pattern design.
It is sad that other creatives don’t see all the arts as being worthy of praise. Sad to say most people seem to have to find someone to look down on. I feel sad for those who aren’t creative, but then again if they like what we make, they are our biggest customers. They can imagine making what we make.
Those of us who make, go to a craft show and don’t buy, because we can see ourselves making what others are selling. Or in some cases we are not buying, because what we have made isn’t bring in the money.
It is strange, but in my husband’s family there have been a few artists over the years, and I hear how good they were, but my art is basically nothing to them. Though they have continued to display a painting I did for them years ago.
I should quit because I am rambling off topic now.
That is a good question about other languages!
I really love selling my current work (pincushions, etc.) to other creatives because they know the time and effort it takes to make something handmade.
Interesting article and great points and ideas. I’m also concerned about the disappearance of the word craft, from craft-serving organizations, such as the former American Craft Museum that changed their name to Art and Design something. And even the Craft Emergency Relief Fund now says they serve artists!
It’s odd and perhaps worrisome when the very organizations that serve craftspeople erase the word.
Thank you, Elaine! I remember when the American Craft Museum changed its name. I thought it was strange that they changed it to something so generic.
I have a term for who you are and what you do that you didn’t mention in this very thought-provoking piece: IMAGO DEI. Not sure what your spiritual or faith background may be, but Judaism, Christianity and Islam all maintain that human beings are “imago dei,” created in the image of God based on the creation story found in Genesis. How can we ALL be made in God’s image, since we all look so different? Male/female, black/white/brown, young/old, etc — we all look so different. I have personally come to believe that what sets us apart from other living things on Earth and makes us all imago dei is not our outward appearance but our creativity, in all of the different forms that takes. It’s art, craft, craftsmanship, innovation; everything from cinematography to museum sculptures to colored macaroni jewelry made by proud little preschoolers. Theologians have been arguing about what it means to be created in God’s image for millennia, but to me it’s just obvious — if God is the ultimate designer, creator and crafter of the entire Universe and everything in it, and the artistic drive and creativity of humans is a reflection of who God is, then that elevates and dignifies what everyone creates, even though we are all endowed with different abilities and gifts. To God, who designed and created all of the wildly colorful birds, frogs, plants and bugs of the rain forests, the work of even Picasso or Michelangelo must seem like the macaroni art that a child proudly presents to her parents. And I imagine that, just as we human parents delight in the awkward creations of our children, God delights in the creativity of His children as well, regardless of whether we call it art, craft, design, or whatever.
Now, having said that, I abhor those awful foam stickers and “craft kits” from Michael’s just as much as you do. Instead of encouraging and enabling youngsters to explore their innate creativity, these products constrain them and box them in between parameters so narrow that there is precious little opportunity for these little makers to be creative at all. I’d much rather give the little ones free rein with a wild array of decorative papers, old magazines, feathers, glitter, paint, feathers, pom poms, glue, paper towel tubes, etc., give them no instructions beyond how to safely use the materials (don’t eat the glue), and then just let them have at it and see what happens… As long as this craft project is happening at someone ELSE’S home, that is! 😉
Thank you-this is so interesting! I am forwarding your comment to my father, retired Rabbi. Also, when my kids were younger I would have a Glitterfest in my house every year with their friends. Glitter everywhere for weeks. But I actually miss it!
Thank you, Deborah, for this thoughtful piece. As well as being a maker I have a PhD in medieval history, and I see the art/craft dichotomy, including its gendered dimension, as deeply related to modernity and in particular European Romanticism. The valuing of originality is foreign to premodern thought, when careful replication and fidelity to tradition were valued. Originality was denigrated, with many medieval people declaring that they, in fact, did not make up their work out of their own minds. I’d suggest that the association of craft with imitation is rooted in this shift of valuation. Interestingly, skill holds as a common value, so perhaps that is the way forward?
Thank you, Tamar! This is fascinating. I don’t know anything about the history, but I do think a lot about how we got here. I would love to read more about this. Perhaps an article for the Craft Industry Alliance!?
I too cringe at the word “crafting”, “crafty”, “craft”, but I like the term ‘craftsmanship” which, in my mind, means your good at whatever it is your are making.
II agree that it is all a matter of semantics. I have been creating quilts (art quilts as well as traditional) since 1976 and this semantical debate has been raging in the quilt makers world for as long as I have been sewing.
If this debate over words ever adjudicated I will be pleased, but in the meantime I too just want to go about making things that bring me joy.
Agreed! Keep on making!
Some excellent reading here and, lovely to see so many people passionate about their ‘art’, ‘craft’, ‘work’ etc etc! Personally, I like the word ‘Creative’ or, ‘creatives’ for a group of creative people. Keep enjoying your creations, and keep creating!!!!! Terry Adams