This inspirational series continues to play on PBS. Craft in America (a journey to the artists, origins and techniques of American craft) is an incredible TV series. Whenever I view a program I’m always inspired to create something. The PBS documentary series reinforces the message that human beings are creative animals, that creative activity is part of our social & cultural heritage, that creation is good for us!
I’m reminded of my friend and coworker, Terry. Terry demonstrates a tremendous creative capacity, manifest in his speech, his poetry, and his bottle-cap art. He’s a natural story teller. Terrry recycles plastic bottle caps as components of personal portraits. Using colored pens & markers, he creates on disks of paper a portrait of the recipient, their calligraphic initials, and images that capture their personality. The paper disk is fashioned to fit inside the cap. A red rubber binds the three caps into a triptych.
According to Craft in America:
We have a deep sense of longing for the handmade. [...] Craft gives pleasure as well as function. It is inspirational as well as useful. It is the best representation of who we are as a culture. Craft is democratic. It is broad enough to accommodate anyone who makes something or appreciates the handmade. Craft is all around us. You’ll find it wherever you look – hiding in plain sight.
A recent issue of the National Endowment for the Arts’ NEA Newsletter deals with the Folk Arts. In an article entitled The Core of Absolutely Everything, author and educator James Bau Graves explains why the folk arts matter.
The folk arts matter. They matter because they reflect who we are as U.S. citizens. They matter because they sustain our heritage. They matter because they bring us together as community.
Looking for inspiration? Or pure aestheitc delectation? Visit the Virtual Exhibit on the Craft in America website.
~MadSilence to&w
3 Comments
October 25, 2009 at 12:38 am
Craft in America is truly a delicious series. One of last year’s programs featured Penland School of Craft (http://www.penland.org). I’m fortunate to live just an hour away from Penland and look forward to taking a class there each year.
This year, the second episode featured Julie Chen, a book artist who lives in the Bay area, and is one of my book arts heroes, along with the North Bennett Street School in Mass., which has an excellent book arts program (and other stellar programs ranging from cabinet-making to musical instrument-making
I’m a little weary of the “craft vs. art” debate, and after watching episodes of Craft in America, have a difficult time believing that some people still want to grind that axe (angels dancing on the heads pins, anyone?)
Thanks for the links!
October 25, 2009 at 12:57 am
We also saw this show for the first time last week. What a great show! It reminds you of just how widespread the artistic impulse is. I was again reminded of this yesterday when I stopped by a local art store to pick up some supplies. It was packed!
Now may be the perfect time for people to rediscover the pleasure of using their hands to create something of their own.
October 28, 2009 at 6:34 am
I tend to agree with you both, Clara & Ken. The art is in the creativity. The artificial divide between art & craft may be the creation of the dealers, auctioneers, curators & collectors. And maybe the artists themselves?