Craft Revolution

 

Edit: There seems to be some confusion over the fact I used the term ‘art vs craft debate’ at the start of this post. The craft revolution blog, and this post, is not about the art vs craft debate/discussion, and I am sorry if this post reads that way. I have written another post hopefully to clarify my intention. 

I have written before about the art v craft debate. (If you can be bothered – click on the craft category and check out the volumes I wrote before anyone was reading my blog). I have stated that I think the term craft should be embraced, as other pejorative terms have been embraced. I tried to coin a new label – crartist for the craft artist so we can have crartistic licence (it hasn’t caught on. Grin).

Sometimes I wonder if some of those out there who call themselves artists do so, not so much to embrace the term artist, but to distance themselves from the term craft. Craft can have such negative low brow connotations. The much maligned toilet roll covers, tissue box covers, crap-booking (as our neighbour calls it when his scrapbooking loving wife isn’t around). The dumbing down of craft books (SharonB wrote about this here )– the fact I can’t go into McBookshop Borders and find an interesting embroidery book among the shelves jam packed with quick and easy, boring and unsatisfying craft projects. Of course I don’t really think labels matter – I don’t care if you call yourself an artist, a craftsperson, a maker, or a poo shaped yam, but I do think it is a shame to malign all craft because some aspects of it don’t appeal.

I was searching for something last night and stumbled across an exhibition being held at QUT (Queensland University of Technology) called Craft Revolution, running until 13 July. This is what they say:

Craft Revolution explores the idea that craft is radical and revolutionary, through an exhibition and online discussion.

Craft Revolution: The Exhibition…
Rejecting the dominant culture of consumption and the loss of community, craft is a means of creation and engagement that is slow, purposeful and often cooperative. It is this rejection of the dominant consumptive culture and the return to historic or traditional practices that makes craft revolutionary.

Craft Revolution is a celebration of craft in all its naïve and sophisticated forms. The exhibition intends to reclaim the word craft and reject the negative associations this term has acquired. Essentially, Craft Revolution recognises the importance of a practice that has been a part of all cultures for thousands of years and rejoices in the impact craft has had and continues to have on the world.

And because it is really annoying to be told about something that you can’t visit because you don’t happen to live in Brisbane (except for me and Marg of course) you’ll have to visit the blog called craft revolution. Posting schedule: Monday – ‘I (heart) craft!’ with craft lovers talking about their affiliation with this practice. Wednesdays – ‘Exploring the revolution’ as craft writers and theorists discuss their opinion on the importance and future of craft. Fridays – craft makers telling their personal stories of creation, or a short history of some of the different craft guilds in QLD.

There are a few interesting posts there already –it’s not all textile related of course. There is an interesting article called ‘The real deal’. The author suggests that we get over ourselves (my words not hers) – accept the fact that there are some negative association with the terms craft, embrace all aspects of craft (even the kitschy toilet roll covers) and get on with it. Her conclusion:

The real revolution of craft will begin if we can get over all of this, learn to love craft, and accept the many facets of craft culture. Then we can begin to deal with a real issue, like the fact that glass and ceramics schools are closing left, right and centre, and soon there will be nothing left to debate about.

Don’t take my word for it – do go and check it out.

Some kitschy craft of my own

Moo and I have been having fun with the embellisher. She can sit on my lap and move the stuff around (we have only broken one needle doing this so far). We are playing and making Moo inspired and directed things. This is our seascape- fancy yarn and acrylic felt.

Lunch from the garden

I picked lunch from the garden yesterday: silver beet, spinach, spring onion, lettuce, corn, oranges, corn, beetroot, eggs, as well as cucumber, lemon, coriander and mint (not shown) I forgot to pick those and had to go back out. I made frittata with the eggs, silver beet, onions and zucchini. The bright pink stuff is my take  on Stephanie Alexanders raw beetroot and yoghurt salad. We had to buy in the tomatoes and olives (the tomatoes failed– too cold and the olive trees aren’t bearing fruit yet).

Recipe: beetroot and yoghurt salad – my version

Grated raw beetroot, lemon juice, mint, coriander, Greek yoghurt, sour cream, pepper. Mix. This is yummy and the kids liked it.