Fiber Arts Friday: Art vs Craft

I've been posting on Fiber Arts Friday for several years and only now am I really thinking about Art vs. Craft which seems odd to me.  I think it's because I've been so focused on the craft/skill part of it.

I feel I've reached the point with my skills where I have a reasonable chance of executing the ideas in my head.  Which is both exciting and scary.

In no way does that mean that I think I am an expert.  I am knowledgeable.  I am skilled.  I have a lot (A LOT!!) to learn.

For example, when it comes to spinning.... I am continually trying different fibers... yak, cashmere, cotton and chiengora to name a few.  I spin these (shorter, slippery, unusual) fibers so that when I spin sheep's wool and alpaca it seems easier.

It's about learning how they they become yarn and then work in finished objects.  But it's also about the pursuit of the perfect yarn.... stable, even, consistent and not over spun.  Pursuit is the key word here, I very rarely produce a yarn that meets all of these criteria as a single.

Even with knitting and weaving (though that's been a while) it's about consistency and learning different techniques.

At the Finished Object level, I've always been more interested in the details.  Something that is simple but flawlessly executed is more beautiful to me than pattern, complexity or color.

The wonderful thing about it is that handmade things are almost never flawlessly executed.  There's always at least one bit that is not quite right.  I love that part.

Art vs. Craft

A few years ago I was wrestling with whether I was a farmer or a rancher.

I am also an artist (among other things)... and currently wrestling with the idea of art vs craft.

I think it's another pair of words that mean almost the same thing, but evoke different connotations.

There seems to be more value placed on art... unless you're a craftsman, like a cabinet maker.  But what about artisan welders and bread makers.... or since I'm in Colorado, crafted beer and spirits?

Craftsmen seem to go through an apprenticeship period, but several artists I know continue to take lessons to improve their skills or learn other techniques.

Apparently this is not a new question:

Bernard Katz Glass (3 part series)
Tate Debate

One of the commenters on Tate.org suggested that how it was made was the craft and the ideas it represents is the art.  Essentially, one piece could be both.  But another said "all art is crafted, but not all craft is art."

So I went to Merriam-Webster:

Art: (1) skill acquired by experience, study or observation.  (2) a branch of learning ie, humanities and liberal arts. (3) an occupation requiring knowledge or skill. (4) the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects or works produced. (5) a skillful plan. (6) decorative or illustrative elements in printed matter.

Craft: (1) skill in planning, making or executing. (2) an occupation or trade requiring manual dexterity or artistic skill. (3) skill in deceiving to gain an end. (4) the members of a trade or trade association. (6) a boat, especially of small size

Both definitions talk about skill.  Both talk about implementing that skill.

I think we could argue that paintings, photographs, sculpture, furniture, weavings, carvings and literary works all meet both definitions.

So I think I agree with both commenters quoted above.

Studio Spotlight: Criffin Designs

A few years ago I worked in an airplane factory.

It has become known as the good ole days around my house.  We were working on a cool product, with a young, well-funded, entrepreneurial company and the people were the best.  Seriously top-notch... as in these people are the yard-stick I use to compare all others I have worked with since.

Things didn't turn out quite as we had hoped, but the plane still lives.  A lot of us moved on, and some of us moved on to very interesting things...

Jerry and I used to work at the airplane factory together.  He was a quiet guy... at least when I was around.  He worked really hard and I could always depend on him.

I knew he was a Colorado guy, so of course his cool factor started a few notches higher than the others.  Then after we both left the airplane factory, I found out that he and his wife used to have llamas for trekking.  So the cool factor went up a few more notches.

We were chatting on Facebook recently when he shared his website with me.  All I can say is WOW!  Beautiful, incredible, modern jewelry designs made from aircraft aluminum.

The benefit of using aircraft aluminum is that he can make something large and structural that weighs only a few ounces.

So I suggested that it might be fun to do a little Q&A here on Kathryn's Brain.  :-)

Anticipation Necklace

How did the idea for Criffin Designs come to fruition?


I had a coworker who had a pair of earrings made from Phillips Head screws bonded to earring posts, and my immediate thought was, “Hell, I can do that!” so I started taking screws and bolts and Hi-Locs and rivets and anything else I could think of, and cutting the heads off then bonding earring posts to them, giving them to Mary, my wife. Some worked, most didn’t. True aircraft hardware is typically just too big to use as earrings.


However, it was after a visit to the Tucson Arizona Aircraft Graveyard that I took the leap from “nuts and bolts” into aluminum.


I have always been creative and my current position disallows that.  So Criffin Designs has been an outlet for my creative side.


I’ve always been able to manipulate aircraft aluminum to whatever specifications I needed. Could I then, instead of creating stringers, doublers and frames, create something much more finite?  Take something that no longer had purpose and give it a new history?


From that Tucson visit Criffin Designs was born, and old aircraft aluminum is now turned into jewelry that is structurally architectural and modern in design.  And since every piece would need an item number, why not name each design style after WWII and Korean War aircraft nose art, an art form created by the pilots and crews who flew America’s amazing warbirds? So instead of item number XX001, we have the Miss Behavin’ Bracelet.

Miss Behavin' Bracelet

Something our customers seem to get a kick out of is the card we provide, which shows the nose art their particular piece is named after along with the “care and feeding” instructions.

Hematite has become CD’s flagship stone. Not only is the black stone a great contrast to the polished aluminum, it’s considered the stone representing peace.  Which is a nice balance to the reclaimed military aluminum. Yin and Yang. War and Peace.

Glamouras B24 Necklace

What is a Criffin?

Criffin is actually the area in southwest Ireland where my family originated from, the Land of Criffin.

How long have you been designing jewelry?

I started playing with this stuff before the demise of that airplane factory back in 2008 but it really wasn’t until late 2010 when I got my first “gig” with a gallery in Omaha of all places.  You have to start somewhere, and if it wasn’t for that gallery, it may not have gone anywhere.

Raz'ng Hell Necklace

Did your wife think you were crazy when you proposed the idea to her?

No she didn’t! It was not something I or we set out to do, it just happened.  One thing led to another and the next thing we knew, we have a national boutique jewelry gallery carrying Criffin Designs Jewelry.

What a big help Mary, my wife, has been with this whole thing! I must admit I came up with some far fetched ideas in the beginning, in true airplane fashion, but with her help and my own keen sense of style *wink*, we have taken monumental strides in the right direction, remaining true to our aircraft heritage but retaining the glamorous aspects of what the public wants for jewelry.  I try to keep the designs simple, ordered and structured, which has to do with my nineteen years in aviation.  So the designs tend to be very architectural and they have to be something I can build since you don’t solder aluminum together like gold or silver.

Mary is my supply chain expert and list-maker.  So when I get orders of over 670 pieces, she helps ensure we have all the piece parts needed for the build, essentially eliminating surprises.

What did you think of me when we worked together?  No!  Don't answer that.  ;-)

Carolina Moon Necklace

Where can people find your designs?

CriffinDesigns.com

Primarily the website is imagery, versus an actual storefront. Our catalog, which does include pricing, can be downloaded in .pdf form from the site. Of course you can also send me an email at criffindesigns@gmail.com.

Willow - AnArtisan Market

·         2400 West Main Street, Littleton, Colorado 80120

LocalCharm

·         *  Park Meadows Mall, Lone Tree, CO

·         *  Boston Logan International Airport, 2 Faneuil Hall Market Place, Boston, MA

·         *  Water Tower Place, 835 N Michigan Ave, Ste 6000, Chicago, IL

·         *  At Block 37 108 N. State Street, Suite 130 Chicago IL

·         *  Mall of Louisiana Baton Rouge, 125 North Theard Street Covington, LA

·         *  1 Poydras Street Riverwalk, New Orleans, LA

·         *  Mall of America, 150 S Avenue, Bloomington, MN

Bright Rain Gallery
Old Town, Albuquerque, NM

Twitter: @CriffinDesigns

email: CriffinDesigns@gmail.com

Prices range from $40 to $300.

Jerry has generously agreed to offer a Blog Special of 50% off retail for the next three months.  Just let him know when you place your order that you learned about him on Kathryn's Brain.  :-)

So Jerry is a Colorado guy, who used to have llamas, with roots in the Emerald Isle and designs some amazing jewelry and has an amazing partner in his wife, Mary.  I think his cool factor just went up a few more notches.  :-)

Please take a moment to visit Criffin Designs and if you are so moved, please support this terrific artist.  A portion of all profits are donated to the Freedom is Not Free organization that helps wounded US Veterans and their families.

Fiber Arts Friday: Apparently I'm an Artist

When I was contemplating what to do about the second skein of Aspen in my Quasi-Commissioned Project, it occurred to me that I may have crossed over into actual artist-dom.

I've been doing fiber arts for a while now, but the truth is I have only considered myself an aspiring artist and not an actual artist.  I have been so focused on learning new skills that it literally just occurred to me that I have started developing against my own ideas.

Also if I wasn't an artist, the difference between the two skeins of yarn in the same project wouldn't bother me so much.  Because the color transition, while not perfect, worked well and the stitch pattern was executed correctly. 

On top of that, I have also missed every deadline I've given myself. To put that statement into context you need to understand that I am a project manager by day and engineer by trade. I am very good at my job and don't miss deadlines or requirements very often.  Fortunately my friend who asked for this project has been very understanding and wants to make sure I am having fun.

So I have frogged the project and started over because I can't deal with the gauge difference and I can not give him something I am not proud of.

Don't be sad though.  The skeins are perfect as individuals.

The second skein will be perfect as the Quasi-Commissioned project and the first skein will be de-kinked and turned into something equally as perfect.

Quasi-Commissioned Project, take 2

So grab a cup of your favorite beverage and take some time to see what all of the other artists have been up to.  The Wonder Why Gal has it all neatly organized for us because it is Fiber Arts Friday.