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Lesson Plans


Re: In defense of teaching crafts

[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]
Robert Beeching (robprod)
Mon, 3 Aug 1998 01:36:00 -0700

I hear you. I think that all artists, first learn their craft skills before
they have something personal to say. The "craft" connotation, I believe,
refers to the practice of using quick "projects" promoted by "crafts
catalogues selling, i.e. glitter and decales passing them off as promoting
art education.

Of course the visual arts have always encompassed drawing, painting, and
construction. SEE: http://members.tripod.com/robprod for a comprehensive
overview of what a legitimate art program can accommodate.

Bob
-----Original Message-----
From: Maggie White <mwhite>
To: artsednet.edu <artsednet.edu>
Date: Sunday, August 02, 1998 10:03 PM
Subject: Re: In defense of teaching crafts

>RWilk85411 wrote:
>>
>> I would like to take a moment to point out that teaching an art form that
is
>> identified as a craft does not necessarily eleminate teaching the design
>> principles. The same design principles that enable us to create good
paintings
>> or sculptures also enable us to create good craft forms. I sometimes
think we
>> are way too quick to identify and vilify something as a craft. There is
nothing
>> wrong with the crafts until someone turns them into
"monkey-see-monkey-do"
>> type lessons. But those same people do that to painting also. I am amazed
at
>> the number of people in the visual arts who have extremely narrow ideas
about
>> what is art.
>
>I agree with Reatha on how the word "crafts" is often vilified. I
>think--hope--we know the difference between what I call "Krafts with a
>'K' " and _real_ crafts, which are no less an art form than painting or
>sculpture.
>
>Maggie