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<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Georgia>Hooray for "outrageous and for all of you for
taking the time to articulate these distinctions.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Georgia>I absolutely agree and have been an artist and
crafter simultaneously. I am back to my art and love the discovery of it-but I
will admit, my left brain does like rules and instructions-but my Girl Brain is
winning! (no put down to Boy Brains, just a family joke).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Georgia></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Georgia>Right on! Right on, Linda!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Georgia>pece out</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=llambert@zoominternet.net
href="mailto:llambert@zoominternet.net">Lynda Lambert</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=artists-making-art@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:artists-making-art@nfbnet.org">An exploration of art by and for
blind persons</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, February 07, 2014 11:44
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Artists-making-art] arts or
crafts new member</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial>Well, this is an outrageous conversation, I know.
lol I better get back to the studio before I cause a riot, but
this should be a good place for a discussion like this.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial>That is great, Ann! So true. There is really not
a fine line between the two, it is very clear and distinct. And artist or a
crafter can take the exact same materials, but the mind that works with them
is quite different and the results are quite different. It's really about
"ideas" and "concepts" and what we are thinking about as we work, and where we
go with the materials in our process of working. In Pittsburgh, PA there
is a very fine museum/gallery called the Society of Contemporary Crafts - now,
what is done there, and shown there is high art. So there is crafts and there
is CRAFT, too. There is the "crafter" and there is the
"Craftsman." very distinct differences between them - and as a sculptor
you would be very aware of this, too.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial>I was so fortunate to teach in a small private
college (Geneva College, in western PA) where I was free to teach across
disciplines, as I have my MFA in painting/printmaking, and my MA in English
Literature. Because of this background, I was very marketable for a good
position. I was able to create multi-discipline courses - alway a
combination of literature and art, as well as studio courses in painting,
fiber arts, printmaking, drawing. It was a dream of a job, working in
interdisciplinary studies and doing so many projects with profs in other
disciplines. I was very active in conferences on interdisciplinary
studies. I created an European experience for art and literature
students and we lived in Austria every summer and then traveled to other
countries. I even had an art exhibition in Austria for my students every
summer. They worked so hard in the studio and out on location every day,
and at the end of the month they had a show - so much fun. I also did
this with Puerto Rico, and students came to PR with me each spring as part of
their course in Puerto Rico Culture - which I have continued to visit every
March even though I am now retired. It bacame how we spent our spring time.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial>OK, back to my studio where I am working my tail
off to get a piece done today! </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial>Lynda</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=Ann@acunningham.com
href="mailto:Ann@acunningham.com">Ann@acunningham.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=artists-making-art@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:artists-making-art@nfbnet.org">An exploration of art by and for
blind persons</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, February 07, 2014 9:08
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Artists-making-art] arts
or crafts new member</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">
<DIV>Lynda, Nice answer to craft and art. If someone who is reading this is
still torn I wouldn't be surprised though since there are all sorts of
shades in the continuum. </DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>I was talking to my daughter and a friend one day. I went off on a
tangent tangling all sorts of events together rather randomly. They started
laughing and saying something akin to how do you make it from day to day.
And I said you guys are pilots and for you to be a good pilot you know and
follow rules. That is what they pay you for. I am an artist and I am paid to
break the rules. No one wants to hear from me if it has already been
done.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>What did you teach before you retired? Ann</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: andale mono,times">Ann
Cunningham</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: andale mono,times"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><EM><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Tactile Art - a
creative way to see the world!</SPAN></EM></SPAN></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: andale mono,times">303 238 4760</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: andale mono,times"><A
href="mailto:ann@acunningham.com">ann@acunningham.com</A></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: andale mono,times"><A
href="http://www.acunningham.com">http://www.acunningham.com</A></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: andale mono,times"><A
href="http://www.sensationalbooks.com">http://www.sensationalbooks.com</A>
</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><BR><BR></DIV>
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<DIV id=wmQuoteWrapper>-------- Original Message --------<BR>Subject: Re:
[Artists-making-art] arts or crafts new member<BR>From: "Lynda Lambert"
<<A
href="mailto:llambert@zoominternet.net">llambert@zoominternet.net</A>><BR>Date:
Fri, February 07, 2014 6:03 am<BR>To: "An exploration of art by and for
blind persons"<BR><<A
href="mailto:artists-making-art@nfbnet.org">artists-making-art@nfbnet.org</A>><BR><BR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial>Hi Laurie, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial>So nice to see you here. I did not
start this group though, I am like you, I just came on to ask a question
about something I needed to know and was so glad to meet Ann who helped me
with my question. I am furiously working right now (oops, split that
infinitive!) getting work done for the opening of a two-person exhibition
at a museum - the show is called _Vision and Revision: Two artists
with limited sight, not limited vision_ It is my pottery and
mixed-media fiber works, and a legally blind painter. It opens one month
from today, and if I stop to think about what else has to be done yet,
I'll get nervous. So, I won't do that, but just will keep on working on
the details. The show will appear at two locations this year and will have
a video that plays in the gallery with the art works, Braille labeling,
and artist's talks. I will even be teaching in the gallery one afternoon,
for the Women in the Arts course at Geneva College. That is where I taught
when I was a professor of fine arts and humanities, before I retired. I'll
be lecturing on the historical context of my work and where the ideas have
come from when creating it. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial>To make matters even more difficult, I am
scheduled to speak at a conference at Slippery Rock University of PA for
two sessions, the day before we hang our show. So, I have those
presentations to be working on every day now, too. I officially
retired from teaching 5 1/2 years ago, but I am still very much involved
in everything but being in the classroom.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial>Here is my response to the question you have
asked. The gap between an artist and a crafter is like crossing the ocean,
it is that wide. Some basic things may be similar between the two, but
most things are very far apart philisophically.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial>Both work with the hands, and both love
working with the hands and most have done it all their life.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial>Both love the materials, and the handling of
them, and the satisfaction of the finished product that comes out of it.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial>While the crafter will usually be satisfied
with beginning something and knowing where the end will be, the artist
begins with no notion of where the end will be or even if it will
be. the crafter has a clearly defined path to the finished product.
The artist has only some inklings of possible outcomes, but has to find
them as she works.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial>The other very big thing I see as a
difference between them is that the crafter has 'rules" to follow and
seldom will ever deviate from those rules, as they are set in stone
in her mind. On the other hand, the mature artist has learned that
there are no rules at all. They may begin in the early stages by
learning techniques, but eventually with the years of working, the light
comes on in her brain when she discovers one day - she is free
of all rules when making art. Everything can be challenged, everything can
be changed, and everything is fair game, for the artist. Is there any
other profession in this world where there are no rules? It's the most
exhilerating feeling to know that there are absolutely no rules whatsoever
for me. Wow, makes me take a deep breath just to say it. Free, free, free,
at last! </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial>Laurie, the biggest difference between art
and a craft is where the person eventually takes the techniques, I
think. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial>A crafter seldom takes things to a different
level but is usually content to learn something then duplicate it
endlessly, then moves on to learn something else and does that again with
it. The artist can take crafts materials (which is what you and I both do)
and techniques, and then take them far beyond because they will combine
their techniques and materials with the imagination. If you can
teach it, it is usually a craft. If you cannot teach it, it is normally
art. Art can begin by learning some techniques, or using craft
materials, but then the person begins to ask the "what if" questions, and
takes lots of risks, failures, and bends in the road on the way to it
becoming a work of art. It is a "mind set" that is never satisfied with
just the learning of something new, but one that constantly questions,
experiments, and never knows where the "end" will be, or even if it will
be. A "crafter" will never understand what I have just said and will
most likely be huffing and puffing and angry with it. An "artist" is
standing and applauding what I have said. It is that simple, and that
complex. The artist thrives on change and making new discoveries and
each work leads to other querstions and more change and more new
discoveries. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial>One can see the difference when you look at
work in types of environments. One will be setting at a craft show
with a table full of things that are basically all the same while the
other will have work on display in a gallery or museum. Each
has decided where they "fit" and each is very happy with where they are.
They are different animals, with different ideas, and different end
results and outcomes. Each one has decided their own path and each one is
comfortable with the decision she has made.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial>Lynda</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial>Lynda</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=free.spirit1@live.com href="mailto:free.spirit1@live.com"
target=_blank>Laurie Porter</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=Artists-making-art@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:Artists-making-art@nfbnet.org"
target=_blank>Artists-making-art@nfbnet.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, February 06, 2014
7:26 PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Artists-making-art] arts
or crafts new member</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<DIV>Hi Folks:</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>I’d like to introduce myself. I’m a blind person from wisconsin who
is a fledgling and budding beginner artist. my medium is beadwork. I
make pictures and tapestries out of tiny little seed beads sewn
together with thread. but most of my work is in making jewlry, but I
have always looked upon my beadwork as an art form. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>so, I have a basic question. What is the difference between an art
and a craft? I do believe that all crafts are forms of art but are
all arts considered crafts? Thanks linda and all of you for getting this
list going as it is something I’ve always dreamed of seeing in our
efforts to bring blind people together who love to both create and
appreciate the visual arts. </DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
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