Comments on: A Few of our Favorite Things: The Lines Are Blurring http://www.mosaicartnow.com/2010/12/a-few-of-our-favorite-things-the-lines-are-blurring/ An online resource for the very best in contemporary mosaic art, thinking, and events Sun, 19 May 2013 14:35:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Nancie Mills Pipgras http://www.mosaicartnow.com/2010/12/a-few-of-our-favorite-things-the-lines-are-blurring/#comment-498 Nancie Mills Pipgras Tue, 21 Dec 2010 22:27:41 +0000 http://stage.mosaicartnow.com.s144118.gridserver.com/2010/12/a-few-of-our-favorite-things-the-lines-are-blurring/#comment-498 Thank you for the always-well-thought-out thoughts, Maureen. I agree with you about the nature of labels and categories. As long as something is "fine", I'm happy. Thank you for the always-well-thought-out thoughts, Maureen. I agree with you about the nature of labels and categories. As long as something is "fine", I'm happy.

]]> By: Maureen http://www.mosaicartnow.com/2010/12/a-few-of-our-favorite-things-the-lines-are-blurring/#comment-497 Maureen Tue, 21 Dec 2010 22:18:17 +0000 http://stage.mosaicartnow.com.s144118.gridserver.com/2010/12/a-few-of-our-favorite-things-the-lines-are-blurring/#comment-497 If I recall correctly, the American Craft Council magazine devoted an issue to the question of fine craft v fine art and whether there's a difference. No definitive answer emerged from among those whose opinions were cited, and the definitions put forth became more than a little twisted, with some suggesting there was a difference between what had function and what did not. <br /><br />I don't think we need to make such distinctions; they're relevant only to those who feel the need for them. Fine craft is fine art, in my view, and I can live easily with both labels. That something requires different materials or different skills or techniques to produce than does a painting or a sculpture does not mean it is not "art". I go to many open studios and art exhibitions, and recently I went to a Marylander's studio; he and his son make furniture. Every piece there was a piece of art, exquisitely hand-made. One sculptural piece required 80 hours of hand polishing alone. <br /><br />I think we tend to look for labels to better articulate what we're seeing or to be more specific (hence, glass artist). For me, beyond that, the labels themselves don't carry much weight. If I recall correctly, the American Craft Council magazine devoted an issue to the question of fine craft v fine art and whether there's a difference. No definitive answer emerged from among those whose opinions were cited, and the definitions put forth became more than a little twisted, with some suggesting there was a difference between what had function and what did not.

I don't think we need to make such distinctions; they're relevant only to those who feel the need for them. Fine craft is fine art, in my view, and I can live easily with both labels. That something requires different materials or different skills or techniques to produce than does a painting or a sculpture does not mean it is not "art". I go to many open studios and art exhibitions, and recently I went to a Marylander's studio; he and his son make furniture. Every piece there was a piece of art, exquisitely hand-made. One sculptural piece required 80 hours of hand polishing alone.

I think we tend to look for labels to better articulate what we're seeing or to be more specific (hence, glass artist). For me, beyond that, the labels themselves don't carry much weight.

]]>