Sunday, July 13, 2008

Fine Arts Exhibit



The Rome Art and Community hosts an annual Fine Arts Exhibit. It is a juried show. This year I entered 5 pieces. Two were accepted for the exhibit. There were 165 entries, 65 were chosen to be in the exhibit, so creating two of those 65 is not too bad. Which of my works were chosen? Elderly Fairy, The Naked Truth ( shown in an earlier post) and the Swamp Thang. There were only 4 sculptures in the show.
The Elderly Fairy is sculpted from paper clay and Pronto DAS clay.
The Swamp Thang has a gourd body, Paperclay face and paper mache feet.

CRAFTS and ART

I reread my last post. I thought perhaps the term "barbed word "craft" might be misunderstood. I am proud of being a crafter and find no dishonor in having any of my work called a craft. I have worked hard and have become skilled at techniques I use.
It has only been in the last few years that people have referred to my work as art. The term started showing up in reference to my work when I started making one-of-a-kind items. Not thinking of marketability, I was making items just to express thoughts or for the sheer joy of creating.

The words art and craft are sometimes a mystery. What determines which one is used in reference to one's work? I read a quote somewhere -- and I know I am not quoting it word for word--but am at least expressing the main thought. "The crafter creates to please people, the artist creates to please himself" Is that true?

I think everyone, artist and crafter alike, hope others will appreciate their work. If not why would there be art shows and exhibitions? Perhaps, having people appreciate work, and pleasing them are also two different things.

I guess all in all it doesn't matter what it is called. I enjoy what I do. I hope others like it, but whether they do or not I will continue to create because doing so pleases me.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Another critique


My last critique was a little different than the others. When I walked in the artist glanced at my work. If I read body language well, she was not pleased. My work was put with the others waiting for critiques. She picked up a beautiful painting , glanced over at And Sunny Holds the Rainbow with a look I was not sure about. My insecurities led me to believe she thought my work was quite inferior . However I was wrong. When she finaly gave in, heaving a sigh, she said " This is the first time I have ever been asked to critique a CRAFT. I smiled and nodded my head. "I came here to hear what people think, I will listen and use what I can."She had some
great suggestions. Had I let the little barbed word "craft" bother me, I would have most likely blocked out her wonderful suggestions. I really think I can use what she suggested to really create a better "craft" and a more pleasing art doll