Art

by M. L. Kiser

Created on: November 09, 2010

This debate certainly dredges up some memories.  I come from a long line of creative people, artists and crafters of many types, included and I have to say that it is both.  I have tried to get this across to those who would rather separate the artists from the crafters, but to no avail.

As an artist and crafter, I have worked in many mediums, from drawing and painting to stone and wood sculpture, as well as, dulcimer making and jewelry making.  I prefer to work with wire and beads, but sometimes I have been known to make and paint my own beads and pendants. 

Having displayed my work in shows and craft stores for a number of years, I dared to try and get an appointment with the manager of one of my town’s most recognized art stores, where I’d hoped to see my jewelry laid out for purchase by people from all over the state and elsewhere.  I made the phone call and received a firm, starched-collard voice on the other end.  I asked for the manager; the respondent insisted that she wasn’t in and that I had the, assistant manager on the line. 

After telling her of my plans and my creations, I asked for an appointment so that she could see my jewelry.  She responded with a short, snippy, “Beading isn’t art!” 

“It is if you design and hand-paint your own beads and pendants, which I do, sometimes.  Couldn’t you set up an appointment to see those?”  I asked.

“No.  Beading is crafting; not art.”  Click!  She hung up the phone on me. 

Ten plus years later, I am passing her store when I see what?  Beaded jewelry!  Not only that, but an abundance of it and little of it was even hand-made beads or accessories.  I was livid, but didn’t go in because I knew that once I opened my mouth in that store that I stood an excellent chance of getting dragged out of there by the cops after a heated scene.  Still, the ignorance and arrogance levels of the, “creative elite”, never cease to amaze me.

Since crafting anything encompasses it’s being created by hand, elements of design, it’s overall aesthetic value and more, art, in itself, is indeed a craft, as is photography, cabinetmaking, glass blowing, stone carving and there is even a craft to the art of portraiture.

All crafts encompass an element of design; someone has to have in mind, the end result.  Often the completed design may contain parts that are not hand-made, such as a 3D sculpture containing a 45rpm record or a wine bottle.  On the whole, it is still a piece of art that was conceived of and designed by someone who hand-crafted it. 

Jewelry can be composed of a number of things from bent roofing nails to beads that are either hand-crafted or bought; the design and aesthetic value discern that it is also an art form.  Art whether jewelry, painting or sculpture, speaks to us; tells a story and reveals a small piece of the spirit of its creator.

You can make jewelry out of almost anything, but it’s the design and in the end, what it says and complements that make it art.  There is much to be said for a design with aesthetic value, as well as, the design that speaks volumes.

A metal chain around the neck may be just a metal chain, but shape those links into ovals, double or triple them, anneal them, twist them, add a bead here, a charm there and that chain can go from a plain chain to the imitation of an ancient Egyptian or Sumerian artifact.

Beads, Charms and Pendants can be hand-designed and hand-made from a number of substances from metals, woods, polymers and clay.  How you design it, shape it, pound it, add to or remove from it is part of the art of making it. 

Whether you want something, casual, elegant, ancient looking, and specific to any particular culture or time period is also in the design.  When your design “speaks”; when people who view it are able to feel something, joy, pleasure, admiration, even sadness, it is art.   When it says something about its creator; it “speaks”; art speaks to us and makes us feel something within; it evokes emotion, admiration even hatred sometimes.

No, I didn’t go back to that particular art store, nor did I call them again.  I don’t recommend it, either and when other artists ask me about it; I simply tell them about my experience because art isn’t confined to one or two individuals’ idea of what art or crafts are.  It’s everywhere and thanks to the billions of individuals who create it, art has no limitations.  It graces our world and our necks, wrists and ears and in the world of jewelry making; as in any creative endeavor it’s, “art for arts’ sake”.  May we all continue to revel in its beauty.

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