Mass Craft, Free Market or Inverted Market - crafthaus2024-03-29T09:55:40Zhttp://crafthaus.ning.com/forum/topics/mass-craft-free-market-or?groupUrl=craftforwardsymposiumaskharriete&commentId=2104389%3AComment%3A228662&groupId=2104389%3AGroup%3A211067&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThe ACC has new leadership, a…tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2011-05-01:2104389:Comment:2332912011-05-01T03:40:47.044ZHarriete E Bermanhttp://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p>The ACC has new leadership, and they are trying to listen to people with the Convenings, Listening Sessions, etc. They have a long way to go before they have political power.</p>
<p>Harriete</p>
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<p>The ACC has new leadership, and they are trying to listen to people with the Convenings, Listening Sessions, etc. They have a long way to go before they have political power.</p>
<p>Harriete</p>
<br/> Thank you for covering this H…tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2011-05-01:2104389:Comment:2333382011-05-01T03:35:58.134ZThea Clarkhttp://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/TheaClark
<p>Thank you for covering this Harriete and 2Roses for chiming in so insightfully. The British Craft Council also seems to have a strong model.</p>
<p>Who represents us politically? I don't know who does or should, however, I think it is clear who should represent us on the national level with a professional multi-platform advertising campaign to build awareness and a brand for our collective creativity. </p>
<p>Has anyone really asked ACC what they are doing on this front? I know they have…</p>
<p>Thank you for covering this Harriete and 2Roses for chiming in so insightfully. The British Craft Council also seems to have a strong model.</p>
<p>Who represents us politically? I don't know who does or should, however, I think it is clear who should represent us on the national level with a professional multi-platform advertising campaign to build awareness and a brand for our collective creativity. </p>
<p>Has anyone really asked ACC what they are doing on this front? I know they have listened to artists' concerns lately ( about the declining attendance and aging demographic at craft shows) but it seems they've never looked at these other models for pointers.</p> Great images from the lecture…tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2011-04-26:2104389:Comment:2323202011-04-26T21:00:31.566ZHarriete E Bermanhttp://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p>Great images from the lecture. It was really hard to find information online. Thanks emiko!</p>
<p>Harriete</p>
<p>Great images from the lecture. It was really hard to find information online. Thanks emiko!</p>
<p>Harriete</p> Images from Mimi Robinson's p…tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2011-04-26:2104389:Comment:2320362011-04-26T20:26:02.689Zemiko oyehttp://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/emikooye
<p>Images from Mimi Robinson's presentation - good points that we should apply to our own craft as well.…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/301012629?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/301012629?profile=original" width="500"></img></a> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/301014001?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/301014001?profile=original" width="500"></img></a> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/301014920?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/301014920?profile=original" width="500"></img></a></p>
<p>Images from Mimi Robinson's presentation - good points that we should apply to our own craft as well.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/301012629?profile=original"><img class="align-full" width="500" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/301012629?profile=original"></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/301014001?profile=original"><img class="align-full" width="500" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/301014001?profile=original"></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/301014920?profile=original"><img class="align-full" width="500" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/301014920?profile=original"></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/301015871?profile=original"><img class="align-full" width="500" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/301015871?profile=original"></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/301016986?profile=original"><img class="align-full" width="500" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/301016986?profile=original"></a>Peruvian artisans Mimi worked with and their low-budget way of firing clay</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/301018198?profile=original"><img class="align-full" width="500" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/301018198?profile=original"></a>The finished Peruvian pots, commercially successful</p> right on sisters! we have go…tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2011-04-22:2104389:Comment:2286622011-04-22T17:45:57.960Zanne havelhttp://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/annehavel
right on sisters! we have got to get the word out that buying local and buying american IS the way to help our economy. we don't need 10 pair of cheap shoes, just a couple well-made american ones. and that goes on down the line for everything. reduce, reuse, recycle, upcycle, and buy it and make it here!! my dad understood this when i was a kid and it is more relevant today than ever. that is why i am passionate about educating everyone what they should charge for their labor and how to…
right on sisters! we have got to get the word out that buying local and buying american IS the way to help our economy. we don't need 10 pair of cheap shoes, just a couple well-made american ones. and that goes on down the line for everything. reduce, reuse, recycle, upcycle, and buy it and make it here!! my dad understood this when i was a kid and it is more relevant today than ever. that is why i am passionate about educating everyone what they should charge for their labor and how to explain it to buyers so they understand the difference between buying and making it here as opposed to the imported, no human rights versions. thanks to both of you and i have read every post, harriete. anne We'd like to second Brigitte'…tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2011-04-22:2104389:Comment:2287532011-04-22T16:34:45.980Z2Roseshttp://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/2Roses
<p>We'd like to second Brigitte's kudos to you Harriete. Truly excellent coverage on the conference.Thank you for all the thought and time you put into this.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The current topic brings home a discussion that was inevitable: Globalization and its impact on our lives. Now local artists in the US find ourselves competing with globally sourced craft. The dynamics and effects of global markets are well known and documented. Frankly, it doesn't look good.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As makers we…</p>
<p>We'd like to second Brigitte's kudos to you Harriete. Truly excellent coverage on the conference.Thank you for all the thought and time you put into this.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The current topic brings home a discussion that was inevitable: Globalization and its impact on our lives. Now local artists in the US find ourselves competing with globally sourced craft. The dynamics and effects of global markets are well known and documented. Frankly, it doesn't look good.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As makers we can all jump on the "buy local" bandwagon, however, this has been done the world over for the last 100 years - to no great effect. Industries band together to influence government to grant them concessions in the form of international trade sanctions, subsidies and other mechanisms designed to give their countries industry an advantage in world markets.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This is our wake up call for American craft. Who represents us politically? Where are our grass roots organizers like Mimi? The Canadian craft market is far more advanced than we are on this topic. They have a working model that we in the US can look to. Its time to get down to business.</p> Thanks Brigitte for your comm…tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2011-04-22:2104389:Comment:2286572011-04-22T14:55:51.575ZHarriete E Bermanhttp://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p>Thanks Brigitte for your comment. I don't mean to rehash an old topic (i.e. buy local, buy American, buy handmade, etc..)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My concern when opening this topic is why is this presentation by Mimi Robinson Craft Forward?</p>
<p>While it is evident that Mimi Robinson is good at what she does, why does she have to go to a third world country?</p>
<p>Why is she standing at the podium at Craft Forward surrounded by mostly local, or U.S. as the hero and advocate for Third World…</p>
<p>Thanks Brigitte for your comment. I don't mean to rehash an old topic (i.e. buy local, buy American, buy handmade, etc..)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My concern when opening this topic is why is this presentation by Mimi Robinson Craft Forward?</p>
<p>While it is evident that Mimi Robinson is good at what she does, why does she have to go to a third world country?</p>
<p>Why is she standing at the podium at Craft Forward surrounded by mostly local, or U.S. as the hero and advocate for Third World artists when we struggle here at home?</p>
<p>What is the message when the Craft Forward organizers put this topic forward?</p>
<p>There was no time for discussion at Craft Forward? How about now?</p> Harriete - yet another GREAT…tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2011-04-22:2104389:Comment:2287442011-04-22T11:50:24.244ZBrigitte Martinhttp://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/brigittemartin
<p>Harriete - yet another GREAT post. Thank you!! I could not attend Craft Forward, but you really bring this conference "home" to me. I sincerely appreciate your time. :-)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Back to your topic:</p>
<p><em><strong>If we want people to buy our art and craft here at home, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">shouldn't we be consistent in our own reaction</span> to the soap box at Craft Forward? Our work is also lovingly made in our studio with skill, creativity, culture, and…</strong></em></p>
<p>Harriete - yet another GREAT post. Thank you!! I could not attend Craft Forward, but you really bring this conference "home" to me. I sincerely appreciate your time. :-)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Back to your topic:</p>
<p><em><strong>If we want people to buy our art and craft here at home, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">shouldn't we be consistent in our own reaction</span> to the soap box at Craft Forward? Our work is also lovingly made in our studio with skill, creativity, culture, and perhaps the micro economics of our own pocket books.</strong></em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Yes, yes, and yes. I think the overall craft community is already very aware of this situation/dilemma, and there has been a lot of talk for years now about how to sustain one's studio practice amidst the cheaper imports available at the stores, and (let's not forget) the hobbyist's crowd who put pieces on the market below cost because they "don't need the income" and/or don't know how to properly calculate their prices. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Point in case: A ceramicist friend of mine (who has his own studio practice, his own retail store, teaches 4 days a week morning and evening classes AND does functional pottery only) was told by a ceramic adult daytime student what a lucky guy he was that he could just make all the flower pots he ever needed right in his own studio. The ceramicist replied that if he needed a flower pot, he would NOT make one himself but instead go out and buy the pot at the [big box store]. Everyone in the class gasped! When asked why he didn't simply just threw and glazed his own pot, the ceramicist answered: "Because the pots from China at the [big box store] look really good, there is nothing wrong with the functionality of them, and the clay to throw the pot costs me more than just going out and buying it ready to go at [big box store]."</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Why do we undermine ourselves like this? Clearly this is NOT good advocacy of the type of craft work we do.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>"<strong>Should we set a priority to support our own local artists and makers?</strong>" </em></p>
<p><em> </em>ABSOLUTELY! The good news is that there already are lots of initiatives around to foster and promote "the handmade and locally grown", so it's not necessary to reinvent the wheel. All one really has to do is to <strong>remember and emphasize</strong> buying local and handmade.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p></p>