Craft Forward Symposium by ASK Harriete Discussions - crafthaus
2024-03-29T14:27:06Z
http://crafthaus.ning.com/group/craftforwardsymposiumaskharriete/forum?feed=yes&xn_auth=no
Craft Forward Symposium 2011 - Critique, Critical Comments and Questions
tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2011-05-17:2104389:Topic:241056
2011-05-17T20:05:24.201Z
Harriete E Berman
http://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0807834130?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwharrietees-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0807834130" style="float: left;" target="_blank" title="Makers: A History of American STudio Craft"><img alt="41OiZd-LhGL._SL160_" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e88603685970d-200wi" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="41OiZd-LhGL._SL160_"></img></a></strong></p>
<p><strong>The recently published book,…</strong></p>
<p><strong><a style="float: left;" title="Makers: A History of American STudio Craft" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0807834130?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwharrietees-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0807834130" target="_blank"><img style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="41OiZd-LhGL._SL160_" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e88603685970d-200wi" alt="41OiZd-LhGL._SL160_"/></a></strong></p>
<p><strong>The recently published book, <a title="Makers: A History of American Studio Craft" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0807834130?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwharrietees-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0807834130" target="_blank">Makers: A History of American Studio Craft</a></strong> provides interesting perspective on the past century of craft. It will surely be a comprehensive reference for craft education. Then comes along the Craft Forward Symposium, with a provocative title alluding to the future of craft. I was genuinely anticipating learning about all the emerging trends and where they will lead us.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154325dc562970c-pi"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d14488340154325dc562970c" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; border: 1px solid #000000;" title="web site for Harriete EStel Berman on her phone" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154325dc562970c-200wi" alt="web site for Harriete EStel Berman on her phone"/></a> <strong>Without any doubt, craft is being reinvented. </strong> The rise and impact of movements such as D.I.Y., Internet marketing, and interdisciplinary approaches are shifting how makers participate in craft.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>So what is the future of craft? </strong> Where is craft going? What does Craft Forward really mean?</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><a style="float: left;" title="Makers: A History of American STudio Craft" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0807834130?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwharrietees-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0807834130" target="_blank"><br/></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e887e5e21970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e887e5e21970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border: 1px solid #000000;" title="Catmazzaart" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e887e5e21970d-200wi" alt="Catmazzaart"/></a> Unfortunately, Craft Forward sidestepped the difficult issues</strong> and kept to "safe" topics like knitting, community, craft activism and easily inclusive group think. <a title="RisK and reward by Glenn Adamson " href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/04/craft-forward-symposium-keynote-critical-point-the-risk-of-craft.html" target="_blank">Where is the "risk" as touched on by the keynote speaker Glenn Adamson.</a></p>
<p><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e8ae8cb970b-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538e8ae8cb970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Senatorpodiumgr" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e8ae8cb970b-200wi" alt="Senatorpodiumgr"/></a><strong><br/>My concern is not a judgement of the speakers or lectures,</strong> but a hunger for an exchange of insights about where Craft Forward should have taken us. I have observed craft in the first decade of the 21st century and it is precariously balanced. <a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154325dc71a970c-popup"><img class="align-left" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154325dc71a970c-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a> Where is the conversation about the survival (or elimination) of craft curriculum in academia, the disappearance of so many high end galleries that specialized in craft media, the redefinition of the marketplace with the influence of the Internet, the aging audience for craft replaced with D.I.Y. crafty night happenings?</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e8ae996970b-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538e8ae996970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border: 1px solid #000000;" title="Theaster Gates asks a question" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e8ae996970b-200wi" alt="Theaster Gates asks a question"/></a><strong>Theaster Gates asked one of the most penetrating questions after the <a title="Mass Craft, Free Market or Inverted Market" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/04/craftforward-symposium-2011-mass-craft-free-market-or-inverted-market.html" target="_blank">Mimi Robinson</a></strong> lecture. (The impact was lost because he was much too polite, his observation requires a bit of contemplative thinking, and there was no time to expand upon the issue.) GATES was referring to Mimi Robinson going to Third World countries to develop those craft traditions for the international market. He said, "We have our own traditions. Why go to the third world? We are persons of color, our story is here."</p>
<p>This ties right into his <a title="Mass Craft, Theaster Gates Constructs Context with Added Value" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/04/craft-forward-symposium-2011-mass-craft-theaster-gates-constructs-context-with-added-value.html" target="_blank">lecture</a> and the lecture by <a title="Identity Craft The quilts of Gee's Bend by Bridget Cooks " href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/04/craftforward-symposium-2011-identity-craft-bridget-cooks-and-sanjit-sethi.html" target="_blank">Bridget Cooks</a>. Both lectures address the craft artist without power. No economic power, no financial power, no political power.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a title="John Rose commented on a ASK Harriete post about Craft Forward.s" href="http://crafthaus.ning.com/group/craftforwardsymposiumaskharriete/forum/topics/mass-craft-free-market-or" target="_blank"><strong>John Rose commented on Crafthaus:</strong></a> "We love the idea of "craftivism" at the same time feeling disappointed that we in the craft world have not applied these principles towards our own well being. Perhaps we should be discussing how to save ourselves first, then the world.</p>
<p><br/><strong><a title="John Rose is media savvy" href="http://media-enterprises.com/MEDIA-ENTERPRISES/whoweare/whoweare_execteam.php" target="_blank">Rose</a> continues...."Nothing we do will have any impact without a political voice.</strong> As far as we can tell, NO ONE speaks for craft. We have many national organizations, not one of whom is tackling a single issue that is substantive to the financial/political interests of their constituents."</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e8adf4e970b-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538e8adf4e970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; border: 1px solid #000000;" title="NEA logo" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e8adf4e970b-200wi" alt="NEA logo"/></a> <strong>"We, as a group, are increasingly marginalized in American society.</strong> Witness the effect on arts and craft curriculum funding. Witness the public demonizing of funding for the NEA and NPR in the budget debates. Witness our own First Lady Michelle Obama who apologetically wears and promotes a British jewelry designer."</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154325dcd9d970c-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d14488340154325dcd9d970c" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="51ttLEmm8XL._SL500_AA300_" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154325dcd9d970c-200wi" alt="51ttLEmm8XL._SL500_AA300_"/></a> <strong>When a symposium brings together an audience of 400 with the title of Craft Forward,</strong> it should bring out more substantive issues than the minor difficulties of knitting a "Rainbow Flag" that runs out of pink or turquoise.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154325dbe1f970c-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d14488340154325dbe1f970c" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="Balance-scale-unbalanced" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154325dbe1f970c-200wi" alt="Balance-scale-unbalanced"/></a> <strong>There was something glaringly absent at Craft Forward (with a few exceptions)</strong> - a discussion about money. Somehow we are conditioned to perceive as inauthentic or impolite, any talk about art, craft, money, and power in the same paragraph. But the fact is that economy and power are major factors affecting art and craft. We need to discuss the whole of the issues, not politely ignore the elephant in the room.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058050071?profile=original"><img width="222" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058050071?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="222"/></a></p>
<p><strong>Over and over this undercurrent remained unspoken, almost actively overlooked.</strong></p>
<p><strong><br/></strong></p>
<p><strong><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e8add4f970b-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538e8add4f970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; border: 1px solid #000000;" title="Dollars in hand" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e8add4f970b-200wi" alt="Dollars in hand"/></a> Power and money go hand in hand. </strong> We should not conclude that we will lose artistic or craft authenticity if we talk about money. We can't continue to ignore these facts or stick our heads in the sand. If our work doesn't have relevancy to the marketplace, we might want to ask, Why?, or we will never have money. And craft will play a less significant role in the 21st century. This is not because we can't or won't make our work. It will be because our day job prevents us from investing as much time into our work.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058049449?profile=original"><img width="251" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058049449?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="251"/></a></p>
<p><strong>If the marketplace can sell "pet rocks" and if a company like Skype</strong> (which has never made a profit) can sell for $8.5 billion, then maybe we need to think about how our work can be more relevant. Ten years ago we could not have anticipated the impact of Etsy, Facebook, YouTube or Internet TV. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>We need to think, talk or anticipate how the structure of craft is changing.</strong></p>
<p><strong><br/></strong></p>
<p><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154325dbcff970c-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d14488340154325dbcff970c" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; border: 1px solid #000000;" title="Theaster Gates shoe shine stands" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154325dbcff970c-200wi" alt="Theaster Gates shoe shine stands"/></a> <strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Theaster Gates owns four buildings on his block.</strong> He talks with his neighbors, they fix the buildings themselves, they have a block club, there is black ownership of the block which they rent to white students, sell to faculty and create a land trust, or non-profit. The point is that taking ownership of the idea and the entrepreneurship is an important step.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e887e9186970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e887e9186970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="Lola Pettway" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e887e9186970d-200wi" alt="Lola Pettway"/></a><strong>We listened to Bridget Cooks talk about the collectors, Tinwood Alliance, the museums, and for profit companies who all made money from the Gee's Bend Quilt makers.</strong> We were appalled at the disproportionate greediness...those who "marketed" the work made lots of money, while the quilters labored for a few extra dollars. The quilters loved what they crafted with the skill of their hands and the pureness of their heart. They are certainly authentic. <em>But if they had received a larger share of all the money made, would they be less authentic? </em> <strong>Somehow we have been conditioned to think that making money contaminates the craft.</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><br/></strong></p>
<p><strong><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154325db6c4970c-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d14488340154325db6c4970c" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; border: 1px solid #000000;" title="Jeff-koons-balloon-dog-magenta-1994-2000" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154325db6c4970c-200wi" alt="Jeff-koons-balloon-dog-magenta-1994-2000"/></a> In contrast, we don't seem to view the art world with those same judgmental eyes. </strong> Jeff Koons can make a purple balloon dog as his art that is fabricated, dare we say, "crafted" by an anonymous worker. And he is celebrated for his "art" and paid millions of dollars should we talk about that?</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Here is just one suggestion. </strong> Several lecturers used video to document their work. How can video and YouTube expand the craft market? This could be a path to being more relevant to the new craft audience. Should we expand the focus beyond the unique object itself, and document the making or some other characteristics, activities, or attributes of the object?</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e887e4c07970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e887e4c07970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Longtail" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e887e4c07970d-200wi" alt="Longtail"/></a> <strong>Another suggestion:</strong> I believe that every artist and maker should have a web site or blog. Not a static web site that you never touch, but an ongoing reflection and insight into your work. The future of the craft is riding the Long Tail.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058049872?profile=original"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058049872?profile=original" width="277"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> <strong>These aren't easy issues and there likely are not easy answers</strong>, but what is Craft Forward mean to you? </p>
<p>Harriete</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a title="ASK Harriete commentary about Craft Forward" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/05/craft-forward-symposium-an-index-for-all-lectures.html" target="_blank">A list of all Craft Forward lecture commentary by ASK Harriete can be found in the previous post.</a></p>
<a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058051824?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058051824?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a>
Craft Forward Symposium 2011 - An index for all lectures
tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2011-05-12:2104389:Topic:237812
2011-05-12T16:39:14.572Z
Harriete E Berman
http://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058045759?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058045759?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a></p>
<p style="float: right; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;"><a href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e88502547970d-popup" style="float: left;"></a> <a href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e885f7463970d-popup" style="float: left;"><img alt="Advance 2 Go Flower Brooch by Harriete Estel Berman" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e885f7463970d" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e885f7463970d-200wi" style="border: 1px solid #000000; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; width: 200px;" title="Advance 2 Go Flower Brooch by Harriete Estel Berman"></img></a> <br></br> …</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058045759?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058045759?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
<p style="float: right; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;"><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e88502547970d-popup"></a> <a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e885f7463970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e885f7463970d" style="border: 1px solid #000000; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; width: 200px;" title="Advance 2 Go Flower Brooch by Harriete Estel Berman" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e885f7463970d-200wi" alt="Advance 2 Go Flower Brooch by Harriete Estel Berman"/></a> <br/> <span style="font-size: 9px;"><a title="Flower Brooches by Harriete Estel Berman are constructed from post conumer recycled tin cans." href="http://www.harriete-estel-berman.info/jewelry/JewelryFlowerpins.html" target="_blank">Advance to Go</a>© 2011<br/> Post Consumer Recycled tin cans<br/> Artist: Harriete Estel Berman <br/><br/></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Craft Forward,</span> an amazing title</strong> that attracted my attention when first announced.</p>
<p>I wouldn't have missed this symposium -- and only an hour from my house. </p>
<p><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154323f2755970c-popup"><br/></a> </p>
<p style="float: right; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;"><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e885f6f85970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e885f6f85970d" style="border: 1px solid #000000; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; width: 200px;" title="$$$ Money Game Flower Brooch by Harriete Estel Berman" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e885f6f85970d-200wi" alt="$$$ Money Game Flower Brooch by Harriete Estel Berman"/></a> <br/><span style="font-size: 9px;"><a title="$$$ Money Game Free Parking" href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/73907577/money-game-free-parking-new-york-avenue" target="_blank"> $$$ Money Game Free Parking</a> © 2011<br/> Post Consumer Recycled Tin Cans<br/> Artist: Harriete Estel Berman<br/><br/></span></p>
<p><strong>A symposium about CRAFT <em>moving</em> Forward.</strong> Despite the upheavals and economic struggles for all artists and makers, I anticipated a symposium that could give direction to the future of craft.</p>
<p><a style="display: inline;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154323ecc11970c-popup"></a></p>
<p style="float: right; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;"><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154323ecc11970c-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d14488340154323ecc11970c" style="border: 1px solid #000000; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; width: 200px;" title="$$$ Money Game Flower Brooch by Harriete Estel Berman " src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154323ecc11970c-200wi" alt="$$$ Money Game Flower Brooch by Harriete Estel Berman "/></a> <br/><span style="font-size: 9px;"><a title="$$$ Money Game Free Parking" href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/73907577/money-game-free-parking-new-york-avenue" target="_blank"> $$$Money Gamer Free Parking</a> © 2011<br/> Post Consumer Recycled tin Cans<br/> Artist: Harriete Estel Berman<br/><br/></span></p>
<p><strong>Before the symposium, I was so excited and asked, "What is Craft Forward?"</strong> <br/><br/><strong>The topic was prescient and</strong> <br/><strong>I committed ASK Harriete</strong> to sharing this information with a wider circle.<br/><br/> <strong>Isn't that the value and benefit of the Internet?</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p> <a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e885fbaa0970d-popup"></a><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154323f1514970c-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d14488340154323f1514970c" style="width: 160px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="Hotbutton" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154323f1514970c-200wi" alt="Hotbutton"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Lydia Matthews</span> in her closing remarks at Craft Forward asked us:</strong></p>
<p><strong>"How can we continue this conversation?"</strong></p>
<p><strong>"How do you move Craft Forward?"</strong></p>
<p>"<strong>What do you want to move forward?"</strong></p>
<p><strong>"What do you leave behind?"</strong></p>
<p><strong>Can we "Carry the banner of craft forward?"</strong></p>
<p><a style="display: inline;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e5e3e21970b-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538e5e3e21970b" style="width: 368px;" title="CraftforwardBANNERFLG" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e5e3e21970b-400wi" alt="CraftforwardBANNERFLG"/></a> <br/> <a style="display: inline;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e885f8527970d-popup"></a></p>
<p style="float: right; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;"><a style="display: inline;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e885f8527970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e885f8527970d" style="border: 1px solid #000000; width: 200px;" title="Life Flower Brooch by Harriete EStel Berman is constructed from post consumer recycled tin cans." src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e885f8527970d-200wi" alt="Life Flower Brooch by Harriete EStel Berman is constructed from post consumer recycled tin cans."/></a> <br/> <br/><span style="font-size: 9px;"><a title="Life is a Game Flower Brooch by Harriete Estel Berman" href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/73488447/life-is-a-game-flower-brooch" target="_blank">Life is Game Flower Brooch</a> © 2011<br/>Post consumer recycled tin cans <br/>Artist: Harriete Estel Berman <br/><br/></span></p>
<p><strong>In retrospect, after attending the symposium, I have indeed learned a lot.</strong> Taking time to read and reread my notes, I remember the lectures.</p>
<p><strong>In writing about each speaker and their presentation</strong> (condensed to one post), it is hard to do justice to the great effort invested in their talks. I hope reading my posts has provided some insights for everyone whether they attended the symposium or not.</p>
<p style="float: right; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;"> <br/><a title="Life is a Game Flower Brooch by Harriete Estel Berman" href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/73488447/life-is-a-game-flower-brooch" target="_blank"></a><span style="font-size: 9px;"><br/><br/></span></p>
<p><strong>I am sure the organizers had great plans. </strong> The original description of the Craft Forward Symposium is linked here as a PDF. <span class="asset asset-generic at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538e5e33b1970b"><a href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/files/craftforward-letter.pdf">Download CraftForward letter</a></span> (just in case you want to read the stated premise of the symposium).</p>
<p> <a title="Life is a Game Flower Brooch by Harriete Estel Berman" href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/73488447/life-is-a-game-flower-brooch" target="_blank"></a><span style="font-size: 9px;"> </span><strong>The sessions were well defined and covered a spectrum of craft</strong> (or not craft, as you can decide whether the speakers addressed the topic or not.)<a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e6c19c3970b-popup"><img class="align-right" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e6c19c3970b-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a></p>
<p><strong>The Sessions are listed <em>below</em> with links to the respective posts</strong> covering each and every lecture. <a title="All the posts about Craft Forward on ASK Harriete " href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/craft-forward/" target="_blank">You can find all the posts about Craft Forward <em>here</em>.</a> General questions and comments raised by the readers of ASK Harriete and my overall critique of the symposium will be the topic of the next and final post on Craft Forward.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Day One <a style="float: right;" title="Manufractured Exhibition" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/03/anufractured-clips-capsules-confiscated-craft-commentary.html" target="_blank"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538e5e442b970b" style="border: 1px solid #000000; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; width: 200px;" title="MANUFRACTUREDHBerman_grass" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e5e442b970b-200wi" alt="MANUFRACTUREDHBerman_grass"/></a> <br/></span></strong></p>
<p>Exhibition <a title="Manufractured Clips, Capsules, Confiscated, and Commentary" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/03/anufractured-clips-capsules-confiscated-craft-commentary.html" target="_blank">Manufractured Clips, Capsules, Confiscated, and Commentary</a></p>
<p><a title="Glenn Adamson" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/04/craft-forward-symposium-2011-glenn-adamson-.html" target="_blank">Glenn Adamson (a quick preview)</a></p>
<p>Keynote Address- <a title="Keynote Critical Point, the Risk of Craft" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/04/craft-forward-symposium-keynote-critical-point-the-risk-of-craft.html" target="_blank">Keynote Critical Point, the Risk of Craft</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Day Two</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><br/></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Session 1</span></strong></span><strong>:</strong> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><a style="float: right;" title="Sensory Craft at Craft Forward" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/04/craft-forward-sensory-craft-with-david-howes-and-frank-wilson.html" target="_blank"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e88519504970d" style="border: 1px solid #000000; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; width: 200px;" title="The hand" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e88519504970d-200wi" alt="The hand"/></a></span></span></strong></span><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Sensory Craft</span></span></strong></span> <a title="Senory Craft with David Howes and Frank Wilson " href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/04/craft-forward-sensory-craft-with-david-howes-and-frank-wilson.html" target="_blank"><br/>Sensory Craft with David Howes and Frank Wilson</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Session 2</span></strong></span><strong>:</strong> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br/><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Body Craft</span><br/></span></strong></span><a title="How Does Craft Shape Bodies? with Lauren Kalman and Allyson Mitchell" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/04/craft-forward-symposium-2011-how-does-craft-shape-bodies-with-lauren-kalman-allyson-mitchell.html" target="_blank">How Does Craft Shape Bodies? with Lauren Kalman and Allyson Mitchell</a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><strong><br/></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Session 3</span></strong></span><strong>:</strong> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br/><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Identity Craft</span><br/></span></strong></span><a title="Identity Craft by Bridget Cooks" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/04/craftforward-symposium-2011-identity-craft-bridget-cooks-and-sanjit-sethi.html" target="_blank">Identity Craft by Bridget Cooks</a></p>
<p><a title=""Crafting the Politics of Identity" with Water Writes by Nancy Hernandez" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/04/craft-forward-symposium-crafting-the-politics-of-identity-with-nancy-hernandez.html" target="_blank">"Crafting the Politics of Identity" with Nancy Hernandez</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Session 4</span></strong></span><strong>:</strong> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><a style="float: right;" title="Digital Craft at Craft Forward" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/04/craft-forward-symposium-digital-craft-presented-in-hypermode-but-lost-opportunity.html" target="_blank"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e88519699970d" style="border: 1px solid #000000; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; width: 200px;" title="NIKE" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e88519699970d-200wi" alt="NIKE"/></a></span></span></strong></span><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Digital Craft</span></span></strong></span> <a title="Craft Forward Symposium - Digital Craft presented in hyper mode, but Lost Opportunity" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/04/craft-forward-symposium-digital-craft-presented-in-hypermode-but-lost-opportunity.html" target="_blank"><br/>Digital Craft Presented in Hyper Mode, but Lost Opportunity</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Day Three</span></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Session 5</span></span></strong><strong>:</strong> <strong><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834015432311d1f970c-pi"><img style="border: 1px solid #000000; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; width: 200px;" title="Theaster-gatesWHITEhand" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834015432311d1f970c-200wi" alt="Theaster-gatesWHITEhand"/></a></strong><br/><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Mass Craft</span> </span></span></strong> <a title="Mass Craft, Free Market or Inverted Market" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/04/craftforward-symposium-2011-mass-craft-free-market-or-inverted-market.html" target="_blank"><br/>Mass Craft, Free Market or Inverted Market</a></p>
<p><a title="Craft FORWARD Symposium 2011 - Mass Craft, Theaster Gates Constructs Context with Added Value" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/04/craft-forward-symposium-2011-mass-craft-theaster-gates-constructs-context-with-added-value.html" target="_blank">Mass Craft, Theaster Gates Constructs Context with Added Value</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Session 6</span></span></strong><strong>:</strong> <strong><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e88519a4d970d-pi"><img style="border: 1px solid #000000; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; width: 200px;" title="Making It" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e88519a4d970d-200wi" alt="Making It"/></a></strong><br/><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Material Craft</span> </span></span></strong> <a title="Material Craft with Chris Lefteri Materials Expert" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/04/craft-forward-symposium-2011-material-craft-chris-lefteri-materials-expert.html" target="_blank"><br/>Material Craft with Chris Lefteri Materials Expert</a></p>
<p><a title="Materials Craft with Chris Taylor Blowing Glass (Floating in a Boat, Upside Down or Inside Out)" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/05/craft-forward-symposium-2011-material-craft-with-chris-taylor-blowing-glass-floating-in-a-boat-upsid.html" target="_blank">Material Craft with Chris Taylor Blowing Glass (Floating in a Boat, Upside Down or Inside Out)</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Session 7:</span></span></strong> <a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154323f0382970c-popup"><img style="border: 1px solid #000000; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; width: 200px;" title="Word.craft.72" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154323f0382970c-200wi" alt="Word.craft.72"/></a><br/><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Word Craft</span></span></span></strong><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><a title="Word Craft by Patricia Powell and Paul Flores" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/05/craft-forward-symposium-2011-word-craft-patricia-powell-paul-flores.html" target="_blank"> </a> <br/> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">Word Craft - by Patricia Powell and Paul Flores</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br/></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Session 8:<br/><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Resistance Craft</span><br/></span></span></strong><a title="Resistence Craft with High Voltage and Low Resonance includes Otto von Busch, Liz Collins, and Teddy Cruz" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/05/craft-forward-symposium-2011-resistance-craft-with-high-voltage-and-low-resonance-includes-otto-von-busch-liz-collins-teddy-c.html" target="_blank"><strong>Resistence Craft</strong> with High Voltage and Low Resonance includes Otto von Busch, Liz Collins, Teddy Cruz</a></p>
<p><a style="display: inline;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e885fb0f9970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e885fb0f9970d" style="width: 368px;" title="Resistorcraftcopy" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e885fb0f9970d-400wi" alt="Resistorcraftcopy"/></a> <br/><br/></p>
<p><strong>The next post will include comments from the readers and myself, Harriete Estel Berman.</strong> It will be the last post about Craft Forward.</p>
Resistance Craft with High Voltage and Low Resonance includes Otto von Busch, Liz Collins, Teddy Cruz
tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2011-05-10:2104389:Topic:236571
2011-05-10T15:37:10.002Z
Harriete E Berman
http://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058043385?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058043385?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a> <span class="font-size-5"><strong>Resistance Craft</strong></span> <strong>was the last session of Craft Forward.</strong> <br></br>Faster, FASTER, <span style="font-size: 11pt;">FASTER</span>. <br></br>Read this post at a frenetic pace to feel the increasing speed of delivery of the next three speakers<strong>. <br></br></strong></p>
<p> …</p>
<p></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058043385?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058043385?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><span class="font-size-5"><strong>Resistance Craft</strong></span> <strong>was the last session of Craft Forward.</strong> <br/>Faster, FASTER, <span style="font-size: 11pt;">FASTER</span>. <br/>Read this post at a frenetic pace to feel the increasing speed of delivery of the next three speakers<strong>. <br/></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span class="font-size-6">Summary</span> <span style="font-size: 13pt;"> </span></strong></span></p>
<p><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401543228ee83970c-popup"><img class="align-left" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401543228ee83970c-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a><a href="http://craftforward.org/speakers/otto-von-busch/" target="_blank" title="otto von Busch speaker for craft Forward"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Otto von Busch</span></a></strong> opened his remarks with a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A042J0IDQK4" target="_blank" title="video from You Tube about a Flooded Fire Ant Colony">video from YouTube about Flood of a Fire Ant Colony</a>. This was followed by additional images of TROPHALLAXIS ants and butterflies all serving as metaphors for various subgroups of the craft community and more specifically the social structure of the web. </p>
<p><strong>His lecture was fast and confusing</strong> (as his <strong><a href="http://www.selfpassage.org/" target="_blank" title="web site for Otto von Busch">web site</a></strong>). We were trying to hold on to a rambling train of thought from one idea to the next. The lectures was rushed and unorganized, a product of writing the lecture in your hotel room at night.</p>
<p><strong>As entertaining and irreverent</strong> as it was, I was somewhat disappointed.</p>
<p><strong>Instead of conveying a few cohesive thoughts</strong> for us to take home, I found about twenty partially filled thought bubbles in my notes.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401543228f436970c-popup"><img class="align-right" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401543228f436970c-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a><strong>Having met Otto von Busch on the first night,</strong> I had higher expectations....it seemed he could be one of the lecturers who would <em>really talk about craft going forward in the 21st century.</em></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e88497922970d-popup"><img class="align-left" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e88497922970d-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e5610de970b-popup"><img class="align-left" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e5610de970b-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <span class="font-size-5"> </span></span></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<br/>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://craftforward.org/speakers/liz-collins/" target="_blank" title="Liz Collins"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></strong></a><strong><a href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e88498b33970d-popup" style="float: right;"><img alt="Lizcollinsfashion" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e88498b33970d" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e88498b33970d-200wi" style="border: 1px solid #000000; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; width: 200px;" title="Lizcollinsfashion"/></a></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="font-size-5"><a href="http://craftforward.org/speakers/liz-collins/" target="_blank" title="Liz Collins">Liz Collins</a></span></span></strong> started her lecture with <a href="http://www.lizcollins.com/seasons.html" target="_blank" title="fashion season by Liz Collins.">background about her professional foray into knit fashion</a>. Ultimately, after a few years, the pressures of the industry (listed below) proved to be too much.</p>
<ul>
<li>Building a brand</li>
<li>Producing collections</li>
<li>Fashion roller coaster</li>
<li>Developing prototypes</li>
<li>Demands of buyers</li>
<li>Demands of multiples</li>
<li>Production schedules</li>
<li>Seasonal demands</li>
<li>Economic problems</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e884fd6dc970d-popup" style="float: left;"><img alt="LizCollins1eo" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e884fd6dc970d" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e884fd6dc970d-200wi" style="border: 1px solid #000000; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; width: 200px;" title="LizCollins1eo"/></a> <strong>While looking for a job as a designer</strong>, she started teaching, which then opened yet another new range of opportunities, perhaps most significantly, <a href="http://www.lizcollins.com/kn.html" target="_blank" title="knitting nation">KNITTING Nation.</a></p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/v5V3ee7FTNs" frameborder="0" height="314" width="386"></iframe>
</p>
<p><a href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154322f5a03970c-popup" style="float: left;"><img alt="LizCollins3eo" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d14488340154322f5a03970c" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154322f5a03970c-200wi" style="border: 1px solid #000000; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; width: 200px;" title="LizCollins3eo"/></a> <strong>This was another example of community, craftivism and knitting at the Craft Forward Symposium.</strong> I wonder how hard it was for Liz Collins to acknowledge to herself and then to this audience, that the project amounted to making the maker into a machine. More people, more noise, more management of physically demanding and repetitive work sitting at knitting machines. (<a href="http://www.lizcollins.com/kn.html" target="_blank" title="Knitting Nation">Read more about Knitting Nation</a> if you're interested.)</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>The final speaker <span style="font-size: 14pt;">Teddy Cruz</span> spoke even faster</strong> <em>(think the FED Ex commercial shown below).</em> <strong> </strong><em>Craft Forward was at full throttle right to the finish line.</em> Yet another example of a 45 minute lecture squeezed into 30 minutes.<br/><br/><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NeK5ZjtpO-M" frameborder="0" height="302" width="368"></iframe>
</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154322f5c03970c-popup"><img class="align-right" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154322f5c03970c-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a> <br/> <a href="http://socialdesign.wordpress.com/2007/10/20/teddy-cruz/" target="_blank" title="Teddy Cruz web site for social change"><strong><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Teddy Cruz</span> as architect, designer, anthropologist and urban planner</strong></a>, explained how the discards of over-abundance from the United States crosses the border into Mexico. <a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e5ca04f970b-popup"><img class="align-right" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e5ca04f970b-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a> The issues of reuse, urban plight, ingenuity, zoning problems and weak government are all intertwined as truck loads of shipping pallets, garage doors, and used tires are hauled across the border.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e884ff049970d-popup"><img class="align-right" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e884ff049970d-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a><strong>Teddy Cruz expressed one point of view for a complex social, economic, political, zoning, environmental & immigration issue.</strong> The topic is not a one-liner or 20 minute summary.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e884ff642970d-popup"><img class="align-right" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e884ff642970d-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a> <strong>I appreciated the information and would consider it a fascinating topic for a documentary or PBS special,</strong> but it was not craft, nor craft forward.</p>
<p><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e5c8b94970b-popup"><img class="align-right" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e5c8b94970b-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a> Watch the video <em>below,</em></strong> <em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVlOWZfaat0" target="_blank" title="A City Made of Waste with Teddy Cruz">A City Made of Waste</a></em>, as it includes images and information very similar to his presentation at the Craft Forward Symposium. You will get the idea right away even without Teddy Cruz" commentary. It shows construction in Mexico using re-purposed materials and transformed into houses, workshops, and retaining walls.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UVlOWZfaat0" frameborder="0" height="302" width="368"></iframe>
</p>
<p><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e884fdf21970d-popup"><img class="align-left" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e884fdf21970d-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a> Teddy Cruz has a very idealistic vision of urban planning that doesn't fit with the current reality. </strong> While I agree that more planning, zoning, and coordinated communities would be better for everyone, the Mexican urban poor have desperately, sometimes ingeniously, utilized low cost building solutions. Bigger issues include lack of government oversight, <a href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/ask_harriete/2011/04/craft-forward-symposium-crafting-the-politics-of-identity-with-nancy-hernandez.html" target="_blank" title=""Crafting the Politics of Identity" with Water Writes by Nancy Hernandez">clean water distribution</a>, the absence of sewage systems and waste management.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>What were the thought provoking issues raised?</strong></span> The underlying theme of <em>community</em> at Craft Forward seemed to view "craft" with a particularly skewed perspective. A perspective that community making is somehow the true essence of craft. This perspective does not jive with the craft realities that I see at academic institutions, the craft marketplace, or pressing economic issues raised by artists and makers in their studios or on the Internet.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Background about the speakers (below).</strong></span></p>
<p>The web site for <strong><a href="http://www.selfpassage.org/" target="_blank" title="Otto von Busch web site">Otto von Busch</a></strong> is very confusing, While I applaud innovative web design, this is information overload and just confusing. More white space would help considerably. Check it out for yourself, but let go of any expectation for easy website navigation.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.lizcollins.com/about.html" target="_blank" title="Liz Collins web site"></a> <a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e884fec25970d-popup"><img class="align-left" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e884fec25970d-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a> <strong>Liz Collins</strong> has an interesting website about her work as an artist and designer. It is evident by the background of knitted fabric that this is an important theme. She is recognized internationally for her use of machine knitting to create ground breaking clothing, textiles, and installations.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e5c9bde970b-popup"><img class="align-right" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e5c9bde970b-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a> <a href="http://www.informalism.net/2008_11_16_archive.html" target="_blank" title="blog about Teddy Cruz urban planning agenda">Teddy Cruz has a blog with more information</a> </strong> about his urban planning objectives. <em> </em>It is definitely worth reading if you're interested in these issues. <br/><br/> <strong><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e5cbbd5970b-popup"><img class="align-right" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e5cbbd5970b-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a> There are two additional videos with Teddy Cruz on YouTube</strong> offering information about the issues he presented at Craft Forward. The videos and the information is interesting.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0saEe0caJ8" target="_blank" title="Teddy Cruz Border Cities: Tactics of Encroachment">Listen to Border Cities: Tactics of Encroachment</a> 56:53 minutes</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhKusHz9J-w" target="_blank" title="Teddy Cruz presentation on You Tube">Creative Time Summit: Revolutions in Public Practice</a> 6:52 minutes</p>
<p><strong>Special Thanks to <a href="http://www.rewarestyle.com/home.html" target="_blank" title="emiko oye">emiko oye</a> for supplying many images in this blog post.</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058043048?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058043048?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
<div class="mcePaste" id="_mcePaste" style="xg-p: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;"></div>
Craft Forward Symposium 2011 - Word Craft - by Patricia Powell and Paul Flores
tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2011-05-05:2104389:Topic:234967
2011-05-05T06:28:00.145Z
Harriete E Berman
http://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p><strong><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058044608?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058044608?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a> "Word Craft"</strong> was the seventh session at Craft Forward. At this point we had listened to 13 lectures plus the nine or ten introductions (depending on how you count).</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><a href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154321ef4ae970c-popup" style="float: left;"><img alt="Keys.72" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d14488340154321ef4ae970c" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154321ef4ae970c-200wi" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="Keys.72"></img></a> After lunch on the 2nd day,</strong> my brain was…</p>
<p><strong><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058044608?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058044608?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a>"Word Craft"</strong> was the seventh session at Craft Forward. At this point we had listened to 13 lectures plus the nine or ten introductions (depending on how you count).</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154321ef4ae970c-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d14488340154321ef4ae970c" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="Keys.72" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154321ef4ae970c-200wi" alt="Keys.72"/></a> After lunch on the 2nd day,</strong> my brain was spinning from the fast paced intake of information, but my note taking methodology was improving with finger tips ready for speedy typing.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e883f930e970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e883f930e970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="100 wordsGR" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e883f930e970d-200wi" alt="100 wordsGR"/></a> At best, the inclusion of "Word Craft" in Craft Forward is a conceptual stretch, but possible. </strong> Unfortunetly, neither speaker tied the content of their presentations to the audience of makers or the theme Craft Forward. It could have been great, to make words relevant to an art and craft audience -- an opportunity lost. Nevertheless, Paul Flores was a discovery worth finding, . . . <em>keep reading.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Summary<br/></strong></span> <a style="float: left;" title="Me Dying Trial" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0807083658/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwharrietees-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=0807083658" target="_blank"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e883ab68e970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="Me Dying Trial" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e883ab68e970d-200wi" alt="Me Dying Trial"/></a> <strong>Patricia Powell is an author.</strong> Her lecture titled, "Language and Desire and the Discipline of Art" was the first speaker in Session 7, Word Craft. She professed in her short introduction that she wants her text to be healing by combining the study of energy, medicine and shamanism. This lecture completely missed the mark.</p>
<p>After describing the characters in her book, "Me Dying Trial," she proceeded to read directly from the book. It may be a common practice for authors to read from their books, but I think it is a TERRIBLE IDEA unless the author has a magical voice to craft her words. It didn't happen.</p>
<p>If you want to read her book, <a title="review of the book Me Dying Trial" href="http://www.browngirlspeaks.com/3/post/2010/3/me-dying-trial-by-patricia-powell.html" target="_blank">here is a review of the book.</a> Below are her other books.</p>
<p><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong> </strong></span><strong> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br/></span></strong></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154321a3b5d970c-popup"><img class="align-right" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154321a3b5d970c-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a> <strong>The next speaker was Paul Flores.</strong> He was much more entertaining. In fact, that is what he is - an entertainer. Enjoy the video excerpts below, they are well worth the time to listen carefully to his use of words. </p>
<p><strong>He opened his lecture by stepping away from the podium and speaking from a standing mike.</strong> That one foot step changes the speaker's relationship with the audience. It was an amazing relief. Most of the speakers at Craft Forward hung onto that podium like it was a life raft.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VUw3G8OsTOs" width="640" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe>
</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 8pt;">This video above is provided by emiko oye. Filmed at Craft Forward Symposium.</span></p>
<p>This same poem performed at Craft Forward can also be viewed here in a more formal rendition: <a title="The Crowbar Thing by Paul Flores" href="http://vimeo.com/2587678" target="_blank">"Liquid Bar". Watch it online.</a></p>
<p>Below is another video of Paul Flores recorded by emiko oye at Craft Forward about "Spanglish".</p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EmKNuf6UnKM" width="368" frameborder="0" height="224"></iframe>
</p>
<p>A large part of his poetry and style is influenced by his Hispanic background. By watching these videos and the video link on his <a title="Paul Flores MySpace" href="http://www.myspace.com/paulfloresrepresenta" target="_blank">MySpace page</a>, you can acquire your own perspective.<br/> <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hhttoJwALoA" width="640" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe>
</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058045154?profile=original"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058045154?profile=original" width="139" height="224"/></a> What did I learn? </strong> <br/><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Speakers should not use podiums as a crutch to hide behind. I knew this before, but Paul Flores proved it by example without a doubt. Step out and share the power of your message.</span><strong><br/></strong></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Background about the speakers (below).</span></strong></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e4754fb970b-popup"><img class="align-left" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e4754fb970b-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a> Patricia Powell is an associate professor of English at Mills College and author of "Me Dying Trial" and "A Small Gathering of Bones" (Beacon Press, 2003), "The Pagoda" (Harcourt, 1999), and <a title="The Fullness of Everything" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1845231139/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwharrietees-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1845231139" target="_blank">"The Fullness of Everything"</a> (Peepal Tree Press, 2009).<br/>Excerpts from her novels have been widely anthologized and she has lectured and led creative writing workshops in literary venues both nationally and internationally.</p>
<p><strong><em>Below</em> are her other books</strong> which are affiliate links. <br/><strong><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154321a18cc970c-popup"><img style="width: 122px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="The Fullness of Everything" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154321a18cc970c-150wi" alt="The Fullness of Everything" width="118" height="179"/></a> <a style="display: inline;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e883ac036970d-popup"><img style="width: 122px;" title="Agathering of bones" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e883ac036970d-150wi" alt="Agathering of bones" width="122" height="182"/></a></strong> <strong><a style="float: left;" title="The Pagoda by Patricia Powell" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0156008297?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwharrietees-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0156008297" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="The_Pagoda-" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340154321a1edc970c-150wi" alt="The_Pagoda-" width="115" height="181"/></a> </strong></p>
<p><strong><br/></strong></p>
<p><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e6021e708970c-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e6021e708970c" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="Paul_flores" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e6021e708970c-200wi" alt="Paul_flores"/></a> <strong>Paul Flores is local to the San Francisco Bay Area. </strong> It would definitely be interesting to go to one of his performances. <a title="Paul Flores on My Space" href="http://www.myspace.com/paulfloresrepresenta" target="_blank">Here is a link to his MySpace page</a> so you can find out if he is performing in your area. There is another video on his MySpace page showing him perform "Brown Dream."</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> <a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058042401?profile=original"></a><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058047315?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058047315?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><br/><br/> <br/></p>
Blowing Glass (Floating in a Boat, Upside Down or Inside Out) from Chris Taylor
tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2011-05-03:2104389:Topic:234276
2011-05-03T16:29:07.572Z
Harriete E Berman
http://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p><strong><a href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e8835e8a2970d-popup" style="float: left;"><img alt="BoatwithKiln" class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e8835e8a2970d" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e8835e8a2970d-200wi" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="BoatwithKiln"></img></a> Chris Taylor</strong> is an expert in one material - glass.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Summary</span></strong><br></br>During his lecture at Craft Forward, in the session titled "Material Craft", he showed us image after image of his objects fabricated with glass in the most extraordinary circumstances (and a testimony to his…</p>
<p><strong><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e8835e8a2970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e8835e8a2970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="BoatwithKiln" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e8835e8a2970d-200wi" alt="BoatwithKiln"/></a> Chris Taylor</strong> is an expert in one material - glass.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Summary</span></strong><br/>During his lecture at Craft Forward, in the session titled "Material Craft", he showed us image after image of his objects fabricated with glass in the most extraordinary circumstances (and a testimony to his skill).</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></strong><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>This included blowing glass in a small boat</strong> (with a custom made kiln) 25 miles offshore in the ocean (<em>shown in the video below)</em>,<br/> <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Zhz9rYnmCNk" width="368" frameborder="0" height="224"></iframe>
</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e4246ec970b-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538e4246ec970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="P-d15-chris-upside" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e4246ec970b-200wi" alt="P-d15-chris-upside"/></a> <a title="video of Chris Taylor blowing glass upside down" href="http://www.archive.org/details/Chris_Taylor_Upside_Down_Glass_Blowing" target="_blank">or blowing glass while hanging upside down from the ceiling</a>. (This gave him a terrible headache, but it looks like the whole studio had a good time.)</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e8835de44970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e8835de44970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="CTaylor_glassbubblewrap" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e8835de44970d-200wi" alt="CTaylor_glassbubblewrap"/></a><strong>He has created glass that looks like sheets of bubble wrap.</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e8835df5e970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e8835df5e970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="CTglasscup" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e8835df5e970d-200wi" alt="CTglasscup"/></a></strong></p>
<p><strong>Or a glass cup that looks like Styrofoam.</strong> These are playful, irreverent examples of his skill with glass. Chris Taylor tricks the viewer by making glass look like common every day materials -- an ironic interpretation of "material craft."</p>
<p><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e4247ca970b-popup"><br/></a></p>
<p><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834015432153d3a970c-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834015432153d3a970c" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="CTaylor_glassreplica" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834015432153d3a970c-200wi" alt="CTaylor_glassreplica"/></a> <strong>His tour de force was a reproduction of a 16th century Venetian glass goblet.</strong> He then sneaked his reproduction into a museum, and placed his glass side by side with the original. The Chris Taylor glass is faithful to the original and becomes elevated as even the museum staff can’t tell the difference. You can read the story below in an image from his lecture <em>(below)</em>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a style="display: inline;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834015432153f2a970c-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834015432153f2a970c" style="width: 368px;" title="CTaylor_glassreplicaText" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834015432153f2a970c-400wi" alt="CTaylor_glassreplicaText"/></a> <br/><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What did I learn?</span></strong><br/><strong>Chris Taylor tests boundaries.</strong> It seems that he never wanted to have a glass blowing kiln of his own so he teaches or goes places to experiment with glass, redefining how glass is used or made. He is interested in the edge of failure. <br/><br/><strong>Taylor felt strongly that his art practice doesn't start or stop.</strong> His expertise is only because he is so thorough, practicing every day. Practice was described as a dance, with frequency and wave length finely tuned. He wasn't trying to hit us over the head with his virtuosity, it was more like he was offering his most valuable lesson - study and develop your repertoire of skill without promiscuity with other mediums. <br/><br/><strong><span class="font-size-4"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">What were the thought provoking issues raised?</span></span></strong> <br/>Usually when I hear people profess their levels of expertise in my media (metal), I am bored. I don't really think it is all that interesting to see ancient techniques brought to 21st century. Pure technical expertise usually doesn't advance the field. In addition, I would not define reviving a five hundred year old technical expertise as Craft Forward.</p>
<p><strong>On the other hand, making glass look like Styrofoam or bubble wrap or a Spalding Basketball is irreverent and playful.</strong> This is the polar opposite of the high priced glass "goop", layered, shiny prisms and dazzling light facets shown at SOFA or hotel lobbies.</p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="color: #666699;"><strong>But I also wonder, Is glass always about a tour de force?</strong></span> <br/>Is there glass with social commentary and authenticity of a personal statement?</p>
<p><span style="color: #666699;"><strong>What do you think? <span style="color: #000000;">I would like to hear your comments.</span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #666699;"><strong><span style="color: #000000;">Harriete<br/></span></strong></span></p>
<p><img src="http://static.typepad.com/.shared:v20110428.01-0-g2b09a67:typepad:en_us/js/tinymce/plugins/pagebreak/img/trans.gif"/> <br/><strong><span class="font-size-4">Background about the speaker Chris Taylor</span> (below).</strong></p>
<p><strong><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e427993970b-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538e427993970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="CTpicture-4" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e427993970b-200wi" alt="CTpicture-4"/></a> Chris Taylor's impressive <a title="bio on the Craft Forward web site" href="http://craftforward.org/speakers/chris-taylor/" target="_blank">bio</a></strong> <a title="bio on the Craft Forward web site" href="http://craftforward.org/speakers/chris-taylor/" target="_blank">can be found on the Craft Forward web site.</a><strong> </strong></p>
<p>It is hard to find information about Chris Taylor<strong>.</strong> His web site is non-functional, a work in progress. I am sorry to say that his common name is lost in the search results. The overwhelming search results are deluged with athletes and musicians of the same name. <strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>HINT 1:</strong> If you have a common name, use your middle name to create a more unique identity online.</p>
<p><strong>HINT 2:</strong> In this day and age, I think a functional web site is a necessity. Sharing your work one class or workshop at a time may be great for the moment, but it isn't Craft Forward when the most powerful medium at your disposal, the Internet, is unable to share your work with a wider audience.</p>
<p><strong>I'll go one step further.</strong> Craft will never gain momentum in our culture when the leaders in the field think they don't have a responsibility to share with a wider audience. For example, Taylor should put that glass Spalding Basketball out there for all the basketball lovers of the world to fall in love with craft.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>T<strong>he glass cups that look like Styrofoam by Chris Taylor</strong> (below) were found on <a title="styrofoam cups in glass by Chris Taylor" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14683435@N02/1565065228/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Flickr . Photo by Brian Dennison.</a></p>
<p><a title="styrofoam cups in glass by Chris Taylor" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14683435@N02/1565065228/in/photostream/" target="_blank"></a><strong><a style="float: left;" title="styrofoam cups in glass by Chris Taylor" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14683435@N02/1565065228/in/photostream/" target="_blank"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834015432157233970c" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="StyrofOAMcups" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834015432157233970c-200wi" alt="StyrofOAMcups"/></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><br/></strong></p>
<p><strong>Above photos of glass bubble wrap, Styrofoam cup (close-up), Venetian Goblet copy, and text were by emiko oye taken during the lecture by Chris Taylor.</strong></p>
<p><strong><br/></strong></p>
Material Craft with Chris Lefteri Materials Expert
tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2011-04-28:2104389:Topic:232388
2011-04-28T14:28:50.972Z
Harriete E Berman
http://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Material Craft</span></strong> -- Session 6 included presentations by <a href="http://craftforward.org/speakers/chris-lefteri/" target="_blank" title="Chris Lefteri">Chris Lefteri</a> and Chris Taylor</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Summary</span><br></br><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058038805?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058038805?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350"></img></a> This was one session that combined two speakers perfectly under one…</strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Material Craft</span></strong> -- Session 6 included presentations by <a title="Chris Lefteri" href="http://craftforward.org/speakers/chris-lefteri/" target="_blank">Chris Lefteri</a> and Chris Taylor</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Summary</span><br/><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058038805?profile=original"><img width="350" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058038805?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350"/></a>This was one session that combined two speakers perfectly under one heading.</strong> Material Craft defined their identity and unique skills within their expertise in materials.Their lectures were articulate, confident and straight forward. They both had the same first name....I didn't make a mistake.</p>
<p><strong>It was rather refreshing in retrospect that they didn't have any social agenda, amateur knitting, or stuffed animals.</strong> They considered themselves EXPERTS with complete professionalism.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/2880467853/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwharrietees-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=2880467853"><img width="200" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058040370?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="200"/></a> The difference between these two speakers</strong> is that Chris Lefteri seemed to relish his investigation into a variety of materials (hence his books, <em>left and below</em>), while Chris Taylor was a technical expert in <em>working with one material,</em> glass.</p>
<p>In this post I will cover Chris Lefteri. The next post will be about Chris Taylor.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What did I learn?</span></strong></span><br/><strong>Chris Lefteri is a leading authority on materials and their application in design.</strong> Lefteri has published eight books on design and material innovations, including the highly acclaimed <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/2940361509?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwharrietees-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=2940361509"><img width="200" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058039449?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="200"/></a>“<a title="book by Chris Lefteri Materials for Inspriational Design" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/2940361509?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwharrietees-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=2940361509" target="_blank">Materials for Inspirational Design</a>” series (RotoVision, 2001–7), and <a title="Metals by Chris Lefteri" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/2880467624?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwharrietees-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=2880467624" target="_blank">METALS,</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1856695069?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwharrietees-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1856695069" target="_blank">Making It: Manufacturing Techniques for Product Design</a> (Laurence King, 2007).<a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058039092?profile=original"><img width="200" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058039092?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="200"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>These books look really interesting,</strong> but I can't find them in my local library. (<em>I really wish that the Craft Forward Symposium had a table with the books by all the speakers. Before I buy a book, I want to know that it will continue to serve as a reference.)<strong> </strong></em><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><br/></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong> </strong></span><a style="float: right;" title="Masters of Design" href="http://mastersofdesignandinnovation.com/en/" target="_blank"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834015431fe4022970c" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Cris22" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834015431fe4022970c-200wi" alt="Cris22"/></a> <strong> </strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Chris Lefteri's lecture had a structure with a number of key points.</strong> Unfortunately he showed far too many "key" points to keep track. Instead, I have found example images that relate to the lecture content.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong>Click on any image</strong></em> and read about the context of the image. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a style="float: left;" title="Make Magazine instructions." href="http://magculture.com/blog/?p=3027" target="_blank"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e881ec2c6970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="In12-make-magazine" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e881ec2c6970d-200wi" alt="In12-make-magazine"/></a> <strong>Lefteri explained a multi-dimensional approach to materials.</strong> He said that "industrial designers have lost the skill of making", lacking a love and understanding of the materials. His books and blog look like they are designed to be resources for the industrial and manufacturing professions.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a style="float: right;" title="Dishy cooking magazines" href="http://www.pcworld.com/appguide/app.html?id=315424&expand=false#" target="_blank"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538e2b2d3a970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Ss3" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e2b2d3a970b-200wi" alt="Ss3"/></a> <strong>Lefteri was also very interested in the way materials and the process of "craft"</strong> were explained and cited a range of sources from cookbooks and <a title="MAKE magazine" href="http://makezine.com/" target="_blank">MAKE Magazine</a> to the BMW car showroom. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058040473?profile=original"><img width="200" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058040473?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="200"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058040712?profile=original"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058040712?profile=original" width="500"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<span class="font-size-1"><br/><br/>Image of food and BMW showroom taken by emiko oye <em>during</em> Chris Lefteri lecture.<br/>
</span><br/>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>What were the thought provoking issues raised?</strong></span><br/>I would agree with Chris Lefteri's assessment that since designing has become all CAD (Computer Aided Design), the "hands on" component of fabrication and first hand knowledge of materials is lost for industry. Academic programs in Engineering, Industrial Design and Architecture are struggling with just this issue. </p>
<p><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834015431fe37ef970c-pi"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834015431fe37ef970c" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; border: 1px solid #000000;" title="Sandwichstructures and materials" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834015431fe37ef970c-200wi" alt="Sandwichstructures and materials"/></a> <strong>This is a really ironic point that may have been lost in front of an audience of makers devoted to their <em>natural instinct with materials</em></strong> rather than technical understanding or working with CAD/CAM manufacturing.</p>
<p><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e2b21c3970b-pi"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538e2b21c3970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; border: 1px solid #000000;" title="Sandwichofmaterials " src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e2b21c3970b-200wi" alt="Sandwichofmaterials "/></a> <strong>My opinion is that it is rather unfortunate that so little cross fertilization occurs between makers and industry.</strong> Makers rarely get to experiment and apply their instincts with materials to new industrial processes which are so far from our studios. I assume that this was Chris Lefteri's objective as he showed us multiple experiments with materials.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058039235?profile=original"><img width="200" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058039235?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="200"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><br/><span class="font-size-1">Material "sandwich" image taken by emiko oye during Chris Lefteri lecture. While this concept of a material sandwich was a new term to me, it seems that this is a common practice in industry to incorporate multiple material properties. Think skis, snowboards and building materials as a few familiar examples.</span></p>
<br/>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>I wonder....Is this Craft Forward?</strong></span></p>
<p><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e2b22fb970b-pi"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538e2b22fb970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; border: 1px solid #000000;" title="Bare" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e2b22fb970b-200wi" alt="Bare"/></a> <strong>In retrospect, I would consider his lecture one of the few tha</strong><strong>t exemplified the fundamental concept of</strong> <strong>Craft Forward in the whole conference!</strong> If only industry could invite artists to play with the materials, processes and technologies available in manufacturing. This would advance Craft Forward to fabulous <a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834015431fe352e970c-popup"><img class="align-right" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834015431fe352e970c-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a> proportions.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Background about the Chris Lefteri:</strong></span></p>
<p><a style="display: inline;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e86a9a039970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e86a9a039970d" style="width: 368px;" title="Lefteri" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e86a9a039970d-400wi" alt="Lefteri"/></a></p>
<p><a title="web site for Chris Lefteri" href="http://www.chrislefteri.com/" target="_blank">Chris Lefteri</a> has both a <a title="web site for Chris Lefteri" href="http://www.chrislefteri.com/" target="_blank">web site</a> and a <a title="blog by Chris Lefteri" href="https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/smart-materials-beacon/articles" target="_blank">blog.</a> The web site looks like it is under construction with unfinished pages....and the navigation is confusing. Skip it unless your are really interested in Industrial Design, new materials, and have a lot of patience. The blog isn't really all that interesting and doesn't have enough posts. One post for 2011, four posts for 2010 just doesn't cut it for a blog.<br/><br/> Chris Lefteri is the editor of <a title="web site for more ingredients magazine" href="http://www.moreingredients.com/" target="_blank">Ingredients Magazine</a> an online magazine with 5,000 subscribers bridging the gap between designers and material manufacturers.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/2940361509?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwharrietees-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=2940361509"><img width="250" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058039449?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="250"/></a>“<a title="book by Chris Lefteri Materials for Inspriational Design" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/2940361509?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwharrietees-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=2940361509" target="_blank">Materials for Inspirational Design</a>” series (RotoVision, 2001–7), </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058039272?profile=original"><img width="250" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058039272?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="250"/></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/2880467624?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwharrietees-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=2880467624" target="_blank">METALS, (Materials for Inspirational Design)</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a title="book Making It: Manufacturing Techniques for Product Design " href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1856695069/ref=as_li_tf_il?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwharrietees-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399353&creativeASIN=1856695069" target="_blank">Making It: Manufacturing Techniques for Product Design</a> (Laurence King, 2007)</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058039092?profile=original"><img width="250" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058039092?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="250"/></a></p>
Craft FORWARD Symposium 2011 - Mass Craft, Theaster Gates Constructs Context with Added Value
tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2011-04-26:2104389:Topic:231412
2011-04-26T02:39:20.559Z
Harriete E Berman
http://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p><span class="font-size-4">The lecture by Theaster Gates opened with an song.<span class="font-size-3"> <br></br>emiko oye captured his "a cappella" solo opening at Craft Forward.</span></span><iframe frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FT-wREpkGtg?wmode=opaque" width="640"></iframe>
</p>
<p>As you can see in the opening title of the video, Theaster Gates' lecture was titled, " Soul Manufacturing Corporation, Racialized Materiality and the Life of a Negro Potter." The title is a…</p>
<p><span class="font-size-4">The lecture by Theaster Gates opened with an song.<span class="font-size-3"> <br/>emiko oye captured his "a cappella" solo opening at Craft Forward.</span></span><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FT-wREpkGtg" width="640" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe>
</p>
<p>As you can see in the opening title of the video, Theaster Gates' lecture was titled, " Soul Manufacturing Corporation, Racialized Materiality and the Life of a Negro Potter." The title is a mouthful....hard to grasp in one sentence. The lecture and the man were equally complex.</p>
<p><strong>In the beginning of the lecture,</strong> Theaster talked about two areas of focus early in his adult life. One is his academic study of Urban Planning. Second his multiple years of study in Japan of ceramics. He says, I have "clay in my veins."</p>
<p style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;"><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e88131f58970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e88131f58970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="TheasterGAteJapaneses" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e88131f58970d-200wi" alt="TheasterGAteJapaneses"/></a><br/><span style="font-size: 9px;">Untitled (bowl) © 2010<br/>Ink on Paper 24" x 30"<br/>Artist: Theaster Gates<br/>Image Courtesy of artst and Kavi Gupta<br/>Gallery, Berlin / Chicago<br/></span></p>
<p><strong>My impression was that Theaster Gates skills with Japanese pottery, tea bowls, and an Eastern influence</strong> were perceived as inauthentic by both the art /craft hierarchy and the public. This external evaluation of his work resulted in limited professional success.</p>
<p><strong>The internal issue for Gates was the difficulty to tie his black identity to a Japanese aesthetic.</strong> Gates questions,"How do cultural legacy's work?" How could he align his black self to the Japanese self?</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><strong>This is a valuable lesson for all artists and makers.</strong></span> When attempting to adopt the skills, tools or aesthetics of another culture or another artist, your own artistic identity will likely become confused. Professional success will always be limited unless the "authentic" artist within you comes out.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e8813170f970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e8813170f970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="Dave the pottertheaster-gates" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e8813170f970d-200wi" alt="Dave the pottertheaster-gates"/></a> <strong>“Dave the slave potter” was Theaster Gates' early brand</strong> in an effort to connect his black cultural legacy to industry, craft (ceramics) and American history. This is where the "Soul Ceramic Manufacturing Corporation" comes from in the title. He essentially constructed a story from 1840 for Dave the Slave that represents his knowledge and love of clay. Theaster tied this context and structure to make his craft "go forward."</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e88132396970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e88132396970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="My name is product" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e88132396970d-200wi" alt="My name is product"/></a> <strong>It seems that Gates is much better at creating a conceptual structure around his work based on his own cultural legacy as a black man in America.</strong> Read more about <a title="Theaster Gates at the Milwaukee Art Museum" href="http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/entertainment/92792319.html" target="_blank">Dave the Potter's role in an exhibition at the Milwaukee Art Museum</a> and decide for yourself. <a title="you tube video of Theaster Gates at the Milwaukee Art museum." href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QWXC36fHNc&feature=related" target="_blank">Better yet, listen to his lecture at the Opening night at the Milwaukee Art Museum.</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e88134c1d970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e88134c1d970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="Theaster-gatesWHITEhand" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e88134c1d970d-200wi" alt="Theaster-gatesWHITEhand"/></a> AT <a title="Kohler Artist in Resisdency program" href="http://www.jmkac.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=178&Itemid=13" target="_blank">Kohler Artist in Residency program</a>, Gates' background as a Urban Planner took a stronger role as he organized the Kohler Union Workers into a gospel choir. Industrial workers that may not go to art museums sing about bowls, jars and teapots, and bring the "whole body into the world of clay."<strong> </strong> This seems like a natural for Gates.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e1fb626970b-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538e1fb626970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Gospel" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e1fb626970b-200wi" alt="Gospel"/></a> <strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>You can see the Gospel church singing style</strong> in many of the video excerpts of these productions online. His "singing is a cultural production" going back to his southern Mississippi roots, the same way that craft and food carry culture. Yet another way that Craft Forward engages the community as subject and content.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a style="float: left;" title="Theaster Gates" href="http://chicagoartmagazine.com/2010/05/i4design-the-suite-16-second-8/" target="_blank"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538e1fb7c6970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="Index" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e1fb7c6970b-200wi" alt="Index"/></a><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><strong>Gates is best at the rhetoric. He gives his work credibiltiy and historical foundation - a valuable concept for other artists and makers.</strong></span> Theaster knows Japanese ceramic history, 20th century western ceramic history, and black history which he then connects to his own history with ceramics. He intellectually develops a foundation for his work. He isn't just making "stuff" that he can make. <em>He thinks about what he is making and why he is making it.</em></p>
<p><em><br/></em></p>
<p><em><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e1f821d970b-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538e1f821d970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="TheasterGateshouse" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e1f821d970b-200wi" alt="TheasterGateshouse"/></a></em> <strong>More recent work with wood is an outcome of his "urban planning background."</strong> He buys <a title="Theaster Gates working in Chicago turning old homes into urban renewal." href="http://www.brokencitylab.org/blog/the-artist-the-good-neighbour/" target="_blank">old buildings in his neighborhood,</a> guts the buildings using work force development workers, offering training and jobs to untrained labors. This is a one man, grass roots urban renewal initiative - one building at a time.</p>
<p><a style="display: inline;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834015431f2e461970c-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834015431f2e461970c" style="width: 368px;" title="SLR-HOLY-TRINITY-04" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834015431f2e461970c-400wi" alt="SLR-HOLY-TRINITY-04"/></a> <br/><br/></p>
<p><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e1f7f4b970b-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538e1f7f4b970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="Theaster Gates shoe shine stands" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e1f7f4b970b-200wi" alt="Theaster Gates shoe shine stands"/></a> <strong>The old materials reclaimed from the buildings are re-used in his artwork creating the SHOE SHINE STANDS.</strong> There is a "value added" to these reclaimed materials which add depth to the concepts behind his work. If you ever have the opportunity to see Theaster Gates give a lecture, don't miss it. This was one of a few lectures during Craft Forward that delighted and inspired the audience.</p>
<p>As with most of the lectures, the Q & A was much too short to expand to the conversation. There were a few good comments that I will save for my final review.</p>
<p><span class="font-size-4"><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong></span></p>
<p>You can read <a title="Theaster Gates review by emiko oye on Crafthaus " href="%3Ciframe%20title="YouTube%20video%20player"%20width="640"%20height="390"%20src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FT-wREpkGtg"%20frameborder="0"%20allowfullscreen%3E%3C/iframe%3E" target="_blank">all the comments by emiko oye about Theaster Gates on Crafthaus.</a></p>
<p><a style="display: inline;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340147e3299caf970b-popup"><img style="width: 368px;" title="Gates" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340147e3299caf970b-400wi" alt="Gates"/></a> <br/> <a title="web site for Theaster Gates" href="http://theastergates.com/home.html" target="_blank">Theaster Gates</a> <a title="web site for Theaster Gates" href="http://theastergates.com/home.html" target="_blank">i</a>s an artist, musician, and “cultural planner” as well as director of arts program development for the University of Chicago.</p>
<p><a title="interview with Theaster Gates." href="http://badatsports.com/2009/episode-205-terry-scrogumtheaster-gates/" target="_blank">Interview with Theaster Gates</a> from August 2, 2009.</p>
<p><a title="Art Slant interview with Theaster Gates." href="http://www.artslant.com/ny/artists/rackroom/33623" target="_blank">ArtSlant interview with Theaster Gates that is worth reading.</a></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058038203?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058038203?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
Mass Craft, Free Market or Inverted Market
tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2011-04-22:2104389:Topic:228741
2011-04-22T06:16:50.688Z
Harriete E Berman
http://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Sunday morning at Craft Forward started with a schedule change for the session titled, <strong><br></br><span class="font-size-4">Mass Craft</span></strong>. </span> Ayse Birsel (the scheduled speaker) was replaced by <strong>Mimi Robinson. Her lecture was titled, "Artisan Enterprise."</strong> <br></br><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058038878?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058038878?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"></img></a> <strong>This lecture was another of the many…</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Sunday morning at Craft Forward started with a schedule change for the session titled, <strong><br/><span class="font-size-4">Mass Craft</span></strong>. </span> Ayse Birsel (the scheduled speaker) was replaced by <strong>Mimi Robinson. Her lecture was titled, "Artisan Enterprise."</strong> <br/><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058038878?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058038878?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a><strong>This lecture was another of the many lectures at the Craft Forward Symposium where the story was about community.</strong> In retrospect, I just can’t figure out why “community” was such an unexpected <em>undercurrent</em> of Craft Forward this year. Maybe by the time ASK Harriete covers every lecture I will have this figured out, or someone will offer their own insight.</p>
<p><strong>In the meantime, I remain confounded by how Craft Forward became <em>Craft Community</em>.</strong> <br/> <a style="display: inline;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834015431e0977c970c-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834015431e0977c970c" style="width: 368px; border: 1px solid #000000;" title="CraftforwardBANNERundercurrent" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834015431e0977c970c-400wi" alt="CraftforwardBANNERundercurrent"/></a> <br/> <br/><a style="float: left;" title="image from an article on sfgate.com " href="http://articles.sfgate.com/2007-08-11/entertainment/17255660_1_design-artisans-aids" target="_blank"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e88008be4970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="Dd_robinson08_001_mb" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e88008be4970d-200wi" alt="Dd_robinson08_001_mb"/></a> <strong>Moving on to the topic at hand...</strong><br/>Mimi Robinson's specialty is going to small craft communities in third world countries that are struggling to survive economically. She loves going to the place, figuring out what to make, and how to make it using local resources, skills, and creativity. The critical question for her at that moment is, “What is the unique spirit of the native culture, place and time?"<strong><br/></strong></p>
<p><strong><br/></strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What did I learn?</span><strong><br/></strong> <a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e0d0db4970b-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538e0d0db4970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="West african symbols" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e0d0db4970b-200wi" alt="West african symbols"/></a> Her role in working for a non-profit or as an outside consultant is to develop an economic enterprise using principles of micro-credit. She works hand in hand, person to person, connecting craft to the place. It is grounded in the experience of working with local makers and the “power of craft.” For Mimi Robinson the story is important to increase public awareness about the critical issues, raising the voice and the visibility of the artisan community.<br/><br/><strong>She showed examples of beautiful ceramic decorative items that would be marketed to stores like Gump's and other high-end retailers.</strong> In fact, she has been so successful in some cases that the artisans eventually had to decide whether they should meet production demands when they distribute their work to international markets.</p>
<p><strong><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e0d14a0970b-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538e0d14a0970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="Guata_risd_nyigf" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e0d14a0970b-200wi" alt="Guata_risd_nyigf"/></a> This brings up a new set of problems that American artists and makers can relate to themselves.</strong> Do you want to increase production? Hire more workers? Quantity vs. quality? What is needed to develop a cohesive collection, prepare images and plan distribution when you take your product to a market like the New York Gift show? Just like with U.S. makers, the critical issue is often price point? What will people buy? Matching production with buyers and the problems with seasonal cycles.<br/><br/><strong>Ultimately her goal is to preserve traditions while fostering new customs and improved livelihood with more resources, better tools, schools, and a sustainable economy for these makers.</strong> It was another feel good moment for “craft activism” at Craft Forward.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e8800a3f3970d-popup"><img class="align-full" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e8800a3f3970d-400wi?width=368" width="368"/></a> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>What were the thought provoking issues raised?</strong></span><strong><br/>The feel good moment, rah, rah, rah, <em>community think</em> is over! And again I sense something out of kilter. </strong> <strong> </strong>After reading my notes and careful consideration for the unacknowledged ramifications of the information presented, I realize that there is another side of the story about community.</p>
<p><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e8800a509970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e8800a509970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border: 1px solid #000000;" title="Third_world_map" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e8800a509970d-200wi" alt="Third_world_map"/></a> <strong>Third world craft economies are exporting their products to the United States and competing with crafters, makers, and artists that</strong> <em><strong>live in the U.S..</strong></em> The lower price points of imported items compete with local, regional and national U.S. makers (who need to make more than a couple of dollars a day).</p>
<p><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e8800a710970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e8800a710970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; border: 1px solid #000000;" title="Bizarre-Bazaar1" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e8800a710970d-200wi" alt="Bizarre-Bazaar1"/></a> <strong>U.S. crafters, makers, and artists also have their own story of hard work, local enterprise, creativity and community.</strong> It is already very difficult for us to compete with the price points of the beautiful, imported items at Pier One, Crate and Barrel, or Bloomingdale’s "made by" third world makers. Our own community of artists and crafters attending Craft Forward Symposium or reading this blog post in their studio need to make a living wage too.<br/><br/> <a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e0d29e6970b-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538e0d29e6970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border: 1px solid #000000;" title="Acc_2011" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538e0d29e6970b-200wi" alt="Acc_2011"/></a> In this case, the big question is, "<strong>Should we set a priority to support our own local artists and makers?</strong>" <em>Our</em> story is important! We need to increase public awareness about the critical issues, raising the voice and the visibility of our local, regional and national artisan communities right here in the United States.</p>
<p><br/><strong><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e8800b701970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e8800b701970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="Soapicon copy" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e8800b701970d-200wi" alt="Soapicon copy"/></a> I think that there is merit in at least examining this issue carefully. </strong> If we want people to buy our art and craft here at home, shouldn't we be consistent in our own reaction 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. We may not be a third world economy, but the U.S. has both rural and urban poor that need to learn job skills and nurture their creativity and culture.</p>
<p><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834015431e07af5970c-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834015431e07af5970c" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Theaster-Gates-s" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834015431e07af5970c-200wi" alt="Theaster-Gates-s"/></a> <strong>In the next lecture for Mass Craft at Craft Forward, Theaster Gates addresses just this issue.</strong> In fact, I think he was being very polite about trying to address the rationale of aiding third world economies when he sees the same problems right in his own neighborhood in Detroit, Chicago, the rural South, and elsewhere.</p>
<p><object height="224" width="368" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="data" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uK-5-aPzVrg&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uK-5-aPzVrg&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param><embed wmode="opaque" height="224" width="368" allowscriptaccess="never" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uK-5-aPzVrg&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed> </object>
</p>
<p><strong>This will be the next post. In the meantime, consider your purchasing power every day.</strong> It matters...</p>
<p><strong>Do you buy from the big box stores or from local businesses?</strong></p>
<p>Do you buy your fruits and vegetables from Safeway or from the Farmer’s market?</p>
<p>It may mean going to the hair salon owned by your neighbor.</p>
<p>Or buying a pair of earrings from a friend?</p>
<p>Or buying a wedding present from a local artisan?</p>
<p>Consider the impact of your every day purchasing decisions?</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Background about the Speakers </span></strong></p>
<p><a title="web site for Allison Smith " href="http://www.allisonsmithstudio.com/" target="_blank">Allison Smith</a> was the moderator. Normally, I didn't say much about the moderators because of information overload, but her web site is definitely worth some time in looking at her body of work. Don't miss it!</p>
<p><a title="mimi Robinson's web site" href="http://www.mimirobinsondesign.com/" target="_blank">Mimi Robinson's web site</a> is under construction. You can <a title="Learn more about Mimi Robinson's work with foreign crafters on S.F. GATE.com " href="http://articles.sfgate.com/2007-08-11/entertainment/17255660_1_design-artisans-aids" target="_blank">read more about her projects</a> in foreign countries as she helps third world makers on sfgate.com. Here is another <a title="HandEye article about Mimi Robinson" href="http://handeyemagazine.com/content/bridging-cultures-through-design" target="_blank">article from HANDeye. </a></p>
<div id="_mcePaste" class="mcePaste" style="xg-p: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;"><h5><strong><strong>Session 5: Mass Craft</strong></strong><br/> <strong>9:30 – 11 a.m.</strong> <br/> Presentations by <a title="Ayse Birsel" href="http://craftforward.org/speakers/ayse-birsel/" target="_blank">Ayse Birsel</a>, <a title="Theaster Gates" href="http://craftforward.org/speakers/theaster-gates/" target="_blank">Theaster Gates</a><br/> Moderated by <a href="http://www.cca.edu/academics/faculty/asmith5" target="_blank">Allison Smith</a></h5>
</div>
Craft Forward Symposium - Digital Craft presented in hyper mode, but Lost Opportunity
tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2011-04-20:2104389:Topic:226834
2011-04-20T06:52:09.873Z
Harriete E Berman
http://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p><strong> </strong><a href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538dfc103c970b-popup" target="_blank"><img class="align-left" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538dfc103c970b-400wi?width=368" width="368"></img></a> <strong> </strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><br></br><br></br>Digital Craft was the fourth session of Craft Forward.</strong> This should have been a great topic. I was looking forward to these presentations, but regrettably found disappointment.</p>
<p><br></br><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Digital Craft speakers were:…<br></br></span></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538dfc103c970b-popup"><img class="align-left" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538dfc103c970b-400wi?width=368" width="368"/></a> <strong> </strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><br/><br/>Digital Craft was the fourth session of Craft Forward.</strong> This should have been a great topic. I was looking forward to these presentations, but regrettably found disappointment.</p>
<p><br/><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Digital Craft speakers were:<br/></span><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538dfc1587970b-popup"><img class="align-left" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538dfc1587970b-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a> <br/></strong><a title="information Cat Mazza" href="http://craftforward.org/speakers/cat-mazza/" target="_blank">Cat Mazza</a> - "Crafting the Grid" and</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538dfc27aa970b-popup"><img class="align-left" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538dfc27aa970b-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a></p>
<p><a title="Sheila Kennedy" href="http://craftforward.org/speakers/sheila-kennedy/" target="_blank">Sheila Kennedy</a> "Going Soft: Hybrid Ecology, Mobility and the Emergent Public Realm"</p>
<p><strong>I have been debating with myself</strong> (i.e. somewhat tortured) <strong>about what to write regarding this session, hence my delayed post. </strong> Should I skip the topic, say nothing bad, or hope no one notices? If this is your preference....please stop reading NOW!</p>
<p><a style="display: inline;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87ef983f970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e87ef983f970d" style="width: 368px;" title="Kennedy read map mat" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87ef983f970d-400wi" alt="Kennedy read map mat"/></a> <br/><a title="KVA Matx Portable Light Prototype" href="http://archive.portablelight.org/read_mat.html" target="_blank">KVA Matx PORTABLE LIGHT prototype</a></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Summary of Digital Craft/Session 4</span><br/></strong>If you want to hear why it was a misstep for both the speakers and the Craft Forward Symposium organizers, ...then continue reading. Perhaps there is something to learn, interpret or consider from the issues presented.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a style="float: left;" title="speedy Alka-Seltzer on Antiques Roadshow" href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/archive/199802A38.html" target="_blank"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e61105042970c" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border: 1px solid #000000;" title="SpeedyAlkaseltzer" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e61105042970c-200wi" alt="SpeedyAlkaseltzer"/></a><strong>The first problem with this last session of Saturday afternoon was that the speakers spoke faster and faster</strong> as the afternoon progressed. This made it harder for our saturated brains to absorb the information. Perhaps this "Speedy Alka-Seltzer" approach was an effort to energize the audience . . . but it was a complete disconnect between the speakers and the audience.</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="float: right; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;"><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e61105a78970c-popup"></a><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87efb5af970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e87efb5af970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="Solar-soft-house" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87efb5af970d-200wi" alt="Solar-soft-house"/></a> <br/><span style="font-size: 9px;"> Solar Soft House with solar collecting<br/> curtain by Sheila Kennedy<br/> <br/></span></p>
<p><strong>Next problem was the choice of speakers.</strong> So much is happening in this digital revolution and how digital media affects the world of craft and making, but the selected speakers seemed weak at best in relating the topic to the audience. For example, Sheila Kennedy provided an outline at the beginning of her lecture and then never referred to it again.<br/><br/> <strong>I've reviewed my extensive notes</strong> carefully for both speakers and links are provided (at the bottom of this post) to some of the projects they mentioned. </p>
<p><strong>While both speakers use digital media </strong> (i.e. computers) to some extent in their work....their lectures addressed the use of digital craft superficially and really did not address the future of Digital Craft or any particular revelations to the audience. If I sound harsh, stop reading. I think that I am being kind. I feel abused when a symposium and speakers of this caliber waste my time with <em>rah, rah, rah,</em> community knitting projects of corporate logos or theoretical proposals for manufactured solar applications when the topic is Digital Craft.</p>
<p><a style="display: inline;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e611073e9970c-popup"></a><a style="display: inline;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e6110747a970c-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e6110747a970c" style="width: 368px;" title="KnitPro_gui" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e6110747a970c-400wi" alt="KnitPro_gui"/></a> <br/><br/><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>What did I learn?<br/><br/></strong></span></p>
<p style="float: right; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;"><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538dfc643c970b-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538dfc643c970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; border: 1px solid #000000;" title="Soft house by KVA" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538dfc643c970b-200wi" alt="Soft house by KVA"/></a> <br/><span style="font-size: 9px;"><a title="The Soft House by KVA Matx in Germany" href="http://consulting4architects.wordpress.com/2011/04/08/top-10-buildings-women-in-architecture/" target="_blank">The Soft House by KVA Matx <br/>in Germany</a></span></p>
<p><strong>NEVER START YOUR LECTURE with a comment such as "I don't know why I was invited to speak</strong> at (insert name of symposium here)."<strong> </strong> This totally destroys any presumed credibility that the audience may have afforded the speaker. If you are ever invited to speak but wonder how you fit within the context of a program, think "wild card" or if you prefer, "wild flower." Think about walking through a forest or an ungroomed path and finding a flower all by itself, a treasured unexpected discovery. Your lecture can be just that, an unexpected yet treasured alternate perspective. Enjoy the moment and share with your audience.<br/><br/></p>
<p><strong>Another important speaker lesson:</strong> Do not try to squeeze a 45-minute lecture into 30 minutes. You are not in a race. Your top priority is to connect and communicate <em>with</em> your audience.<br/><br/></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058034087?profile=original"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058034087?profile=original" width="176"/></a><strong>The first speaker was Cat Mazza,</strong> the founder of <a title="micro revolt blog managed by Cat Mazza" href="http://www.microrevolt.org/mission.htm" target="_blank">microRevolt,</a> a web-based project that hosts knitPro, a free web application that translates digital images into knit, crochet, needlepoint, and cross-stitch patterns, which is used in over 100 countries. If you're interested in these media, perhaps you might want to look into the possibilities this program offers. This part of the lecture was informative, but unfortunately short lived.<br/><br/></p>
<p><strong><a style="display: inline;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87f1b6cd970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e87f1b6cd970d" style="width: 368px;" title="Soft-Rockers-Composite-590" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87f1b6cd970d-400wi" alt="Soft-Rockers-Composite-590"/></a> <br/></strong><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Image by <a title="Soft Rocker Team" href="http://arts.mit.edu/fast/soft-rockers/" target="_blank">SOFT ROCKER TEAM</a>: Sheila KENNEDY, MIT Professor of the Practice of Architecture; James BAYLESS, KVA UC Intern; Kaitlyn BOGENSCHUTZ, KVA UC Intern; <a title="soft rockers team" href="http://arts.mit.edu/fast/soft-rockers/" target="_blank">and others listed here.<strong> </strong></a></span><strong><br/><br/>The second speaker, Sheila Kennedy,</strong> spoke about her "architectural" projects which were completely theoretical. Considering all the accolades on her web site for her leadership in the Integration of Technology and Design, this was not communicated to the Craft Forward audience. Now, after a great deal of research for this post, I understand why her lecture was such a disconnect with this Craft Forward audience. She re-used a lecture given at other symposiums for industry/architecture, etc. It was not designed for this audience. No wonder why the audience was left quite confused. <br/><br/>In one example, she mentioned "Rhino" but didn't tell people what it was. (Answer: <a title="Rhino software" href="http://www.rhino3d.com/" target="_blank">Rhino is computer software</a> for designers/industrial designers that is relatively easy to use and less expensive than other CAD software.) This is no way to help your audience understand your process.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>What were the thought provoking issues raised?</strong></span><br/>Both speakers did touch on two unrelated topics that seemed to recur unexpectedly during Craft Forward:<br/> <strong>1)</strong> knitting<br/> <strong>2)</strong> community. </p>
<p><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87efe8fe970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e87efe8fe970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="NIKE" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87efe8fe970d-200wi" alt="NIKE"/></a> <strong>My concern is that the future impact on craft media was not discussed. </strong> For example, what could be the potential benefit of using knitPro on the future of knit, crochet, needlepoint, and cross-stitch patterns as craft media? Does it offer the possibility of more elaborate, sophisticated, complex or conceptually interesting work? We saw very few examples and were left with the impression that Knitpro is primarily used for grassroots projects.</p>
<p>O<strong>ne way or another, KNITTING kept popping up in the lectures at Craft Forward.</strong> There is more coming....you'll see. Several otherwise unrelated speakers showed examples of knitting. Why in the whole range of fiber as a medium did knitting rise up as a media or theme in several presentations within the two days, I can not say.</p>
<p><strong>Really, knitting?</strong> I have nothing against knitting, but why knitting at the exclusion of all other media. Yes, I understand that knitting is the ultimate of D.I.Y. crafts. It has low entry costs, needs only two knitting needles as tools, can be learned in about 10 minutes, transports easily, can be picked up and put down at a moment's notice, and can fill hours with repetition. There are still more knitting projects to come from Craft Forward. Please explain this revival of knitting to me.</p>
<p><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538dfdce99970b-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538dfdce99970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="Hh_machine" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538dfdce99970b-200wi" alt="Hh_machine"/></a> The increasingly available knitting machines add yet another aspect to the making or production with little inspiration or thought, catering merely to utility or immediate gratification. Program your images with knitPro, let your body perform like a machine, . . . choose from a menu . . . superficial creativity, superficial making. Wow! How Craft Forward can we get?</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a style="float: left;" title="blanket with nike logo about sweat shop practices." href="http://www.craftivista.com/2010/03/portlands-museum-of-contemporary-craft.html" target="_blank"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e6110a8ce970c" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="Blanket_final" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e6110a8ce970c-200wi" alt="Blanket_final"/></a> <strong>Another facet that I would like to expound upon is the rising focus on "community"</strong> as brought forward in these two lectures (and several other presentations). To be perfectly clear, I am a strong advocate for multiple spheres of community and activism, but I am questioning the apparent elevation that "group" making is implied to be superior to "individual" making. I have personal experience with both approaches and may explore this concept further in a future post. Have you observed this phenomena?</p>
<p>Harriete</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Background about the speakers (below).</span></strong></p>
<p><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340147e329bbe5970b-pi"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d14488340147e329bbe5970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border: 1px solid #000000;" title="Cmazza-headshot_small" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340147e329bbe5970b-200wi" alt="Cmazza-headshot_small"/></a> <a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340147e329bc2b970b-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d14488340147e329bc2b970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; border: 1px solid #000000;" title="Cmazza-work-image_small" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d14488340147e329bc2b970b-200wi" alt="Cmazza-work-image_small"/></a> <a title="web site for Cat Mazza" href="http://www.post-craft.net/catmazza.htm" target="_blank">Cat Mazza</a> bio is available on the Craft Forward web site. Her resume is very impressive. Find more information about knitPro on <a title="micro revolt blog managed by Cat Mazza" href="http://www.microrevolt.org/mission.htm" target="_blank">microRevolt,</a> a web-based project. <a title="videos about microrevolt" href="http://www.microrevolt.org/video.htm" target="_blank">Videos about microRevolt can be found here.</a></p>
<p><a title="knit pro" href="http://www.microrevolt.org/knitPro/" target="_blank">Information on KnitPro.</a></p>
<p>The <a title="web site for Sheila Kenneday" href="http://www.kvarch.net/" target="_blank">web site for Sheila Kennedy</a> is not very good and does not convey the significance of her projects to the general public. There are very few images, the images are in Flash, and most of the links only offer lists of text at best. A lot of the links don't offer anything at all.</p>
<p>Here are links to other projects which were mentioned by Sheila Kennedy.</p>
<p><a title="Portable Light project" href="http://portablelight.org/" target="_blank">The Portable Light Project.</a></p>
<p><a title="Soft Rockers by Sheila Kennedy" href="http://arts.mit.edu/fast/soft-rockers/" target="_blank">SOFT Rockers</a> by Sheila Kennedy</p>
<p><a title="Rhino web site offers software for designers." href="http://www.rhino3d.com/" target="_blank">Rhino web site</a></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058038241?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058038241?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
"Crafting the Politics of Identity" with Water Writes by Nancy Hernandez
tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2011-04-14:2104389:Topic:222140
2011-04-14T16:41:04.520Z
Harriete E Berman
http://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/HarrieteEstelBerman
<p><a href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87c76472970d-popup" style="float: right;"><img alt="CraftforwardBANNERemail" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87c76472970d-200wi" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="CraftforwardBANNERemail"></img></a> <strong>The lecture by Nancy Hernandez titled, <br></br>"Crafting the Politics of Identity"</strong> advanced the theme of "Identity Craft" at Craft Forward. </p>
<p><a href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87c76558970d-popup" target="_blank"><img class="align-left" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87c76558970d-200wi?width=200" style="padding: 1px;" width="200"></img></a> <strong>Ms. Hernandez was very dynamic, speaking in a <em>rapid fire</em> pace.</strong> I mean…</p>
<p><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87c76472970d-popup"><img style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="CraftforwardBANNERemail" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87c76472970d-200wi" alt="CraftforwardBANNERemail"/></a><strong>The lecture by Nancy Hernandez titled, <br/>"Crafting the Politics of Identity"</strong> advanced the theme of "Identity Craft" at Craft Forward. </p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87c76558970d-popup"><img class="align-left" style="padding: 1px;" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87c76558970d-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a><strong>Ms. Hernandez was very dynamic, speaking in a <em>rapid fire</em> pace.</strong> I mean <em>really rapid fire pace,</em> faster than most people talk, and definitely faster than people preferred.</p>
<p><a style="float: right;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87c76760970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e87c76760970d" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px;" title="TWO GIRLS" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87c76760970d-200wi" alt="TWO GIRLS"/></a> <strong>At first, this fast pace was stimulating but after a while, well, . . . </strong> perhaps this style arose from speaking in front of urban community groups where one has to grab attention and preempt anyone else from getting a word in edgewise<em>.</em></p>
<p><strong>She also demonstrated a rather innovative approach in her lecture</strong> as she selected images right off YouTube and her Flickr site in real time.</p>
<br/>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87c76f5f970d-popup"><img class="align-left" style="padding: 1px;" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87c76f5f970d-400wi?width=368" width="368"/></a> <br/><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e60e88a38970c-popup"><img class="align-right" style="padding: 1px;" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e60e88a38970c-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>It seems like a great idea, but it also hampered the synchronization of her words and images</strong> because larger images took what seemed like minutes to open up. The audience often stared at the "whirling circle" or "% complete" bar as the image downloaded. She also fumbled around looking for images that she wanted to find. <strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong><br/>Trying to think, speak, and search for images</strong> while keeping an audience engaged is really hard to do.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e60e88ad3970c-popup"><img class="align-left" style="padding: 1px;" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e60e88ad3970c-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>She showed numerous urban murals. </strong> Her craft identity involves urban activism.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>The communities of urban poor or disadvantaged<br/></strong><strong>became melting pots of creativity and visibility</strong> <em>o</em><em>utside</em> of the conventional art galleries and museums</p>
<p><strong> </strong><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e60e8a064970c-popup"><img class="align-left" style="padding: 1px;" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e60e8a064970c-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a> <strong> </strong><br/><strong>Hernandez advocated that street murals</strong> provide accessible art to everyone. Anyone can do it. Anyone can see it.</p>
<p><strong><br/>A community can embrace the mural art form as a platform.</strong> Art becomes a megaphone for the message. <em>Doing</em> the art is also a way to engage and organize the community around a common goal, whether it is raising awareness or bringing a community together around an event or theme.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538dd3f64a970b-popup"><img class="align-left" style="padding: 1px;" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538dd3f64a970b-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a><strong>She also focused on an environmental thread - the global issues surrounding water</strong> include privatization of water, the politics of water allocation, and excessive packaging of plastic water bottles.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87c76664970d-popup"><img class="align-right" style="padding: 1px;" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87c76664970d-200wi?width=200" width="200"/></a></p>
<p><strong>One group called themselves "Water Writes". </strong> Unfortunately, the message was overly idealized and lacking practical solutions or economically viable alternatives for providing water to communities.<strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong><br/><br/></strong><a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538dd3f72b970b-popup"><img style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="Waterfishfilm" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538dd3f72b970b-200wi" alt="Waterfishfilm"/></a><strong>Overall, with Nancy Hernandez, we were clearly listening to a passionate spokesperson</strong> for community programs. Her photos were vibrant and colorful but her message lacked sustainable coherence.<strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>I am a dedicated environmentalist from way back</strong>. It was really hard to appreciate her environmental credentials when the muralists use spray cans on such a large scale.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><br/><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058031487?profile=original"><img class="align-right" style="padding: 1px;" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1058031487?profile=original" width="240"/></a></p>
<a style="float: left;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538dd3fca6970b-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d144883401538dd3fca6970b" style="width: 200px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" title="SpRAYpAINT CANS " src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d144883401538dd3fca6970b-200wi" alt="SpRAYpAINT CANS "/></a> <strong>"Water Writes" seems a shallow message about the environment</strong><br/>
<p>when the graffitti spray paint "style" generates so much waste and air pollution .</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e60e8d650970c-popup"><img class="align-right" style="padding: 1px;" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e60e8d650970c-400wi?width=368" width="368"/></a><br/><strong> </strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Despite my environmental concerns - the murals were fabulous!</strong> The graphics were very well done. Symbols meaningful to the community and local politics were integrated into extended horizontal renderings on the sides of commercial buildings and walls.</p>
<br/>
<p><span class="font-size-4"><strong>What is your opinion about the issues presented here?</strong></span></p>
<p><strong>If artwork is about the environmental issues surrounding water, do you think it is problematic to create volumes of trash and air pollution with spray paint cans?</strong> Any comments please feel welcome to leave your opinion on ASK Harriete or here on Crafthaus.</p>
<p> <a style="display: inline;" href="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87c79df8970d-popup"><img class="asset asset-image at-xid-6a00e55107d1448834014e87c79df8970d" style="width: 368px;" title="Muralnamesparticipants" src="http://askharriete.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55107d1448834014e87c79df8970d-400wi" alt="Muralnamesparticipants"/></a></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Background</span></p>
<p><strong>I recommend spending some time looking at the images</strong> on the <a title="Estria web site." href="http://estria.org/waterwrites" target="_blank">Estria web site</a> and <a title="Estria Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/estria_murals/" target="_blank">Flickr site.</a></p>