By Gina Malone
Go looking for definitions of “craft” and you’ll certainly find them. Several years ago, American Craft magazine did just that, asking artists, thinkers and leaders in their field—in all fields, from basketmaking and cooking to songwriting and weaving—what the word meant to them. There’s a lot of overlap; “tradition” comes up frequently, as does “handmade” and “inspiration.” Some perceive it as a verb rather than a noun. For a few, it’s a “dangerous” or “tricky” word. While most people felt compelled to explain their opinions with a paragraph, one participant bluntly proffered three words: “Craft is art.”
There were a few that I think best encapsulate not only what material objects or goods are produced but why they get produced and have for years and will for centuries more. One interviewee called craft “a connection to our body memory.” Another defined it as “the dovetailing of discipline and imagination, dedication and inspiration” and yet another as “a knowledge, a wisdom and a power.” Some focused on heritage, and how skills are passed from generation to generation.
My favorite description of craft, from among those listed in the article, is this: “the universal language of the hand, a language that needs no words.”
However you define it or decide what is truly craft, and whether it differs from art, or whether it’s all just a matter of semantics, you’re in the right place if you’re living in or visiting Western North Carolina. One can make a study of craft in all of its forms, throughout all of our WNC counties, and never stop being amazed at the ingenuity, expressiveness and degree of excellence.
In these next pages, meet some of the artists who create with hands and eyes and minds, not settling for mere imitation of old methods and techniques but constantly shaping, with creativity, their own works. The Crafts Fair of the Southern Highlands features work by some of the best makers in the southeast, as does the WNC Pottery Festival. October is not only a great time for scenic drives but also a time to hit the Blue Ridge Crafts Trails or attend one of the many studio tours. You may just find that what craft means to you is that object made with great care and attention to detail that you just cannot live without.
Find the complete article defining craft at CraftCouncil.org.
