Carter, Curtis

English

epublications@Marquette

Marquette Universitye-Publications@MarquettePhilosophy Faculty Research and Publications Philosophy, Department of6-3-1971Crafty artists create good show [Review of theExhibit "Objects U.S.A." at the Milwaukee ArtCenter, Milwaukee]Curtis CarterMarquette University, curtis.carter@marquette.eduCarter, Curtis. 1971. Crafty artists create good show. Bugle American, June 3-16, Second Section, Vol.2, No. 21 (No. 34).Crafty artists create good show '~,f:(;;Ul'tis L. Carter ;,~}&~;\~~~~~t years many young and often very g60d artists have turned their attention to ·crafts. . "@bjects: U. S. A." isa col-lection '. Of recent craft objects in every media which is showing at the Milwaukee Art Center through June craft in America for many years. The 6~ The collection, put together by apparent incomratibility of .individual the Johnson Wax Company, reflects quality workmanship and the reali-drama tic changes in the creative zation of the profit motive all but works .of contemporary American wiped out significant American crafts-artist-craftsmen. manship. Among the youngtoday, how-Great diversity is the one mark ever, the interest in crafts has, been which the 307 obj~ cts 'in WOOd, metal, revitalized. glass, ceramics, enamels, fiber and "G>bjects: U. ·S. A." naturally plastic by 250' different craftsmen raises the question of the relation of share. They range from fine silver craft to fine art. The fact thaHhe· and metal work to an earthen ware objects are tieing shown in museums, and an enamel sculptured tennis and att centers traditionally reserved shoe. Some are functional and decor- for the ",f,inearts" is· an important ative--the finely crafted pieces of social factor in blurring the always furniture and ceramic pots ,wbil e vague distinction. The additional-others are purely decorative. fact that most of the objects are done The exhibit is signiflcant test- by "artists"--persons who .exhibit imony to a substantial revival of t11,e _ superior skill in .their chosen media--.......---j.jis~·also a challenge to the distinction craft tradition. Mass production, the- between' '(art" and" ¢raft." The ob-destruction of Indian cultures in the jects are,for the most part, rmde in United States, and the loss of inter- a studio and are intended to be est in hand crafted quality items viewed, contemplated, and in some severely hindered the. development of . cases used. This show makes it eVi-dent that no hard and fast line be-tw~en the two can be assumed.to hold; Despite the fact that these ob-jects. meet many of the conditions we expect of art, and display a high de-gree of creative vitality. few have previously been show:n' in galleries and museums. This 'is partly due to a kind of artificial division between art and craft which simply no longer holds.·From time to time critics must revise their categories. If galleries and museums are to remain the major vehicles for presenting art objects, they will have to expand their offer-ings. • The exp,ibit suggests that now is the time for revision-in critical categories and for rethinking of what is to be displayed as art. It is time'-to give craft its due as art. Accordingly', the Milwaukee Art Center performs an important service by bringing to our attention the' ph ce, of craft in art. 

Crafty artists create good show [Review of the Exhibit  Objects U.S.A.  at the Milwaukee Art Center, Milwaukee]

https://epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1056&amp;context=phil_fac

Crafty artists create good show [Review of the Exhibit Objects U.S.A. at the Milwaukee Art Center, Milwaukee]

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