I hope that all of you keep this book on your "go to" art shelf. And I hope that you have each learned or expanded on your knowledge/appreciation of crafts. For me the questions you raised, the conversations you shared follow me into my studio and sketchbook.
As for this weeks assignment: watch one segment of Craft in America...or more if you can. They are all beautiful so follow your curiosity. For the class give us the name of the program you watched, a brief summary of what it covered (subject and artists) and then tell us what you thought.You may use the same three questions or you can just talk to us...would you watch it again, would you share with a class, would you share with family? Did it change the way you think of your studio?
If you did watch more than one, how do you compare them?
CRAFTS TRADITIONS PART 3
ReplyDeleteSusan Harmon,
Traditional Crafts (online) Futur Atkins, Professor
This film was selected for the Ulster American Society's "Northern Ireland Film Festival" that was held on November 7 & 8, 2008 at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. This film is about the pleasures of working with wood. It highlights two people who love working with wood and teaching young people to work with local wood in Ireland. The first person crated table with oak highlighted timber and creating decoration and contrast by inlaying walnut, a darker local wood. He uses the darker inlaid wood to also give symmetry to the piece. It adds richness to the surface because of its darker color. He talks about his love of working with wood especial local timber and his love for working with his hands in creating something from nothing. He talks about his love of using the rich outdoors in Ireland and making something to enrich the indoor space. He discusses the consumer in today’s society and mass production and that he thinks people want something handmade that has more meaning and will survive from generation to generation not simply a bought mass produced table with no meaning, that will be thrown away and forgotten in a few years. The second person is making a chair and teaches young people how to make something important and valuable out of timber. She discusses the importance of teaching this skill to those less fortunate with low self-esteem and who may never even passed an exam so the gratification of creating something from a long is immense. The sensual quality of working with wood and the wonderful smell of wood only enhance the experience and process. She feels that the more of yourself you invest in the final product the more you get out of it. The way the light reflects on the wood impresses her greatly and the process and patience of making a table or chair from wood is immense. The pleasure of the process and knowing that you transformed something is so pleasing. They love using oak and creating a unique one.This was a beautiful film and I was actually surprised at my love of this process of woodworking as it is so different from mine.this movie ws beautiful with the imagery and the personal touch of the artists that yes I would show it to a class who was beginning to work in woodwork as it shows the way a log can be transformed into a beautiful table or chair.I do not think my family would benefit or be interested in the film.I don't think it changed the way i work in my studio.I was impressed by the quality of the final inlaid decoration of the table and I will take away that woodworking is a beautiful artist process.
CELEBRATION Episode
55:06 Aired: 12/11/15" Rating: NR Discover the role craft plays in our winter holiday traditions, rituals, and festivities. Featuring lion dancers and float builders for San Francisco’s acclaimed Chinese New Year Parade, artists in Michigan making ceramics for the holidays at Pewabic (Detroit) and Motawi Tile works (Ann Arbor), Kwanzaa celebrations with artists in Chicago and Oakland, and Christmas card making with Yoshiko Yamamoto." This video is about The Chinese New Year’s but begins with the making of a beautiful printed Christmas card.This is a beautiful movie, the costumes the parade are so beautifully made.The inside details to how the costumes of the lions are made is amazing.This is a movie to show your class and your family.The lion dancer and artist shows us how he fixes the broken costume with bamboo and tape it is 20 years old and he is fixing it.The demonstration of the painting of the lioness and the blending of the colors is beautifully explained.The artists discusses, for example why they use green to paint the nose as it stands for benevolence and he says what an honor it is to be passed this responsibility.I don't think this changed the way I work in my studio but it was a beautiful video with wonderful lively colors.
As I watched it I was surprised at how many of the artists found peace with heritage in making the craft. It is an honor when you are gifted with creating something - a skill that is passed down. I also watched the episode on making instruments - and how many of the artists wrestled with doing craft that had no function vs creating a violin - where the function was obvious and they felt like their time as an artist was well served.
DeleteJust posted an article from Mix Magazine 42 on the Luxury of Craft - just thought it a different take on corporations and craft - finding ways to value and embrace craft.
ReplyDeleteok I will read it ,thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI watched Craft in America, Celebration episode aired 12/11/15. Crafts created for New Years Chinese Celebration, Kwanza, and Christmas. Their function, “making people happy” is why they were created and talked about on the episode. Artists: Thomas Chun, Murals by Diego Rivera, Mary J Stratton, Yoshiko Yamamoto, Nawal Motawi, David Thomas and Yumei Hou, Jeff Lee, Stephanie Mufson and Babatunde Kenneth Graves.
ReplyDeleteWhat inspired me were two artists, one living and one past. Yoshiko Yamamoto created Christmas cards with merging Japanese handcraft of block printing and Western culture of the press to create the cards. Loved her designs and she was inspired by William Morris’ quote, “Everything we make should be born from daily life.” Her mantra or hope is she creates from her own personal memory or moment so others can enjoy or make them happy.
The other artist, Mary J. Stratton’s influence in Detroit. The crafters are still making pewabic ceramic with the iridescent glaze. Also seen making the 12-day Christmas ornaments on the show using the glazing method. (Her legacy is very impressive and that Detroit used craft, frescos painted by Diego Rivera, to celebrate the car production – considering its current state)
What surprised me were the floats made for the New Years Eve Christmas Parade and the Lion dance costumes. The actual performers and dancers made the lion dance costumes. The sculptures for the floats (made by Dave Thomas comp) were made from Styrofoam and Yumei Hou would make them in a day. (4-6 ft. big) What a gal!!!!
My take away – is these crafters intent was using their design to create a feeling of happiness or joy.
I would gladly share these with classes because it adds a whole new dimension to art and craft. Nawal Motawi (tile maker) said creating beauty elevates your being – I believe these artists were able to do this within their work, fulfilling their purpose as an artist. What an inspiration!!
This was such a colorful video,it gave me a different attitude towards float making and the time,effort,history and importance in tradition.I wish the Christmas cards section had more to it though it was very brief.
DeleteGail I watched some of this one, I was too impressed with work and love put behind these celebrations. This colors and even the work put into Christmas Cards (which were a great piece of art alone)
DeleteI have bounced around and watched most of these, although it was while I was working on my project, so I kept zoning in and out. Overall, I really enjoyed the depth of conversation the artists had about their work. I think it was a nice balance to the book, which had so much information to cover that it couldn’t always go in depth. I really enjoyed hearing the whys about each artist’s work. I am always more interested in the thought, exploration, and process that goes into a work, regardless of the medium, so these shows were very compelling. I was surprised by the episode titled Service. I didn’t read the description, and I just assumed the episode would be about serving vessels or something. The personal stories of the artists using making to process their military experience was really quite impactful. I was really captivated by Ehren Tool’s work and the implications of his video work. I enjoyed learning more about Richard Notkin’s work found in the episode Landscape. I had enjoyed it when I first came across it in the textbook, and I enjoyed hearing more about it. I was really into Lia Cook in Crossroads. I was surprised how much I liked her close-ups of cloth from classical paintings. There was something clever and beautiful about them. There was a statement along the lines of “cloth being realized in cloth” that amused me. The mixing of science, technology and weaving in her work about the brain also intrigued me. I think these episodes were a lot better for someone like me who isn’t as knowledgeable about how all these crafts are constructed that enjoyed seeing the banjo being made, or the loom being set, or the chair forms being carved. It helped me understand the work much better.
ReplyDeleteJustin...thank you, exactly what I hoped the DVDs would accomplish. I love the book but it is A Lot of material and it covers 100 years. Plus watching the artists come alive is interesting. I always want to know who they are and wonder if I would like them enough to have coffee with.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I didn't see the question about sharing this with my class until now, but with as busy as I am, I have to multi-task quite a bit. I actually watched a couple of the episodes with my advanced classes while they were busy painting or drawing. Some of them really seemed to like it, others I don't think even took out their headphones, but that's more indicative of teenagers than anything else.
DeletePBS CRAFT IN AMERICA “SERVICE” AND “PROCESS” EPISODES
ReplyDelete“As our world becomes more de-humanized, craft and making will become more and more important.”
-Robert Silverman, 92Y Ceramics Director
Creating things provides a therapeutic outlet for not only veterans, but people who have gone through traumatic experiences in their lives. For others however, art is simply a way to work through personal questions in life. I w as drawn to these two titles primarily, however I ended up watching almost all of the other episodes. Many artists from both of these episodes encourage conversation about their experiences; provoking viewer’s to think about certain issues. Some of these issues include PTSD, war, climate change, community, life and death.
In the episode “Service”, it is evident that soldiers returning home needed something to assist them in adjusting to civilian life. I've seen what the war did to my younger brother. It changes a person. Seeing death/becoming a trained killer will do that to you. They were continuously trained to use their hands, and trained to complete tasks, but now they found themselves away from wartime with nothing to occupy their hands. Vets Ehren Tool and Judas Recendez both turned to pottery as means of working through issues they had brought back with them from war. Tool chooses a familiar form, the cup, and uses was imagery to open conversation about what war is really about. He may say “I just make cups” but his true intention is for people to confront issues. Peter Volkous is briefly in this episode as well, but his story was not as personal as the others. Healing through creating is also a priority for Pam Deluco, who runs the Shotwell Paper Mill in San Francisco, CA. She holds workshops for women who have served in the armed forces, and invites them to tell their stories. The finalized product opens up a dialogue about what it is really like for women in the military. I have already recommended this episode to my brother and his Marine buddies who weld, and build things on their spare time. They are artists but don't even consider themselves artists. They are “just dudes who make stuff.” This episodes has also further inspired me to maybe one day write a book or do a project focusing on vets who make art.
In “Process”, the artists represented seem to be more detailed oriented. Julie Chen creates art books that invite the audience to talk and/or think about issues. One of her pieces is about climate change, and she says she started the project to work through her own issues and questions about things. Although I think her work is phenomenal, it was honestly a tad boring. The North Bennet St. School in Boston proves that craftsmanship and tradition are still alive and well, with long waiting lists for every class. Some of the programs include cabinet and furniture making, jewelry making, cabinetry, locksmithing, piano technology, and violin making and repair. It was amazing to see the time and work that goes into making an instrument. This episode wasn't as inspiring as Service, but it was nice to see other artists/teachers struggling with balancing different roles. It truly is a constant balancing act, and it was nice to have others to relate that to- just like being in the class. Dave and Roberta Williamson were a nice, calming breath of fresh air. I loved their jewelry and the fact that they collect and assemble little “memories” to create new ones. Overall, a slower paces episode but filled with many artists who value excellent craftsmanship, precision and aesthetic.
Recommend to others? Yes, every episode has something different to bring to the table.
Thanks, the sessions are all different and all alike in their commitment to crafts and making. I love how they continue what we have just read and hopefully that they will be shared with others.
ReplyDelete“Messages” Episode, Aired: 05/24/11
ReplyDeleteLike Justin, I found myself watching selections of the episodes during our course. It was an invaluable resource and compliment to our textbook during our readings.
This particular episode was called “Messages.” It included four artists each showcasing a different medium. Beth Lipman is a glass artist that specializes in her “glass still lifes.” Charles M. Carrillo is a painter and wood carver that creates paint pigments using ancestral techniques. Joyce J. Scott is a bead artist that designs elaborate beaded jewelry and sculptor. Thomas Mann embraces found objects in his jewelry and sculpture.
I enjoyed watching how most of the artists worked in a group. While I am personally attracted to solo artists more, and feel more comfortable also working alone, it intrigued me to actually see how artists have partners, collaborate, and synchronize their movements in a process. It reminded me of how fascinating it was to watch the glass blowers at Junction. In Junction and in this episode, I found it very entertaining to witness the way they moved together in silence in a carefully planned out choreography.
I was surprised at myself when I first saw Lipman’s glass. The camera panned her a table with glass on it. It appeared like a pile of clear glass scrap. I didn’t realize how silly my assumptions actually were until it was revealed to me that these were actually still lifes of glass. I am blaming my initial reasoning on the limited 2-dimensional properties of a flat screen causing me to not truly see the depth and magnitude of these clear glass arrangements! I can only imagine her play on space, reflection and light. Am interested in seeing this in person!
I was impressed with the amount of time that Carillo has spent on researching his subject matter and technique. I believe he has spent nearly 30 years researching how his ancestors painted the Catholic saints with handmade pigments found in the natural surroundings of New Mexico. It would be fun to discover different ways to make colors. I, too, could see that occupying many years of my life.
Mann and Lipman both described a “vocabulary” in their art-making process. I felt drawn to their use of this term, as I have recently become more in tune to my collection of designs that I am more attracted to. Lipman stated “One way that I approach the work that it gives me a beginning. I usually end up doing something that is very repetitious, like glass cutting or blow glass and I’ll just make objects that I know that I’ll need that I can use. I call that a vocabulary of objects. Then when I feel confident in the things that I have I’ll start to really quickly add things to a table.” While Mann said “Finding the found objects on a regular basis became problematic. So I began thinking about what it was about a found object that made it so interesting to people. And I said well maybe I can invent a design system where I can make objects that appear to be found. Maybe I can develop a design vocabulary that can be infinitely mutatable into a line of jewelry objects.” Will have to keep my own “vocabulary” ready to go when I get back to the clay studio in Lubbock!
On another note, I also liked what Lipman had to say about, what I assume to be, an hint of perfectionism that she carries (or, “carried” for that matter). “…I’m nonjudgmental with the objects because who am I to judge whether they are good or not. They’re here. They’re existing. They’ve been made by someone. They have that person’s mark, that hand.” Will carry this mantra with me in my studio when I feel I’m being too hard on myself.
Jennifer - I love your mantra! Great for hearing that and sharing! I think I'm going to have to watch this episode as well. I feel like Lipman's use of repetition for thinking through or problem solving is something I use in my studio - either through knitting or repetition of sewing several quilt blocks together for a traditional design helps unblock my thoughts.
DeleteCraft in America- Music. Love how they talk about bringing the soul of the instrument to life in the Hawaiian segment. Each piece is hand built and made for an individual. I forget when looking at sculptures or clay how making music, not only by playing it, but the art of making an instrument is also an artform. This store and process was beautiful, I want to visit this store and watch the family traditions.
ReplyDeleteJazz- About being creative all the time. I love this. Had no idea how much was free form and unexpected. Like a guitar solo, jazz is also something that they put together and bring to life, constantly changing. Similar to Hawaii, they don't build the instrument until they meet the buyer- even predicting how they will sound in the future with the new instrument. I had no idea this was possible! This episode definitely put to light on how much work goes into music and instrument making. I would recommend this- especially to some music loving fans!
Did you see the violin one and all of the hand work that goes into a violin?
DeleteI watched the CELEBRATION episode, aired: 12/11/15, HOLIDAY episode, aired: 12/20/13, and FORGE episode, aired: 10/25/13. I enjoyed each episode and hope to watch more soon. I have already shared the clips with fellow visual arts teachers and my students. The shorts about the Chinese New Year have been shared with kindergarten to junior high students. I can’t wait to watch more episodes.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I enjoyed the three episodes, I am sharing my view of the FORGED episode because the medium is so new and inspiring to me.
FORGED is about metal artists and their work environments. Chloe Darke and her career as a silversmith at Old Newbury Crafters, Tom Pullin as a military vet, turned art student and the story of Albert Paley creating his sculptures for New York.
I was surprised to see what a complex shop Albert Paley runs and the steps taken to create his “Paley in the Park”. I shouldn’t be surprised, but I have never seen the process of a thought all the way to a very large sculpture. After he creates drawings, he builds a cardboard model, then a small metal model. One of his 18 employees creates a computer model, then a full crew helps put it all together. I would love to see the metal sculpture at the Saint Louis zoo in real life.
I am impressed with the Old Newbury Crafters, especially Chloe Darke and her drive to be a silversmith. She went for an interview, but nothing came of it. She called the company every week until they hired her. Adjusting to the use of a 5 pound hammer on a continual use and the desire to be in a mostly male profession is inspirational. I like her maker’s mark, the old Celtic symbol, which means triple goddess: the young innocent, maternal and wise mature woman.
My favorite quote about the sterling silver, “Don’t polish it, use it everyday.”
Take Away: How to use a 3-D printer to create a mold. Our computer department at school purchased a 3-D printer and offered a chance for me to use it. I have not played with the printer or studied about it enough to see the benefit. When I saw Tom Pullin use it to make a mold to created a bronze sculpture, the light bulb went off. I would like to try something similar with pewter.
Yeah.Exactly what I hoped would come from watching this wonderful series.
ReplyDeleteLandscape episode
ReplyDelete...jewelry out of drug containers. Don't know how I feel about that.
I've watched several episodes of the Craft in America series and I've really enjoyed them for the most part. They are a great compliment to the book and this course, and it's great to see many of the artists that we've discussed talking about their work and their processes and going about their making. That's my favorite part about the series, actually watching the artists that we read about each week work at their craft. This is also why I've been disappointed a few times when watching some episodes. Mira Nakashima is an artist that I was really looking forward to seeing, and her feature didn't show her doing any designing or working (hardly), it mainly focused on Her fathers legacy, which is nice to hear about as well, but When I read that she was featured I was really interested in seeing her work. Sam Maloof is another example of a feature that didn't really say much. He talked about his work some, but it was all pretty superficial. In this regard, the Music episode has been my favorite. I had no expectations going into that one, and was really pleasantly surprised at how well they explained the process behind the making of the various instruments. The craftsmen would explain why they made this shape, or how to improve the sound by making this or that thicker or thinner. They explained historic processes and how they have been improved or how they have been preserved. It was a very good show, which is not something I can say about many of the other episodes. All of them that I've watched have contained good information, but some were much more enjoyable to watch because they focused more on the work that the artists do, rather than the artists talking about their past work, which again, is good information, just not as fun to watch.
Highlights: Garry Knox Bennett on why he became an artist. He has wine stains on his shirt during his interview. He seems like he might have some good stories to tell. I also really liked the Service episode, especially Ehren Tool's cups.
Only one thing stood out to me as something that I really didn't like, and that was in the landscapes episode. I liked the overall theme in that episode of the artists working with found materials, but the lady (whose name I forgot to write down) who made jewelry out of discarded crack vials really bothered me. I suppose those pieces could be shown in a way that could make a powerful statement, but the way they were presented in the show just made it seem like she was exploiting someone's addiction. I can't really explain why, but the way she was holding the jewelry she made out of crack vials with gilded caps, the way she was presenting it like it was a precious thing really just made me feel like she was enjoying herself too much at the expense of someone else's misery. Maybe it's just my imagination.
I started writing notes for this this weeks ago, and as of today (Saturday 23 April) I have watched all of the episodes. The PBS website also recommended that I watch the Woodwrights Shop, so I've been binge watching that as well. I really enjoy watching craftspeople work and learning about processes that I'm unfamiliar with. It's really making me look forward to this summer in Fredericksburg and learning about metals.
Ha, I just realized I forgot to delete some of my notes from my document before I copied it over to the blog...the drug vial thing really threw me, and I'm still going back and forth on it.
Deletelandscape isn't really my cup of tea and environmental art is...eh...sort of boring, amazing yes, but I don't really care for it like I should! But I agree many artists come up with these amazing ideas and do extensive research to create some memorable and working and purposed works of art. I definitely tip my hat off to them.
DeleteBut your second sentence of your post through me off. So when I came to the last part, i was shocked! I find that also disturbing to be creating something out of used crack pipes. I looked her up, Jan Yager. I saw some f her work, didn't see any hint of it. I do think you are right, it can definitely send a message but i suppose she was just using any materials to repurpose? Her idea of reuse is extreme for sure.
I wonder if she's thinking broader than the individual and what crack represents to poor communities. Right now there's a lot of conversations about how drug addiction is tearing through rural, white communities that are struggling with methamphetamines during this political season. The more in-depth conversations discuss how these communities aren't dealing well with the loss of manufacturing and coal based jobs and how their depression and unemployment is leading them to drug abuse and often overdose. This has a lot of black activists angrily (and rightfully so) wondering where all the attention was when it was happening in their communities. I can't tell you for certain the totality of her motives, but I know there is a much deeper conversation about crack/drug abuse that many activists in the black community have been trying to have for decades that just now seems to be happening on the national stage.
DeleteI'm sure that's what she was doing, and had a bigger picture in mind, but the way it was presented in the show made my skin crawl. Maybe that was intentional, but it didn't seem that way. The way she was handling those pieces was like she was a salesman in Zales at the mall..."and see the golden caps to the crack vials? Aren't they just lovely?" Just creeped me out.
DeleteREVIEW OF FORGE date released 10 25 13
ReplyDeleteI chose FORGE as my film to review because in the fall semester of 2016 I took a metals fabrication class at TTU in which I learned to work a forge – I said work a forge, not “forge metal magically transformed by fire”. Basically I know how to turn on the heat and correctly use tongs to avoid burning holes in my gloves. I have the highest respect for those who can work with the heat from the bowels of Hell to transform metal into curves, twists, folds, and shapes. I was looking forward to watching artistic forge work from the comfort of my air-conditioned home so that I could actually see what was being done rather than straining to see through the sheets of sweat pouring off my forehead. Forging metal has been described as magical and mysterious. No. It is hot, the metal is heavy, and it takes a lot of sheer strength! The only thing I can say is magical and mysterious is how anyone can work that hard in that kind of heat.
I found it fascinating to compare the three artists profiled in this film. All three forged metal but their reasons, artistic messages and final creations, as well as their environments could not have been more different.
The first artist, Chloe Dark, insisted and worked her way into a male dominated workplace to make hand-wrought silverware – knives, forks, and spoons for Old Newbury Crafters of Massachusetts, the only business in the United States hand producing cutlery the same as Paul Revere did in the 1700s. At 22 years old she knew she wanted to work there. She loves that she is continuing the legacy of the ancient art of silversmithing, and the way the craft requires her to use her whole self. The film does such a gorgeous job of showing her in her creative environment that is intimate and calming- from the close-ups of her hands working the silver to the sounds of the rasp as she methodically smoothes the side of a spoon.
Tom Pullin, a senior Fine Arts major at Corcoran College of Art and Design, is a Iraqi Vet who after serving in the army has returned to college to get his bachelor’s degree. His interview begins with him and two others hammering a piece of hot metal in rhythm. This is the kind of forge work I was introduced to in my class. His personal work deals with his experiences in Iraq as he creates pieces that are physically dangerous to touch. At Corcoran College he is able to use digital imaging and 3D printing in his sculpture work – new technology which he says helps him get an idea out of his head and create a story about it. His college experience of using old and new technology is a wonderful comparison to the previous artist, Chloe Dark, who silversmiths only in old school method. He is an older student returning to school, she is still in her twenties using methods more than three hundred years old.
The film closes out with Albert Paley, an artist way past the beginning stages of his career and definitely past his college days. It was a great way to end the film showing an accomplished artist continuing in his labor of love, never tiring of it and still having an insatiable desire to learn more, do more, go bigger! His interview, as the others did, takes place while showing him working in his element. The film makers do such a great job of allowing the viewer to really see what the artist goes through in the creation of their art! With Albert Paley I got to see how he starts with the idea in his mind, draws out his ideas, creates them in cardboard, used technology to create maquettes before finally creating his truly giant sculptures.
Craft In America, a documentary film series, brings us hour long episodes of contemporary craft makers as they work their labors of love.
DeleteThe creator, executive producer, and director of this film series - Carol Sauvion- came upon the idea when she was travelling with her 12 year old son – he seeing baseball games around the country and she visiting museums, craft galleries, and artists. She said of their month long trip – “it was a revelation to me. There is so much in this country having to do with the handmade, on different levels. I noticed when we visited the artists that their homes were all beautiful. They didn’t necessarily make a lot of money, but they had environments that were nurturing and creative and just beautiful. When I got home I thought: This is a field and a world that is a subculture, in a way. This is the best part of who we are as a country. These craftspeople are very idealistic in their varied interests, and they’re talented, and they’re problem solvers, and they’re community-based. More people need to know about this, and how can we do that?”
- http://craftcouncil.org/magazine/article/journey-so-far
This whole film was truly inspirational in that each artist was so fulfilled by working in their craft. I was inspired by this young woman, Chloe, who followed her calling to work in traditional methods of silversmithing to be the only woman silversmith to have ever worked for this company. I was inspired by Tom Pullin who is finding peace through metalsmithing and working with others in a positive and creative environment. Lastly, I was inspired by Albert Paley, who is considered one of the most prolific and successful sculptors in the United States, refer to his hands as his most important tools.
Would I show this to a class? Absolutely! What an artist did after college to follow her passion, what an artist in college is doing while discovering his passion, an artist 50 years into following his passion – what a beautiful tribute into what it means to be an artist. Show this to your classes!!
My takeaway: What a wonderfully serene feeling I had after watching this film – both times. I’m so glad I know my passions in this life. I’m so glad I’m an artist in America where I have endless opportunities for exploration and work.
I fell in love with this series the first time I happened to catch one on PBS. I quickly ordered the rest not trusting our local channel to be constant in showing the entire series. As many of you have shared I was surprised at the personalities of some of the artists, thrilled with being able to see the process and enchanted with how the various forms of making were filmed. I am always looking to see is a new episode has come be produced.
ReplyDeleteI had hoped that viewing a DVD would give you a break from reading and allow you a little extra time for your own art making.
I watched the episode: Threads
ReplyDeleteI was really excited from the moment I started watching it because it first opened up with Faith Ringgold.
I’ve known about Ringgold since I was very little from her books and I remember them being so beautiful in color and in detail. I think it was the reason why when I would draw as a young child, I added small details as well. There’s something about her work that reflects innocence and compassion and being gentle. Her political pieces are amazing and her thought of where they should be displayed, like the mosaic pieces in the Harlem subway were amazing.
I liked the idea that Randall Darwell had. Instead of being paid to talk and teach all day, he was paying himself to create art. His process looked really fun with dying the threads, which he had a lot of pleasure in the surprising colors he would achieve. It blew my mind that he was tying every little end, one by one. We have a loom, maybe 1/10 the size of the one he was working on and it was incredibly complicated. There is math to it too! He said set up is about 50% of the work, and it truly is! His partner’s contribution in making the quilts reminded me of when I put all my students small weavings into one blanket that we donated to the homeless. My student’s loved it!
Consuelo Jimenez’s weavings with non traditional fibers were amazing and unique. I feel like you can honestly weave anything! I however didn’t think of barbwire but she proved you most certainly can!
Terese Agnew, at first I saw her stuff a little too crafty, but then they started to show more of her pieces that were so incredibly detailed, it was absolutely gorgeous. Her piece with the clothing labels was the most highlighted piece of art. The fact that she was able to receive different clothing labels from around the world by people that took the time to cut them off their own clothes was also astonishing. IT sent out a great message and the people that contributed had a personal connection to the piece and like quoted in the episode, people became label-less.
Surprise: I actually didn’t know that Faith Ringgold was an art teacher! Shame on me! But now I know!
Impressed: Terese Agnew’s quilts can take up to 2-3 years to make!
Take away: There was a mixture new and old with this medium in weaving and quilt making. They each found their nitch and even experimented with different fibers to created and sent a message with their artwork.
I loved this episode, and yes I would share this with my students. I would deffinitley have to set aside the time to attack another weaving project, since its very time consuming but in time, anyone can make something rather beautiful.
Consuelo’s studio was very ideal, she lived and breathed her art was surrounded by nature and calmness. I think that’s what a studio should be like.
I am going to watch this one sometime today thanks for the review anything with Faith Ringgold excites me...
DeleteI ordered the Family episode on April 14, and it still is not here. I tracked it and it just got delivered to my town yesterday. As soon as I can, I will watch it. I guess it had to be shipped across 7 oceans and continents to make it to my house!
ReplyDeleteChris check out youtube they have a lot of them you watch!
DeleteI only found trailers for them... may have to look again. Thanks!
Deleteit took me awhile to locate them too.... I could only find the new years one and then I used another channel beside PBS...for the woodworking artists making tables and chairs..
DeleteYou beat me to it! (of course I am late as usual)
ReplyDeleteI watched Threads as well and was overwhelmed with information and ideas so much that I had to watch it twice
Threads
ReplyDeleteImpressed by the level these artists are dedicated and the messages they all focused on. There was so much that I took away from this video that I could not write it all but I am going to try.
Faith Ringgold - I loved her talking about her process of thinking a project through, not necessarily the physical process. The story part of her quilts was so involved and took me right in. What a wonderful artist
Randell Darwell I was amazed at how he never tangled those strings up in his loom even if they looked a little tangles he got them loose in seconds. He "deconstructed and "constructed" his tapestries his quote "Process is a means of a way to discover whats most important, how to adapt them to show you" also he said "this is not busy work this is essential stuff" I am blown away!
Consuelo in her work did net use usual threads she did found objects, wire or as she put it she used objects that were "tough like her".
Terese Agnew's quilting and the time she took to them. The label project and the fact that people took the time to send her labels out of their cloths to put together to sew this piece. This was a piece about textile workers and they are honestly hard laborers over seas. Every one has to go see this art piece!
Surprised - Faith Ringgold's decision to do quilts because it was easier to store them.
Randell Darwell's amazing physical work with dyes and just plain working with those strings without tangling them all up.
Consuelo's found objects that she uses in her weaving
Terese's dedication to the process of years of working on one piece
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EVERYTHING!I want to use Faith's story telling element in my wall hangings. Randell's amazing dying and set up string for tapestry (on a much smaller scale)
Consuelo's fearlessly using found objects in her wall hangings
and Terese's tireless commitment with slow stitching a meaningful art piece.
Extra question worked out well this week. My husband was trying to help me with getting my Google Chrome laptop to play this DVD and we were having an extremely hard time when he got the idea to watch on our TV (Dish) on youtube. He sat there and watched it with me the rest of the day on Sunday. He commented on the the husband - wife creative teams and said that he thought those art pieces were a little better and I quickly reminded him of all of the behind the scenes work that he does for me. Plus he is an artist's too with the way he cooks. So it was fun to share this with him and have discussions over it with some one else in the house.
Kim, Nice personal touch.... telling us about the experience with you and your husband... thanks for sharing... it made me smile as I am off to yet give another final...thanks..and move..ugh
DeleteYeah, the video finally arrived! BUT, the wait was worth it!
ReplyDeletePBS - Craft in America - Family episode
This was great. The video profiled 4 different families that had different perspectives as to how the family was involved.
The Moulthrop Family - Ed, the patriarch, was mentioned in our textbook on page 391, along with a picture of a beautiful wood turned bowl. The three men, three generations, all started out as something else and became woodturners. An architect, a lawyer and an MBA, all educated, but eventually went to wood. It was funny when they asked the attorney's wife about him leaving law to do this! They all did something different, built upon what had been learned before, and created their own legacy. Beautiful pieces. President Jimmy Carter spoke about their wood, and he was sitting in the most beautiful wood rocking chair!
The Sorrell Family in Guthrie Oklahoma makes custom cowboy boots. The boots are designed and made by Lisa Sorrell, her husband markets them, and her daughters are doing a few things. She said she was always supposed to make boots, it just took a while for it to find her! Amazing process and boots.
The Marioni Family, working in glass. Both Paul and Dante were in our book, which was one reason why I wanted to see this video. Dante, the son, did not want to work in glass, but is now a glassblower. Paul's work is, as the daughter described, about the content, and any means to get the glass to do that is fine. Dante's is about the design and the form, and he blows it all. Watching his process is unbelievable. It is worth it to see how he makes his work.
The Lee Family, Cliff and Holly. He is a potter (used to be a neurosurgeon) and she is a jeweler. There is a picture of him throwing with his baby son strapped to his back. She sometimes uses shards from his pots as part of her jewelry. Their kids, thought young, are in the business world and say they want no part of being an artist.
The family aspect was interesting. How so many were expected to follow the family footsteps and for a time did not want to, and then did. If they followed the family craft, they made it their own and not copies of the elder family craftsman.
I sooo enjoyed seeing the processes. Wonderful. I HIGHLY recommend this, two thumbs up! If I win the lottery, I will have a pair of those custom made over $5000 boots!
Chris, I think there's something about the paths lives take. I feel like we all end up where we're supposed to be, we just sometimes spend a lot of time fighting against the current driving us there. It seems the Moulthrops are a perfect example of that.
DeleteAbsolutely Justin. They expressed how they did not like the job they studied for once they actually had to go to work and sit. I also liked how, even though they work with their hands, they are very very smart. Sometimes I feel that artists are not thought of as being as smart as other professionals. I strongly disagree with that!
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