Definition of Craft

The word craft can mean many things, its definition is being constantly debated, its contents changed, re-arranged, grouping this with that.

Until relatively recently Fine Art (painting, sculpture, etc) was kept very separate from craft, an artist wasn't someone who worked in "crafts". Craft was seen as being a bit too much like manual labour.

To put a single definition to it is incredibly difficult so I'm going to start with what I don't think "craft" means.

“Work or objects made by hand” (Oxford Dictionary 2013 - http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/craft).

Instantly this conjures up the image of countless stalls at craft fairs where someone has churned out hundreds of bead earrings with bought findings and no skill or purpose. "Work or objects made by hand"... does that mean that sandwich making is a craft?

This definition is too broad It makes no reference to whether the object has a function or a purpose, let alone the makers skill or the amount of time or love involved in creating the item.

 Christopher Frayling, Rector at the Royal College of Art states that “The American Customs & Excise definition of 'a work of art' is that the owner must be able to prove it is completely useless. Craft work is something else, though it can produce objects for contemplation as well as objects for use.' (http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/w/what-is-craft/)

 

This definition I agree with more as it suggests that craft items are functional as well as beautiful or thought provoking. That they are not in the same group as painting for example, but are not the lesser for it.

Perhaps you could also say that art is the communication of an idea or emotion, and craft is the physical building of the object. That you can be a great artist by perfecting a particular craft.

For me craft certainly refers more to the making of an object, this object can be beautiful or ugly and can artistically convey a message, or an emotion. The important thing is that it is made with skill, care, quality, and a purpose or function.

If your interested in reading more, take a look at these links; 

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/w/what-is-craft/ 

www.craftscouncil.org.uk/files/download.../how-do-we-define-craft.doc

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/videos/g/video-grayson-perry-discusses-craft-and-art/