emiko-o reware

Creating a New Craft Culture Fri 4:30 PM
Faythe Levine and A Handmade Nation

Handmade Nation

Faythe Levine

Ever since Faythe Levine‘s movie, A Handmade Nation, came out this spring, I’ve been looking forward to seeing it but 3 times just missed the screenings. The YouTube trailer is embedded below. So I was definitely happy to attend her presentation on the film and finally have a figurehead of DIYers getting some facetime at the conference.

Having both my feet planted firmly in both the museum craft world and indie craft world, I personally am bewildered by the divisions and passive/aggressive hostilities that have bubbled up this weekend. Where has it come from and what is the big deal anyway–are we kindergardeners that can’t play nice with others? Why does Craft have to be just one thing? Talking about it with other attendees, many people are just as bewildered; so it seems like a vocal few are making things unpleasant for our indie sisters. But you know what? Upheaval and passions can be the driving force of change, and well, change is long overdue.

craftifesto

During the Q&A someone asked if the term DIY is just used as a marketing ploy, why not call it craft instead. A response to that was “I see the DIY term as an adjective or verb, not as an identifying label; it’s a lifestyle choice.” Faythe added, “I believe the simple act of making something, anything, with your hands is a quiet political ripple in a world dominated by mass production…and people choosing to make something themselves will turn those small ripples into giant waves.” She summed up by saying, “whether or not you like it [DIY], it’s there.” I’m digging the above Craftifesto that Faythe put up during her presentation (taken from the DIY Trunk Show in Chicago).

One of my favorite comments was by Kathryn Pannepacker (image below), who had set up an interactive textile installation in the lobby. She prefers the term D.I.T.–Do It Together, or D.I.A.–Do It Anyway. YES–D.I.T. all the way!

Arturo Sandoval & Kathyrn Pannepecker

Share with me YOUR THOUGHTS on this topic, I’d love to hear from you!

LEGO blog pin for conference

Well, almost Live from Minneapolis; heads up reware fans, it’s time for me to blog another amazing craft conference for SNAG starting this Friday for the American Craft Council’s “Creating a New Craft Culture.” A much shorter, but still as intensely packed line-up of speakers from Oct 16-17, culminating in a Saturday night banquet (we’ll see if the  ACC attendees are as fun as the SNAG conference folks….).

SNAG home page

Check out the SNAG home page and on the right hand column in “Announcements” is a link to the ACC Bloggers, meaning me and Harriete Estel Berman. We’ll try to keep it as live as possible, so stay tuned!

So what’s the big deal about the ACC conference, you ask? Well here’s just a few names in the lineup and see for yourself:
Garth Clark (craft critic and curator), Rob Walker (NY Times columnist & author of “Buying In”), Faythe Levine (director of “A Handmade Nation”), Panel discussion led by Namita Gupta Wiggers (Museum of Contemporary Craft, Portland) on internet marketing, featuring CEOs Lisa Bayne of Artful Home and Maria Thomas of Etsy. Plus many more, but those are the ones that convinced me that flying to MN at the start of winter was a good idea. And this from a gal who’s sworn off snow…. Read more about the speakers, program and blog articles related to on the ACC site.

Just finished unpacking and repacking, having returned from a whirlwind month in NYC, London, and Greece. More next week about the cool UK jewelers, London exhibitions, as well as my talks at Syracuse University (my Top Ten Tips for Post Grad Success will be expanded upon here soon, promise) and at Museum of Arts & Design, NYC. I’m such a tease, I know.

Must go and pack my face mask for today’s many airplanes, and maybe nap….