Comments on Conceptual Metalsmithing: Thoughts on the 2008 SNAG Conference - Talk is Che...

Just thought I'd let you know that I posted a bit ...

2008-03-14T15:17:00.000-04:00

Just thought I'd let you know that I posted a bit on this whole topic on our site including a bit of the back-story about how this all came to be (Bruce's and my talk) and a very interesting response to all of this from Garth Johnson from extremecraft.com. Check it out if you have a moment:

http://americancraftmag.org/index.php

Oh yeah, we just updated our whole site to reflect the current issue of American Craft that just came out and it looks pretty damn good if I do say so myself! Enjoy!

Annie,

1. Yes that is a semantic issue. For...

2008-03-12T03:32:00.000-04:00

Annie,

1. Yes that is a semantic issue. For the record though I think a misogynist could make feminist art it just would not be honest, it would be ironic. But I think you can see the point there, someone from an opposing view is likely to give problematic commentary as you yourself pointed out in your blog yesterday.

2. Typo! Shit! I fixed it. I have no idea what I was saying. lol.

3. You are right partially. My question is: Can SNAG's members with multiple degrees and almost a decade of education really be part of DIY? or is there another more accurately named movement down the pipe for us to join? Or should we not worry about labels? Problem is that when you are in the business of critical writing you need to have words to describe phenomenon you are observing.

Perhaps my definition of DIY is incorrect. I am open to finding a better one...just haven't found one yet.

-Gabriel

Hi Gabriel! On your commentary re: the Metcalf &a...

2008-03-11T17:22:00.000-04:00

Hi Gabriel! On your commentary re: the Metcalf & Wagner lecture, I guess I'm confused and could use clarification:

You state, "While it would not be illegal for a misogynist to make feminist art, it certainly would be misguided and inappropriate." I'm at a loss here because it's not possible for a misogynist to make feminist art. Anti-feminist art yes, not feminist art. Am I just having semantics issues now?

In the next paragraph, "While certainly within his intellectual grasp, the DIY movement and movement is severely disconnected from socially conscious craft practice merit further study."
ahh! I don't understand this sentence, can you clarify?

And finally, "I stand by my assertion that there is chasm between the DIY movement and metalsmithing because of the disparity between domestic and specialized skill sets." I might agree with you on this point. DIY did start as a movement in what was sometimes called "women's work"- knitting, sewing, etc. (Just for the record- I stand tall, loud and proud when I say 'women's work'.) However, the chasm that you are referring to is slowly closing (non-existent?). As DIY gains momentum, the population is filling with mediums requiring non-domestic skill sets- printmaking, ceramics, metalsmithing, illusraion, painting. . . you name it.

Hey there Gabriel...thanks for your answer to my p...

2008-03-11T11:07:00.000-04:00

Hey there Gabriel...thanks for your answer to my post. I'm not suggesting that you or anyone else is "part" of the DIY scene but I am suggesting there are similarities - that is all. My main point is that too often there is this COMPLETE disconnect between the various practitioners that is very particular to the "craft" world and that is really confounding. Again, the point is that everyone should really just open their eyes to EVERYTHING going on around them (within and without their various professions) because there is a lot to learn (obviously) - and that cuts both ways. In that sense, I think that our presentation was successful because it's sparked a little dialogue here (not part of the DIY scene) and here:

http://www.imogene.org/blog/2008/03/09/confessions/#comment-30488

And that really was the intention. Let's get both groups thinking about the other and see what happens.

Along these lines, one of my favorite articles that I've seen relating to this type of dialogue and attempts at understanding between "professional" and "non-professional" makers was written by Virginia Postrel in Print Magazine:

http://printmag.com/design_articles/your_design_here/tabid/214/Default.aspx

She, obviously, is talking about graphic design but it may as well be about the craft world. Anyhow, take a look and thanks for linking to our site Gabriel! Once we get our friends list working we will do the same!

Keep writing and I'll keep responding! Ha!

Taylor,

It's not a content overhaul. The de...

2008-03-11T02:07:00.000-04:00

Taylor,

It's not a content overhaul. The design is 10 years old and they wanted to update it. The graphic design firm Pentagram will be doing the design and they are excellent. http://www.pentagram.com/

I tend to like the content in Metalsmith though it is heavily academic. It is a little bit rigid and uninviting to outsiders. I think a facelift will help with that.

-Gabriel

I have a question about your comment on a facelift...

2008-03-11T00:48:00.000-04:00

I have a question about your comment on a facelift for Metalsmith. Is this a cosmetic alteration or an actual overhaul? I think the magazine needs an earth-shaking rebuild, but I don't see how an facelift is going to help a magazine that already seems reasonable from the view of appearance.

Thanks. If you keep reading, I will keep writing.<...

2008-03-10T18:59:00.000-04:00

Thanks. If you keep reading, I will keep writing.

I see DIY as a skill set because it seems to be a reaction to formal training. As far as the relevance, and what the major themes of DIY are, I am afraid I can only speculate.

Alternative craft practices, socially conscious craft practices, and DIY might be in bed together, but they are different things.

I consider my studio practice socially and ecologically conscious, but that does not mean I am part of DIY, even if I want to communicate. I have a lot of energy as well, and while that may be another characteristic of the DIY, that also does not make me part of it.

Most SNAG members have formal training and this sets up a dichotomy between the raw creativity of the DIY and the precision polished skills of trained metalsmiths.

There are many lessons to be learned between the two, and there is indeed a spectrum or gray area in between. But think about how many jewelers really Do-it-Themselves? Most work I see in cyberspace charting the DIY is done with a non-specialized or domestic skill set.

I got more on the way...

-Gabriel

Always an interesting post though this one felt a ...

2008-03-10T17:00:00.000-04:00

Always an interesting post though this one felt a bit more discombobulated than others. Still, as always, thanks for taking the time.

I do want to make a point about your post and the presentation that Bruce and I gave. It seemed in your post that you think that there is no relevance in the "DIY" movement to SNAG and if there is any then we (Bruce Metcalf and I) failed to point it out in our presentation. Perhaps we just weren't clear enough in our presentations but I thought both of us laid out quite succinctly what the relevance is: The DIY movement is not necessarily about skill set (as you seem to imply is the foundation of the studio jewelry movement) but about risk-taking and pure, raw, emotional output.

While you may not think those things have any relevance to SNAG or to studio jewelry makers that is exactly my point (and though I don't want to speak for him, what I think Bruce's was too). The lack of exploration into these really raw, often chaotic social phenomenons like the DIY movement is perhaps what is holding back much of craft and I would venture to guess is some of the cause for SNAG's lagging membership levels which you point out.

The reason the DIY movement has picked up so much steam in the last few years is that it is completely tapped into the current social dialogue outside of its small group of practitioners. These are communicators to the umpth degree and with their fingers on the pulse of what is happening in contemporary culture at large, they have managed to garner the attention of millions - something that SNAG and any other organization in the throes of financial and political upheaval could do well to pay attention to. And that is why the DIY movement is relevant to SNAG and that was the point or Bruce's and my presentation!

Now, link up to our site already would you? Ha! Till next post...

- Andrew Wagner