Crafts Report: Public Opinion

WHAT'S YOUR OPINION?

Each month, The Crafts Report invites readers to respond to the Public Opinion question. Responses are published in the magazine.

This month’s question is: What is the most unique marketing technique you have employed?

Please respond by may. 8, 2002. Responses to this question will appear in the July 2002 issue.

E-mail:
publicopinion@craftsreport.com; or CLICK HERE

Send responses to: “Public Opinion,” The Crafts Report, 300 Water St., Wilmington, DE 19801; fax: (302) 656-4894.

Anonymous responses will no longer be published.

Of course, why shouldn’t they? Handmade is handmade ...

Yes, absolutely. Due to the fact that every process of creation is usually overseen by the artisan, a quality of the original endeavor remains intact, always. A style, a flair, a technique can be taught, learned and expressed in a confident manner.

Sure. Artisans have employed assistants and apprentices since the earliest days of our crafts. I suppose if you have a large, paid staff, say 10 or more, then it could come into question ... but, if a person is using one or two assistants, that should not disqualify them in my opinion.

Yes, with clear information given as to what was made by the artist and what parts were made by the assistant. No one should be able to pass someone else’s work off as his or her own.

Yes, and it’s currently being accepted at a variety of trade shows, e.g., the New York Gift Market (and other Gift Market shows) has a separate wing for handicraft artists.

Sure, they should be allowed to exhibit, but if the assistant did most of the work, from design to production, then credit should also be given to them. No matter how many hands actually contribute to the making of a craft, it is still handmade.

Artists who work alone tend to think that their pieces are superior just because they were made by one set of hands. But this is not always the case. People have collaborated on many wonderful pieces of art that have displayed the same care and uniqueness as if it had been made by one loving set of hands.

It depends on the level of involvement. If, for example, the assistant does all the setup for an artist, I think it is fine; there are many aspects to creating the work that do not involve the creative process. If the assistant reproduces the artist’s work, start to finish, I don’t think that constitutes handmade by the artist, because even if you make a similar design over and over, it comes out slightly different every time. I’ve had clients spend several minutes choosing between two similar dishes.

Why shouldn’t they be allowed to?! If one person or 20 people made a piece of art, it is still handmade. Who will get the credit for that work is up to the artist and his or her assistants to determine. If an artist is successful enough to be able to hire assistants to help keep up with demand, then she/he should be credited for being a wise business person. One can be an artist and a business person without being a sellout. And both artists and shows need to realize that. No matter what, there is a business side to art.