\nThe terms “art” and “craft” are often used interchangeably, but they do have distinct differences in meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Art generally refers to the creation of works that are valued for their beauty, emotional power, or intellectual content. Artistic works can take many forms, such as paintings, sculptures, music, literature, film, and performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Craft, on the other hand, generally refers to the creation of objects that are functional or utilitarian, such as pottery, textiles, woodworking, metalworking, and glassblowing. While craftsmanship can involve artistic elements, its primary focus is on creating objects that serve a practical purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One way to think about the difference is that art is more focused on the expression of an idea or emotion, while craft is more focused on the skillful execution of a technique to create a useful object.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, it's important to note that there is often overlap between art and craft, and many works can be considered both. Additionally, the distinction between art and craft can vary depending on cultural and historical contexts.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Products Of Sewing Have Utility – But Have Greatly More Value In Their Beauty<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Clothing is one of the oldest and most useful human creations. It is one of the defining and most visible aspects of culture, its manufacturing is one of the bedrocks of an industrial society, and it serves as one of the most important expressions of an individual's personality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clothing allowed primitive man to live in climates and conditions far from their natural habitats. It allows people to work in places and environments deadly beyond imagining. While these are still the main uses of clothing, it is curiously not the most valued. If it was, then why is a textile, like silk, which is costly to produce and easy to destroy, the most valued fabric in the world? Why is a process like dying so universal, even though in most cases it serves no practical use? This is nothing to say of the many very inconvenient and awkward fashions like suits, gowns, dresses, and the like, that have a very limiting effect on the wearer's movements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
All this is to say that despite the tremendous utility of clothing, humans and our societies value much more what beauty and emotion clothes can bring – particularly if it is complementing to the wearer. This, I'm sure you can recognize, is very much the purpose of a piece of art. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
More Value Is Placed In Their Beauty – But It's All Worth Nothing If There Is No Utility <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
All that being said, clothing is first and foremost an item of utility. If it does not cover, support, and protect the wearer, it will have limited to no real value. Yes, there are strange and notable exceptions that you might see on some high-fashion runways, but in reality, do people exchange their hard-earned money for them? Clearly no. Unlike a painting, a novel, or a song, clothes must fulfill their practical responsibilities first, and the aesthetics second, even though as we pointed out above they a valued more for their beauty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this case, beauty must follow function, which reverses what is normal for most pieces of art. There are many, many novels that are treasured yet hold no practical lesson, many paintings that are glorified but show a pedestrian sight, and so on. In this way, we can see how clothing is both an art and craft, in a way that very few other creations can be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, Sewing CAN OFTEN Be Art<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The person who chooses to sew has a special choice compared to many other crafters and artists, they can choose whether or not they want to make a work of art or a product. This is not easily done by other creators, a portrait will always be a portrait, a table always a table, and a song always be a song. But your projects, by your own choice and effort, can be made as works of edifying beauty or valued possession. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sewist then joins a rare group of special artisans. This group includes the potters, embroiderers, printers, stencilers, tailors, smiths, journalists, bakers, designers and undoubtedly much more – whom closely ride the line between artist and artesian, and produce some of the many valuable and beautiful things we enjoy each day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let me know what you think in the comments below, do you consider yourself an Artist or an Artesian? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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