A friend has asked me if I consider my knitting to be Art. Thanks for asking,Nancy! I guess Bob asked the question first. Going to Nancy's blog, she's also wondered if a blog could be art. I suppose it could, but I would venture to say that blogging is really more keeping track of what the art is - a diary or journal of sorts - not the art itself.So - what is art? And what is craft? And what is the difference between art and craft? I consider knitting to be sometime art and sometimes craft. What makes the difference? I don't really know! There is an art to knitting well. The craft part is really more the technical side of knitting, and the artistry comes in color choice, fiber choice, design of the pieces. Knitting often produces a practical, useful item, so that leans me more towards the craft side . . . but then again, even very useful items can be artistically done, and thereby I would consider them to be art.
I've spent a good bit of my life being creative. I've done theater, sewing, quilting, puppetry, singing, played musical instruments, made toys, written fiction and poetry and even some non-fiction . . . which of those creations of mine are art? Any? All? None?You can see that I'm still not clear on this topic! Bob makes a good point in saying that something can be Bad Art, too - so one can say "ok, if you say that's art, I'll agree that it's art, but I don't believe it is quality." That's a fair assessment.
So - here's my official (for now) statement: If the creator or anyone else experiencing the piece feels that it is Art, it is, indeed Art. If, however, you try to make me say it's all Good Art, I'll not give you the pleasure! I reserve my right to declare what I like and what I don't!
OK - knitting update: 1st pic in the blog is my Clapotis, or maybe it's really a Clapotis! Either way, it's mine and it's being knit of Silky Wool. It has a lovely hand, and it really does flow like water as it drapes. I have a few more inches to add before I start the decreases . . . I want it to be more a shawl than a scarf, so I want to be sure it wraps around my round little self sufficiently.
2nd pic is a child's sweater vest I've knit for Warm Woolies as a donation. I've knit it from Lamb's Pride Bulky - 85% wool, 15% mohair. It'll be nice and warm for some child. I intended to use all stash yarn, but then I got a pattern going (Fibonacci Sequence from bottom to top) and wanted to finish it that way. I've bought plenty more of the same kind of yarn (various colors) to make more things for this group. The vest was a quick knit, so don't be surprised to see more! Cast on 98 stitches and go til you feel it looks right.
Is this art? What do you think?
