Gordon Burnett previews a forthcoming international conference that will examine this developing artform: the new craft.
Craft practice is undergoing a revolution. Hybrid practices are blurring creative boundaries ? not just between art, craft and design, but between craft, performance and film. New technologies are enabling makers to integrate digital and hand processes. Against the backdrop of globalisation and increased homogenisation of consumer goods, craft plays a defining role in articulating cultural identity. The new craft is challenging popular and professional definitions of practice, and creating new values and relevance for craft knowledge.
In September, over one hundred craft practitioners, researchers and theorists from throughout the world will converge on Gray?s School of Art in Aberdeen to discuss the fast-changing and challenging world of craft. Internationally renowned jeweller and designer Gijs Bakker of Droog Design, is the event?s keynote speaker, and will present his own insights into the radical shifts taking place in craft practice. His vision will be complemented by an extensive range of international papers that the conference has attracted, from makers and researchers from around the world wishing to present and debate their contribution to the four conference themes:
- Craft articulating culture
- Collaborative and hybrid practice ? challenging traditional craft boundaries
- Craft and new technology ? implications for practice
- Challenging craft education.
Research on the cultural dimensions and significance of craft practice will be presented alongside work that considers craft?s digital revolution. This includes the ?connectivity project? that uses the Web to link sixteen international makers to create work for digital manufacture, the results of which will be exhibited for the first time at the conference. Other research considers how to encourage the awareness, education and use of computer-driven technologies in craft.
ChallengingCraft provides a unique insight into the new concerns of craft practitioners, and the changing nature of their practice. The full conference programme is available online.
Gordon Burnett is Reader in Craft at Grays School of Art in Aberdeen. The ChallengingCraft Conference will take place from September 8?10.
e: g.burnett@rgu.ac.uk;
w: http://www.challengingcraft.org