The American Craft Council Library's Salon Series kicks off next Thursday, March 15, at 7 p.m. with Craft & the Hand, a conversation between Jennifer Komar Olivarez, associate curator at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA), and American Craft magazine's Editor in Chief, Monica Moses. The Salon Series features four sessions of speakers and activities that will be presented in the ACC Library. 

Olivarez’s exhibition, “Craft and the Hand: From Visible to Integral,” opened at the MIA in November 2011 and will be on display through April 2013. It explores the continuing significance and role of the hand in the ever-changing field of contemporary craft. The exhibition also looks at how the meaning of the word “craft” has evolved as many artists move towards more conceptual interpretation. 

We asked Moses to give us a sneak peek into next Thursday’s conversation. Here’s what she had to say:   

“Craft” is a muddled term. It conjures up Martha Stewart for some people, Sam Maloof and Dale Chihuly for others. Even among people aware of the Arts and Crafts tradition that gave rise to craftspeople and artists such as Maloof and Chihuly, there is a range of ideas about what constitutes craft.  “Craft and the Hand,” takes a look at this range and shows many of the variations on that craft theme.

One group of objects in the exhibition Olivarez pulled together illustrates a loving devotion to craft skill and function: the earthenware pieces by master ceramist Warren MacKenzie, the perfectly turned bowls of Robert Stocksdale, for example. Those populate one end of the craft continuum, where usefulness and perfection of form are paramount. Moving down that continuum at the show, and you find items in the MIA’s collection that merely allude to function: Jack Slentz’ Minneapolis Group and William Wyman’s Wall Plaque. Travel down the scale a bit more and you come to objects that assert themselves as fine art: Peter Voulkos’ Sculpture and Mark Lindquist’s Rockin’ Magnum Sawtooth Opus #1.

Somewhere nearby are pieces that seem to rebel against the conventions of function and technique: Stephen Hogbin’s Concentric Bowl and Todd Hoyer’s gnarly Untitled shell of a vessel. A vessel that holds nothing! A slouching piece of wood slathered with pigment!

Craft celebrates perfection – and argues for imperfection. It hews to tradition – and tramples all over it. It ignores fine art – and yearns to be accepted by the elite. Olivarez will help make sense of these contradictions.

Please join us on March 15th to learn more about the themes and notions behind “Craft & the Hand.” If you can't make it, we will be taping the session and making it available online after the event. Plus, don't miss these upcoming Library Salon Series sessions at the ACC:

Craft & the Hand
Thursday, March 15
7 p.m.

Curating Your Life
Thursday, April 12
7 p.m.

Art-A-Whirl Kickoff Party
Garth Johnson Movie Night
Friday, May 18
4-8 p.m. (presentation starts at 6 p.m.)

Give & Take
Co-Presented by Works Progress
Thursday, June 21
7 p.m.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.