The artisan appropriates qualities from the worlds of both the artist and the craftsman; creating an emotive and functional object with refinement, beauty and breadth of skill.

Artists invest their work with spirit not function. The great Enlightenment philosopher Immanuel Kant said it best. “Objects of art are intrinsically final: they appeal purely at the level of the imagination and no good practical utility, except the cultivation of the human spirit.” (Dutton, 1990)

The artisan however is free to create a work of the human spirit as well as a work of utility. They are not bound by the limits of informing it strictly with technique, but with life and soul as well. Giving what might be a simple tool in this world, intelligence and beauty in a much border world.

Then you have craftsmen; German; kraft, meaning ability. “Craft work is skilled work: any kind of craft must involve the application of a technique.” (Dutton, 1990) The craftsman is not compelled to explore the imaginative and emotional possibilities of his medium. Instead the craftsman sharpens his techniques to easily follow a strict plan of creation. Nothing is left to chance; from beginning to end the outcome is set.

In Principles of Art, Robin Collingwood points this out as one of the significant difference between artist and craftsman.
“What distinguishes the artist from the craftsman is that the craftsman has a precise notion of what s/he is constructing. The artist, in contrast, performs his/her creations to learn what they become. And in learning what they become, the artist informs him/herself about something previously unknown…” (Collingwood, 1958).

This speaks directly to the intuitive creative process. Where a craftsman has honed his or her skills and techniques to a point of refinement, they do not apply these techniques in a process of discovery but in a process of production. A craftsman relies on his or her skills and techniques in order to produce. An artisan, however may use these same skills and techniques to discover more about themselves and the world they live in.

In this distinction between artisan and craftsman we see clearly the idea of workingthrough a medium not just with it.   Artisans not only create and learn from their creations; they communicate this lesson through their work. They share a part of themselves with their audience, giving life to their creations and cultivating the human spirit.

A Craft Worth Upholding

Synopsis:
By observing and documenting local artisan Bruno Lopez’s process in the upholstering of an Art Deco chair from beginning to end, we gained insight into his world of techniques and materials, and were able to draw inspiration for our own work. Upholstery can be a craft that’s process is invisible to the viewer of the final product. Our film aims to expose and illuminate the work of the traditional upholsterer. Through this experience we gained an intimate knowledge of the craft of upholstery, and insight into the importance of preserving and promoting artisanal work.

Credits:
Produced by: Jeanne Kelly
Cinematography: George Bixby | Umut Ozover | Jeanna Hamilton | Jeanne Kelly
Edited by: Jeanna Hamilton
Original Music: Oli Rockberger

30 Second Trailer