What do you call yourself?

I have been telling Jeff that facebook has become rather boring. When I first started using it, there were some interesting conversations going on. Lately much of my newsfeed is filled with reposts of silly animal pictures or ultra conservative political views that I just don't want to give any energy to.

But yesterday, an interesting conversation was started.

A NH  fb friend who puts on an arts market in the capital city posted this as her status:

"I'm starting a campaign to eradicate the word craft fair from the American Vocabulary."

Wow, that got lots of responses! Many responders agreed that they didn't like the term and the conversation then shifted to "What are you comfortable calling yourself?"
This is a small sampling of the conversation (I left out most of the wise guy remarks).

• What is more unfortunate is what the word has come to mean in society's eye. Craft should mean handmade art (or trade) requiring special skill... Rather than plastic needlepoint.
• Damn you! It's people like you who have killed off the Kleenex cozy industry.
• People who say they do crafts may not consider themselves artist, when they actually are.
• I think we all have different ideas about what different words mean. As an "artist/craftsperson" I don't take offense to the term. Then again, as a silversmith, I would consider myself a craftsperson before an artist.
• have you watched Craft wars? It's on TLC and we can reserve the word craft for those people. It's is absolutely horrendous. Glitter, glue guns and so on. Besides that, yes, I am an artist even if my materials are mostly socks.
• i am fine with the term "craft" the people that matter to me know the difference between a "duck on a stick" show and fine craft.
•  I like "artisan". It sounds more upscale than "crafter", but not quite as snooty as "artist". 
• due to popular trends in baking, when I hear the word "artisan" all I can think of is bread :-)
• Craft makes me think of my grandma's macramé owls back in the '70's (although how retro cool are those things now!) I like 'Indie Art' better.
• I love etiology. 'Craft' comes from 'Kracht' in Dutch, or 'Kraft' in German and refers to strength or skill in doing or making. In addition, a 'craft' was associated with a guild, or brotherhood of workers and makers with specific and vetted, juried skills. A farrier or a cabinetmaker might be a craftsman under the first definition, and we might also name a 'League' under the second. Only in English does the word take up the concept of art or artistic ability. Nonetheless 'craftsman' or 'craftswoman' in English appears to be interchangeable with 'artist' or 'artisan', while retaining it's roots in strength and skill.

Juried groups like the League of NH Craftsmen, Piedmont Craftsmen, and Carolina Designer Craftsmen (to name just a few) are well known and respected organizations that promote fine craft. If they didn't use the term "craft fair" what would they use? If only the word "art" were used, people may expect to see paintings at these shows.

As for me, I don't get too hung up on what I call myself. Most times I am a potter. Clay artist or ceramic artist works too.
or... an artist, currently working in clay, after all, I wouldn't want to box myself in!

How do you feel about the word "craft"? and what do you call yourself?

Jeff Brown, a fine craftsman, creating a faceted tea bowl on the potters wheel

one of my favorite people...

Jane Kaufmann sent me an e-mail this week:

Heat getting you down?

Have two stiff drinks.

Then go to You Tube and search for "Gossip Lady with Artist Jane Kaufmann"

and let me know if you learn anything.

I always follow Jane's advice...

What did I learn?

1. A much easier way to make rattles than the method I was using.

2. That Jane went to jail for three weeks.