"Hand in Hand: Fine Art + Craft"
Sept. 8, 2023 - Jan. 20, 2024
HAND IN HAND: Fine Art + Craft celebrates the unique, sometimes provocative creations of contemporary artists who use craft materials and techniques to respond to the world around them. Many of the artists draw on skills and practices that have been passed down within their families for generations. Artists featured in the exhibit include Emma Amos, El Anatsui, Mary Lee Bendolph, Nick Cave, Sonya Clark, Carole Harris, Simone Leigh, Lucy Mingo, Faith Ringgold, Joyce J. Scott, Therman Statom, Papa Ibra Tall, Nate Young and others. Showcasing objects made from a variety of media, the exhibit illustrates the richness and diversity that handcrafts bring to contemporary art.
There was a time when fine art and craft were at odds with one another. Art defined as craft (i.e., quilts, decorative ceramics, and glass objects) were considered inferior to art defined as fine art (i.e., paintings, drawings, and sculpture). Some of the same biases held against craft were also used against women and Black artists. During the 1960s, the egalitarian ideologies of postmodernism helped to dismantle many of the artificial, hierarchical boundaries separating the two disciplines and opened doors of inclusiveness in the areas of gender and race. Today, the enormous contributions of craft artists, especially by women and Blacks, are widely recognized in contemporary art. The artworks pulled together for this exhibition exemplify the skill and creativity of African diaspora artists and present a thoughtful narrative on the intersection of fine art and craft in contemporary artmaking.
MW Black Box Video Gallery Feature: Nick Cave, Blot, 2012, Video, 42:57 minutes
Artist Nick Cave, renowned for his fiber-based sculptures, has also done several experimental film works. His interest in animating his sculptures and pushing new boundaries in performance led to media work such as Blot. In this piece, a performer dressed in one of Cave’s Soundsuits, jumps, rolls, falls and dances. After the film was edited, Cave collaborated with sound artists to add a track with a range of natural and electronic effects.
There was a time when fine art and craft were at odds with one another. Art defined as craft (i.e., quilts, decorative ceramics, and glass objects) were considered inferior to art defined as fine art (i.e., paintings, drawings, and sculpture). Some of the same biases held against craft were also used against women and Black artists. During the 1960s, the egalitarian ideologies of postmodernism helped to dismantle many of the artificial, hierarchical boundaries separating the two disciplines and opened doors of inclusiveness in the areas of gender and race. Today, the enormous contributions of craft artists, especially by women and Blacks, are widely recognized in contemporary art. The artworks pulled together for this exhibition exemplify the skill and creativity of African diaspora artists and present a thoughtful narrative on the intersection of fine art and craft in contemporary artmaking.
MW Black Box Video Gallery Feature: Nick Cave, Blot, 2012, Video, 42:57 minutes
Artist Nick Cave, renowned for his fiber-based sculptures, has also done several experimental film works. His interest in animating his sculptures and pushing new boundaries in performance led to media work such as Blot. In this piece, a performer dressed in one of Cave’s Soundsuits, jumps, rolls, falls and dances. After the film was edited, Cave collaborated with sound artists to add a track with a range of natural and electronic effects.
Related Programs & Events
Installation Photos of the Exhibit
Installation photos by Tim Thayer.
Select Artworks
Click on each image to enlarge.
GALLERY LOCATION
815 S. Saginaw Street | Flint, MI 48502
Corner of S. Saginaw St. and E. Court St.
Gallery entrance on E. Court St.
810.835.4900
GALLERY HOURS:
11:00A–6:00P Thursday and Friday
11:00A–5:00P Saturday
11:00A–9:00P 2nd Friday of Each Month
815 S. Saginaw Street | Flint, MI 48502
Corner of S. Saginaw St. and E. Court St.
Gallery entrance on E. Court St.
810.835.4900
GALLERY HOURS:
11:00A–6:00P Thursday and Friday
11:00A–5:00P Saturday
11:00A–9:00P 2nd Friday of Each Month