Arts and Crafts Movement

Explain the difference between a piece of art and a craft.

A piece of art is a creative, visual expression of an idea in some form. A craft is the physical effort and skill used in the creative process.

What is a handicraft? Examine the image above. Is it an example of functional piece art or fine art? Explain your answer.

A handicraft is made using hand skills and generally serves a utilitarian rather than fine art function. It is an example of a functional piece of art. Although it is beautifully made and artistic, it served a purpose for the ancient Greeks. It could have carried water, grain, or another substance.

What was the main goals and characteristics of the arts and crafts movement in architecture?

Architecture sought a spiritual connection with the surrounding environment, both natural and man-made. Architecture was unique, but did have common attributes. These attributes included warms colored woods, many windows so that light would come pouring in, rustic furnishings, and unfinished qualities.

Provide an example of a famous architect who participated in the Arts and Crafts Movement and his goals.

Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the most famous architectures of the Arts and Crafts Movement. He wanted to create buildings (mainly houses) that were unique in every way, and that also fit with the local character and environment.

How were women affected by the Arts and Craft movement?

During the Arts and Crafts movement, women had opportunities they would not be given anywhere else. They were encouraged to participate in the movement, but they were hardly recognized for their work. Women were both makers and consumers of arts and crafts.

Why were weaving and embroidery not accepted forms of art until recently?

Embroidery and weaving were both regarded as women's work, rather than a form of art. Only after factories were established during the Industrial Revolution and textiles were mass produced, did embroidery and weaving become globally accepted as forms of art.

Explain the difference between weaving and embroidery.

Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with designs stitched in strands of thread or yarn. Weaving is the process of making cloth through interlacing the threads on a loom.

Define the term, utilitarian. How can something be both utilitarian and fine art?

If a piece of art is considered utilitarian, then it has a purpose or use. Although it may have a purpose, it may still be beautiful and the process necessary to create the piece can be respects and admired. If this is the case, a piece can be considered both utilitarian and fine art.

The Arts and Crafts movement was a type of rebellion to the over elaborate designs of the past, as it adopted more of a simplistic strategy. What do you think is the most important contribution the Arts and Crafts movement made to architecture and design, and why?

NOT: I think that the most important contribution the Arts and Crafts movement made to architecture and design was that the architects at the time redefined what the "modern" house would look like during that time. Their goal was to give their houses a more earthy and warm feel. They made the houses look like they have been lived in before. TRY: The Arts and Crafts was an esthetic and social British movement, which has defended the return to creative handcraft in opposite to the mechanized industrial objects. They believed that the return to the artisans' origins, the manual labor would be valorized. Critics and theorists formed in 1888, in London, the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society, in a period that the Industrial Revolution reached many countries and invaded the market with several objects whose artistic value was lost.

Explain the circumstances that led to the Arts and Crafts Movement.

The Arts and Crafts Movement was largely fueled by the industrial revolution, in which everything was mass produced. More and more artists wanted to return to hand-made objects that were unique.

Where did the arts and crafts movement take place? In what areas of art was the arts and crafts movement found? What principle did the movement emphasize?

The arts and crafts movement took place mainly in the United States and England. It could be seen in architecture and in the decorative arts. The movement emphasized the creation of the product as well as the end result. In other words, art and meaning were in the creation as much as in the piece itself.

What type of craft was use to create the piece shown above? Examine the piece shown and describe what you see and feel. What was the artist's intention when he made this piece?

This piece was created by a glass-craftsman and is an example of glass art. The piece is skillfully done, and eye catching because you can't help but look at it and wonder how the artist managed to create the final product. The piece is packed with emotional meaning largely because you can see and imagine the detail, skill, and passion the artist would have had to possess to create the piece. The artist intended to emphasize the process to the viewer more than the final piece.