Crochet Old Hat

It’s funny the way the more I read the more I realize that discussions about craft in art have been going on for a long time now. Debate around this topic is apparently ‘old hat’ as one writer called it. Fair enough guys, I’ll try to keep up. But rather than me debating wether or not craft belongs (because it surely does) I wondered what kind of things does craft do?

Lately I've been looking at a lot of artists who use sewing, crochet, knitting and other crafty pursuits- some are entirely boring, others utterly incredible.

Three artists who have stood out to me are Megan Hason-Knarhoi, Joana Vasconcelos and Julie Monro-Allison. This led me to wondering what it actually is that make them a cut above other artists who are also making art out of pompoms, crochet and French knit?

Although each of these artists pursue really different themes, they each captivated me by allowing the same material-wool- to clearly communicate their own ideas.

Religion and it’s too often separation from reality is a focus in the crochet artwork of Hason-Knarhoi.

Megan Hason- Knarhoi. Jesus Spells, 2011.

Jesus Spells (detail), 2011.

Jesus Spells (detail), 2011.

Vasconcelos frequently responds to the specific people and architectural places she finds herself.

Joana Vasconcelos Blup, 2002.

Valquira Enxoval, 2009.

Monro-Allison wonders about the fictional possibilities of stars and space imagining wild new constellations and brilliant outer space encounters.

 Julie Monro-Allison. Constellation, 2010.

Constellation (detail) 2010.

These artists use craft techniques and the associated context of these homely pastimes as a soft and familiar packaging to communicate ideas. Padded in cushy craftiness, the art is not merely about the craft. To make art only about craft is boring and tired. In fact, isn’t that just called craft?  These artists are passionate about exploring and communicating ideas, and in these cases it is craft techniques that do this the most effectively.  

This makes me think that the potential of craft within contemporary art is massive. The viewer opens up to the familiarity and friendliness of the recognizable. You relax around it because it is something that usually exists within your own home- or your granny’s. It is not elitist or arty farty, so you give it a chance.

I go a bit crochet crazy sometimes, sew happy not to mention obsessed about soft concertinas and deflated/inflating shapes. But I’ve got to control myself and remember that it is the role of craft as potent vehicle for concept rather than craft itself that is really exciting.  I know that there are other things that craft does too- I could go on about feminism, home making and motherhood. But today I’m going to revel in the people friendliness, the approachability and the craftiness of craft.