New Work, New Show, New Audience
I've just delivered my artwork to a show with the South Delta Artists' Guild.
The show is out in Tswwassen, BC, roughly an hour's drive from me.
Five fellow fibre artists were invited to show our work with this guild. (The submission guidelines allowed us to each submit five pieces.)
You can explore their website and the show information here: https://southdeltaartistsguild.com/show/2022_march_madness/0
It was a great honour to be asked to join them, as at least in my experience, often artists' Guilds don't take kindly to fibre artists. (From reading between the lines, my guess is that was probably a decision made with some dissenters in the guild.)
I want to explore that issue a bit further.
In my experience, Fibre Artists have had a tough hill to climb, when seeking to be accepted into the general art world. It seems to be changing somewhat, but still there are those who say it is "not really art."
We are disparagingly called "crafters," or "makers," and many more derogatory names, but not true artists. (I've been called them all at some time or another.)
I appreciate that Makers are their own group of amazing creative people, but I'm afraid that I don't consider myself a Maker either, so that label doesn't seem to fit.
In my experience, Fibre Artists have had a tough hill to climb, when seeking to be accepted into the general art world. It seems to be changing somewhat, but still there are those who say it is "not really art."
I think there's a lot of "bad" fibre art out there, which often earns the more serious and studious a bad name.
But there's just as much bad "fine art" out there, in the world in general.
Why is it that the medium you choose automatically puts you into a category of "Craft" or "Fine Art?"
When I meet someone for the first time, I shy away from telling people about what I do as an artist.
I see their eyes glaze over, as they attempt to remember some of the worst of fibre art they have ever seen...
I'll go even bolder: I don't think most people even know what fibre art is.
You have to explain it to them, and then they might finally understand, but it's pretty obvious that you've just gone down in their estimation as an artist. (You're not a "real" artist.)
I'm sure I'm not alone, feeling this issue gnawing away at my confidence in the background.
What do you think? What is a "real artist" to you? I'd love to hear your ideas in the comments below.