Book Review: 'By Hand: The Use of Craft in Contemporary Art'

Every since I started making needlepoint paintings, it's been hard to define what they are.  People behind the counter in craft stores have rolled their eyes at me as I explain that I want to sew Notre Dame Cathedral.  The art world seemed to see sewing as "cute" but not belonging to the high-concept collective of design.  All that started changing ago. 

Now, I have nothing against folk arts, in fact I collect some.  Try reproducing the simplicity of a good sampler or the delicate (and unforgiving) embroidery on a tea towel and you will understand that stitching is not for the faint-hearted.  It requires a lot of precision, patience and a good eye.  With these skills in hand, I decided a number of years ago to create my own patterns and push the boundaries on the handcraft.

In their book By Hand: The Use of Craft in Contemporary Art Shu Hung and Joseph Magliaro document a number of creative artists who have successfully bridged the gap between craft and art. Some use creations are high-concept, while others play on simplicity.  Aesthetics, scale and mediums differ widely, but the common thread (pun intended) is that these artists have taken hand-crafts the next level.  From clothing to glasswork to plush landscapes, the work show in this book are gorgeous and thought-provoking.  When you take into account that all of these visually stunning pieces are hand-made, the appreciation just grows deeper.