Page 87 - Constructing Craft

what art was and what craft was and had to frame its arguments with care so it

would not alienate those who thought of themselves as artist and those who valued
traditional craft roles. In 1989 John Scott, the President of the CCNZ, confronted the
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debate in an article entitled ‘Art’s art/craft’s craft or: Tripping along the Continuum’.
His article came at a time when the CCNZ was having difficulty reconciling the

views competing members had of the organisation that had been set up to
represent all craftspeople. Some craftspeople valued the traditions that placed craft

predominantly in the utilitarian domain while another group was trying to have their

work recognised as a form of art. Scott was attempting to keep the two sides within
the CCNZ framework.

My short article is intended to argue that the debate over this
much vexed question, arises firstly from a lack of understanding
of what the two words mean; secondly from an inferiority
complex on the part of many artists and craftspeople alike;
thirdly (particularly as a consequence of these complexes) an
undervaluing of their craft. … While accepting that art and craft
do meld, and are usually present to a greater or lesser degree
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in art and craft “objects”, they are not the same.

John Scott's continuum. New Zealand Crafts.

Scott noted Collingwood’s references to earlier times but did not outline his
prescription for distinguishing between art and craft. Rather he prepared a diagram

(above) to demonstrate how he believed most artists and craftspeople were

positioned within a central region.

Constructing Craft