Page 123 - Constructing Craft

Barry Brickell. An integrated professional. Photo: New
Zealand Potters Inc.

Mavericks

Mavericks find the conventional art world constraining. They are familiar with

accepted practices of the conventional art world and are often trained within that
world, but no longer wish to conform to its conventions. Initially they find it difficult to

have their work accepted and they try to force the art/craft world to adapt to their
innovations. Modernism has encouraged the growth of this group but artists and

craftspeople who look for this position find that they seek both privileged official

recognition and the independence of the maverick who stands outside the system.
They claim a privileged official standing because they are outside the system.

Craftspeople whose work did not appear to fit the traditional idea of craft may have

felt they were mavericks and therefore alienated from traditional craft groups. They
also struggled to sell their work. Oddly, later, their work became the new

convention, and, as a result, they became the authority for a new group of
integrated professionals. National organisations provided technical and professional

services or promoted the work of integrated and maverick craftspeople.

Constructing Craft