L E T T E R S
October 2-24
GREGORY GRENON ▼
THE DENSE FRAGRANCE REMAINS
November 6 - 8
SOFA CHICAGO
NICOLE CHESNEY
STEFFEN DAM
BETH LIPMAN
TOBIAS M0HL
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The cover of the August/September
2009 American Craft.
Representation
I’m a blacksmith based in
North Carolina. Since reading
the Editor’s Letter, “The Big
Blur,” about the mixing of art,
craft and design in the Febru-
ary/March issue, I completed
an architectural commission,
taught a short class to art stu-
dents and started designing
a garden gate. And throughout,
I found myself drifting back
to those words and my unease.
Aside from the question
of whether a blur indicates an
inability to focus, it’s a ques-
tion of representation. There
are many outlets for architec-
ture/design, and for what
most call the fine arts. There
are several national crafters’
publications, as well as a slew
of how-to, survey blogs and
websites. But in terms of
American studio craft as
a practice and a movement,
we’re underrepresented.
A lot of objects that I enjoy
come out of a conscious inter-
section of the big three. But
when I see makers and work
that are simultaneously fea-
tured on designboom or
Dwell
or
Metropolis
or
Artforum,
I can’t help but wonder if that
space could be put toward
a different use.
I’m not a Luddite. I like
having different, cool and un-
foreseen people and works
pointed out to me. But as a stu-
dio practitioner, I hope for a
little more focus from this par-
ticular outlet.
M I K E R O S S I
Bakersville, North Carolina
The Long Goodbye
O .K . You win. I’mgivingup,
yelling uncle, throwing in the
towel. I have just finished
reading the August/Septem-
ber issue of a publication
I have loved and collected for
30 years. Now I have fallen
out of love. It started with
a change in the relationship
spearheaded by Andrew W ag-
ner. Out with the old, in with
the new. Let’s talk design;
let’s appeal to a younger audi-
ence; let’s put curlicues on our
type! The studio craft move-
ment is on its last arthritic leg,
and the beautifully crafted ob-
ject is wheezing its last gasp.
I tried to adapt; I really did.
I tried to fight the gnawing
feeling that this paramour of
30 years was just in midlife
crisis. I could afford to make
some changes for the sake of
the union. 1 started by doing
what Mr. Wagner asked. I let
him know what 1 thought of
his changes. I was met with
“sorry you don’t understand,
but trust me and you will be
renewed.” So I tried to trust,
but freely admit to being skep-
tical. Yet with each new issue
I saw new signs of the impend-
ing death of the relationship.
I was buoyed by the issue that
focused on Philadelphia and
its artists. A little sparkle of the
old days shone. Unfortunately,
the next issue retreated as if
the previous had been a mo-
mentary lack of judgment. It
was clear that the publication
must lead this relationship. No
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