Craft Rally - report

Date:25/03/2010

CRAFT RALLY - A NETWORK FOR MAKERS.

120+ craft makers, designers, educators, curators, etc. from all over Britain attended this first innovative call to make a stand for the diversity and wealth that craft practice (and theory) contributes to society in general and makers in particular. The idea was to confront and provoke the delegates into debating issues and ideas to see what we hold as common ground and to form alliances to carry further rallies in other parts of the country.

This first rally held at Chelsea College of Art in London and the events and dialogues were numerous and challenging. We were invited to bring 2 items, one much used and an impulse buy/not used…we were asked to make contributions to an installation from “Intelligent Trouble” called “Lines”, we had to choose to collect and wear a badge with personalized papers and markings and we could choose to leave our unloved items and any feedback during the day on the interactive installation called “Lines” all of this was before we had even entered the rooms where the rally took place. There were also a weaving “ Rallying Bobbins” made Shane Waltner who worked all day on the lawn in front of the building.

We were welcomed by Lou Corner, who chaired the day’s debates, then Helen Carnac gave us an overview of her inspiration, which triggered the event, in an introduction called  “ Things we Forgot to Remember”. Basically she wanted us to remind us about the practice meaning and purpose of crafts, which we can loose in the midst of our own personal making activities.

“Provocations” was next: a series of 4 polemics, written by makers and critics, spoken by actors to preserve anonymity (but these can now be viewed with authorship on the website) intended to arouse debate; although the general consensus was that this was preaching to the converted as we all more or less agreed with the essays. Several delegates wanted to know how we were being asked to rally – walk with banners to parliament? This was thought not such a bad idea. Many thought we should be making banners, crafted banners.

There followed a panel discussion of the provocations between several of the participants in the day’s proceedings, this was then thrown open to the delegates for comment….
These comments ranged from positive ideas
 “in a small way, craft solves many of the world’s problems”  -
“ is value integral to the crafted object or bestowed by the viewer/buyer”?  or do you
“ make to live or make to please”?  but most agreed that
“craft represents the mark of the hand”  and that
 “you can find out about the world through ‘Stuff’ ”.
 Also (this last from me)
“making is another language….we think through our hands ”.
Questions were asked whether, in this society now is there is a shared understanding about what craft is? Is there a shared experience of making between different types of makers; and is there a shared experience of the meaning of making to both practitioner and viewer?
It was forwarded that a clear specific language is needed to share ideas between makers, but also a memorable quote from David Gates, referred to a “toxic sea of academic practice” Concerning the language used to describe making.
Becky Shaw retaliated to conceptual artists’ anti- capitalist mantra “there are too many things in the world to make more” not relevant by remarking that any supermarket customer can choose between at least 20 different machine made toothbrushes at any given time.
In the afternoon there were several more events and workshops but first a fascinating overview of “Stuff” by Zoe Laughlin from the Materials Library, “The Performativity of Matter” basically a look at all different types of matter we could work with and their properties, including the lightest material consisting of 2% matter, it looked like a small square pale blue cloud.

Then a choice was given between activities, Lost and Found, Cupboard Confidential, key words:- making, upcycling, re-appropriation, sharing; basically a show and tell and draw the objects that were either loved or not and why this may have happened and hopefully give cause for reflection before the creation of something new.
Meanwhile another workshop engaged in Beyond the Object, key words, talk, memory, seeking a position, collaboration; Paul Harper, David Gates, Becky Shaw expressed ideas about how talk and collaboration shape process and practice.
After these main events and the plenary session we were all invited to take part in other initiatives. I went on a walk guided by Clare Qualman, part of her project “Darned Memory”, an exploration of locations in terms of tracing and mapping memories, uncovering hidden histories and making connections between the past and present – I took advantage of the low tide uncovering a tiny stretch of beach on the Thames by gathering heart shaped stone and oyster shells. Other people found horns and bones blackened by time and water, old roofing tiles with interesting holes worn by the water. All were returned to Clare for her collection.
Then the final event “Sampler “ a collective event of a “culture clash performance” originated by David Littler, a sampling session between machine embroidery, poetry, dance, beat box, film, graffiti – which was true to the sampling philosophy as collective trialed, mixed and experimented as they went along, but with some thought provoking but really lively and pleasurable results.

The preceding information of the two meetings was a personal overview by Janet Haigh and may contain some inconsistencies; however to enable you to access the intended and official information and all the other craft maker help that the Crafts Council is currently developing and other in-depth information about the future events: please click on www.craftscouncil.org.uk/professional  information

Contact Name: Janet Haigh

Location: london

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