Call for Artists – Humor in Craft

Artist on Cover: Jason Kishell, “Smug Mug”

People of all ages and cultures respond to humor enthusiastically and craft artwork definitely can be very funny! Often, the work exudes a sense of the absurd due to exaggerated size or by being executed in unusual materials. Craft artwork can be highly ironic, political, sarcastic, or just plain amusing, and it comes in a variety of media, such as metals, wood, fibers, ceramics, glass, mixed media, etc.

Brigitte Martin has started to develop a book about the role humor plays in contemporary craft and is looking for submissions for initial consideration:

– Images of humorous artwork,
– Texts/essays by the contributing artists, commenting about humorous aspects in their artwork,
– Audio art,
– Video art (the book will contain a CD of audio/video art depending on qualifying submissions,)
– Essays by writers about the role of humor and fun in craft.

Can you show us humor in all its shades expressed through craft artwork and text? Who decides what’s funny and what isn’t? What topics are off-limits? Is irony funny? Sarcasm? Are politics funny? Religion?

This planned book aims to provide the viewer with entertainment, commentary, and of course, many fine craft pieces by makers from all over the world. Humor has no borders. Or does it? It might be interesting to learn how a piece will be hilarious in China, but only garner mild astonishment in Sweden and vice versa.

This call is open to craft artists working in all craft media. crafthaus membership is not required. International entries are particularly welcome and encouraged to participate!

Final deadline: March 1, 2011 .

Click HERE for submission information !

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Starting today, please spread the word on fb, etsy and wherever else you are. If you know of funny pieces, please ask the artist(s) to be in touch with Brigitte, or send his/her information so that they can be considered.

THANK YOU !

Feel free to sign up for this group to get updates on this “fun” project. Email anytime regarding questions, and artwork suggestions !

Email for questions and submissions: [email protected]

Artists: You can start emailing your low res images to the above email.
Writers: You can start emailing your brief essay outlines to the above email.

A site 2 see friday – handful of salt blog

Inspiration always comes in different forms, as does motivation. To me there’s nothing more motivating than seeing the behind the scenes of how artists set up shop and hearing in their words who they are and what inspires them, their work, and how it all comes together. That’s why today’s site to see is handful of salt blog because I LOVE their Heroes and Heroines section for the above reasons. Of course there are many other reasons to read their blog…but I’ll let you find that out for yourself.

Enjoy!

handful of salt

Material Culture, Craft & Community: Call For Papers Reminder


This is a reminder that submissions to the Material Culture, Craft & Community: Negotiating Objects Across Time and Space Conference are due OCTOBER 10, 2010.

20-21 May 2011
University of Alberta
Material Culture Institute

This interdisciplinary conference will explore the varied expressions of craft – material, cultural, social – in past and present societies. Craft practice has a rich history and remains vibrant today, sustaining communities while negotiating cultures. Craft-made goods were, and are, created for domestic or institutional use, for local or international markets. They express gender roles and cultural aspirations, sustain economies, and express aesthetic values and skills of making. Craft practice has long defined communities and groups, and continues to do so in the midst of global trade networks. Moreover, the flow of ideas, goods, and peoples animate the making, circulation, and meaning of craft goods. These and other issues will be addressed over the course of the conference.

Keynote Speaker:
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, Harvard University

Confirmed Speakers:
Eiluned Edwards, London College of Fashion, UK
Edward S Cooke, Yale University
Janice Helland, Queen’s University, Kingston
Laura Peers, Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford
Ruth Phillips, Carleton University, Ottawa

Call for Papers:
Paper proposals and full panels are invited on topics ranging from the history to present practice of craft, issues of production, use, and trade of craft, and the construction and interpretation of the meanings of craft, in the context of personal interactions, local communities, national groups, modes of international circulation, and forms of cultural context.

Graduate students are encouraged to apply with either single papers or panels. Three graduate proposals will be selected for a special graduate plenary session, in addition to those papers selected for concurrent sessions.

Proposals are invited from all disciplines. The proposal package should include a paper summary of 150-200 words and a two-page CV. Proposals must be received by 10 October 2010.* The program will be announced 1 November 2010. Registration will open on 15 December 2010.

Conference Organizer: Beverly Lemire, Department of History & Classics and Department of Human Ecology, University of Alberta
Proposals should be sent to: [email protected]

IRISH CRAFT PORTFOLIO 2011

Irish Craft Portfolio was established to to ‘promote the work of individuals showing excellence in craftsmanship at an international level’. Since its establishment it has represented the work of an increasing number of craftspeople who aim to produce high quality limited edition and one off craftwork for the commissioning and gallery market. There are currently over forty craftspeople represented by the initiative.
Makers interested in applying for the 2011 selection should contact Des Doyle, Collector Programme Manager for an application form.Closing date for completed applications is October 1st 2010. Selection will take place in October and announcement of successful applicants will be made in November 2010.

Further details from Des Doyle, Collector Programme and Craft Tourism Manager

[email protected] or telephone 056 77 96137

Application form now available to download…

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CRAFTS COUNCIL OF IRELAND’S IRISH CRAFT BURSARY AWARD 2011

The CCoI Irish Craft Bursary is awarded to professional craftspeople to support the creative development of their craft to enable new opportunities in their practice.

Applications for Bursary 2011
Bursary 2011 offers a prize fund of €10,000 awarded to a maker who demonstrates a commitment to producing craftwork that illustrates the attainment of the highest level of technical and design skill. The objective of the bursary is to give one or more makers the opportunity to develop a body of work that they would otherwise not have the time or resources to develop. Expressions of interest are welcomed from makers who feel this award would be of benefit to the development of their work.

Closing date for completed applications is October 1st 2010. Selection will take place in October and the announcement of successful applicant(s) will be made in early November.

FAQ Sheet and application form now available to download…
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