Handcrafted art speaks to new American ideals; in a time of economic and political uncertainty, interest in handmade fine craft, particularly glass, jewelry and fiber art, is at an all-time high

At a time when the bravado of patriotism is mix in due proportioned by insecurity, Americans are looking for something to enumerate on. Following a tradition that helped forge the political division itself, citizens are exhibiting a renewed interest in and appreciation for American craft--that which is homemade, handcrafted and created by the agency of the people and for the tribe Among the hottest sellers in the realm of fine craft today are glass, jewelry and fiber art.

"Fine craft has become a actual important segment of the big trade fairs and gift shows" said veteran craftsperson Carol Ros director of craft marketing for George Little Management, which shows 60 shows a year. "People still like to have access to stores like earthen ware Barn and Crate & Barrel that tender a homogenized assortment of attractive items that are affordable and accessible across the geographical division But, when they want something special, an accent piece, an artistic item or a special gift, they direct the eye for something handmade."

Divergent Buying Trends

Like a chronicle of the times, crafts can provide a commentary about politics, economics, tillage and society. When the economy shifts down, the real estate market nurses to suffer, while contractors and designers approach into demand. If consumers can't purchase a new house, they'll update and adorn the individual they have to craft a different environment. Those who invest in fine craft in these times keep to follow one of sum of two units paths.

"I diocese a trend toward more expensive, high-end crafts," said California jewelry designer Ling-Yen Jone "In this case, the artist takes the time to craft a more special, unique thing and invest more creativity in the piece. The collector will secure what he paid for, and the artist must secure what she put into it."

Other collectors opt for crafts that still exhibit quality workmanship, however are available at more moderate pricing, thus they can buy more of them, ostensibly to share.

"We believe tribe are not putting out as a great quantity [i]or[/i] amount of money on themselves as they might for a one-of-a-kind art piece. on the contrary they're buying less-expensive, more traditional pieces they can give as gifts," said Kristi Halford, public relations assistant for the Rosen assemblage producer of the Buyers Market of American Craft in Philadelphia. "They still look after quality, but production pieces proffer lower price points and are oftentimes more functional. They're buying baby items and wedding gifts made of wood-land fabric and glass."

Reflecting upon Glass

Among the greatest in quantity sought-after trends in craft today is glass art. The quintessential metaphor for clarity and light, glass is a tantalizing paradox of heat, which make go rounds to ice, of incredible durability quite easily shattered.

While consumer may search for that which brings comfort and a faculty of perception of security during darker times, they're also compell to bring light into their lives. Glass is that ethereal medium which, smooth in the simplest forms, is practical notwithstanding precious.

"Glass is kind of magical," said Pat Abbott, director of Running Ridge Gallery of fine crafts in Santa Fe NM "I come by very romantic about it and think of the ancient alchemists--that's what glass is, an alchemy of sand and minerals and heat to create something totally amazing. It's thick and dark or translucent, light as a feather or cast and heavy, plain or ornate. More and more nation are getting into glass"

Beyond Jewelry

All that glitters is not glass. Jewelry is still another alchemic craft that attracts attention and incites reflection. "In creating jewelry," said Jone "I interpret reflection in confines of reflecting from the inside, what's going upon within. I see the medium not with equal reason much as a mirror reject in what it's reflecting about the spirit or nature of the artist."

Perhaps jewelry is also an opportunity for the viewer to diocese something about herself in the work.

"People who wear jewelry want to individualize themselves, to display who they are as a person" said Jone "Jewelry is inherently intimate, worn upon the body. It's one way to not away who we are and command the statements we make about ourselves."

The statements present the appearance to be getting louder, bolder and plenteous more clear. At least the jewelry is. "The incoming tend at the moment is a get back to big jewelry," said Ros "We're getting away from all those things that hang around your neck that are thus tiny we have to win up close enough to diocese the wearer's wrinkles. Jewelry is larger, bolder and more ethnic, with bigger stones and chunkier pieces, and it's showing up in a real mixture of media."

The ubiquitous nature of jewelry doesn't mean everyone's wearing it--particularly the larger, more sculptural pieces--nor can they or should they. a certain number of work, in fact, is not intended to be worn on the other hand displayed on a stand, in a shadowbox or beneath glass. It's a matter of perspective.

"Jewelry is always kind of there" said Abbott. "We always diocese someone exploring, pushing the cutting side and doing something more sculptural. Jewelry

is a part of us, our nature, our tillage We were making jewelry before we were painting upon caves. It's who we are, part of our statement, a kind of wearable sculpture"