The Old Argument Continues: Is ‘Craft’ A Bad Word In The Visual Arts Community?

Magdalene Odundo, a Kenya-born British ceramicist who hand-builds her work, says clay is a natural substance for creating bodies and other shapes. And no, she doesn’t find the word “craft” offensive – but: “Crafting work is a term that means you are making work, you are actually crafting a piece of work. There is nothing wrong in making craft; I actually think it’s a very apt word for making, but it’s not helpful when it classifies certain work as not being of equal status to art.” – The Observer (UK)