EP3

An examination of the notion of craft as it moves from moves from “modern craft” to “post-craft” amid new economies of making.

The notion of the handmade has shifted from the margins to center stage. Craft's value is increasingly recognized across creative, economic, social, cultural, and political contexts. Amid dissolving disciplinary boundaries and the widespread appropriation of craft, its meaning is changing. While its claims to values such as authenticity and anti-consumerism are questionable, the role of craft is poised to be optimized within the contemporary climate. Amid new economies of making, as craft moves from “modern craft” to “post-craft,” we need to examine not only the practice of craft but also its mediation and interpretation.

Alex Coles is a critic, editor, and Professor of Transdisciplinary Studies at the School of Art, Design, and Architecture at the University of Huddersfield, UK.

Catharine Rossi is Senior Lecturer in Design History at Kingston University, London.