The Fiber Game

I found Rossbach and Rauschenbergs use of icons and materials interesting in relation to craft. These artists were using kitsch icons and symbols within their craft works. These symbols represented within craft create a sort of abstract kitsch expression of the idea and meaning of the original icon or object used. The article made a good point in regards to limitation within craft. The works of Abakanowicz and Sheila Hicks expanded the limitations that were bestowed upon fiber arts and tapestry crafting. Their large tapestry's broke free from expectation of what a tapestry can be, transforming it into a large scale idea that challenged the ideas of loom process and the infinite life that an artwork can posses.
      I always enjoy craft works that expand upon the limitations of a material and process. Works like the Crochet Coral Reef by Christine Wertheim and Margaret Wertheim expand upon that same idea of limitation on material and process. Their coral reef has taken on a life of its own, growing far beyond its original size to one of great scale that includes other sub-reefs. To me craft becomes fascinating when it is able to take on a life of its own, changing and growing over time.
     However, Abakanowicz and Hicks faced scrutiny from the Americans for their works transitioning to sculptural pieces rather than staying in the confines of the fiber world. Abakanowicz and Hicks did abandon the traditional loom process, due to its limitation in size, and used different processes of weaving and knotting. I don't mind the use of non-traditional process within creating their works. To create the work that they wanted to on that size and scale it did force them to give up traditional process, but I do not think that it discredits their work in any way, or makes their large scale tapestrys less a piece of the fiber arts community. -T.M.