Folk Art

Folk Art

My definition: The character of a given people group or country reflected in a skilled and imaginative artistic form.

My frustration: 'Folk Art' has become a catch-all for all sorts of handmade junk that is neither artistic, imaginative nor character driven. Now I'm not against wacky fun stuff....the world needs more fun. But I *am* against false definitions. Some questions for consideration. 1. What part does whimsy play in folk art? Is it a required characteristic? I have a book of American hooked rugs. Hooked rugs are generally thought to be folk art. They were handmade and often reflect the character of their maker. There is one rug in particular that strikes my fancy. It says, 'Here hooked is a picture of my husbands kin, I'll be glad when I die and don't see them again'. Surrounding the words are pictures of her husbands relatives! Like most delightful examples of true folk art I'm sure it is in either a private collection or a museum somewhere.

2. What part does uniqueness play? Something that is produced over and over, even if handmade by one person.....can that still qualify as folk art? I have a 70's auction catalog which pictures a wooden chicken, a common symbol in traditional folk art. The auction sitter took notes which show that the chicken hammered down just over $3000. Now my auction catalog owner also had a copy of a letter s/he had written to the auction house stating that s/he owned a wooden chicken pretty much identical to the one sold, signature and all. S/he wanted to know if the auction house would be willing to contact the underbidder and offer to sell the item for the price they had dropped out at. I see all sorts of problems with all that but my concern here is that the item in question lost much of it's 'value' in my mind when a small audience yielded another chicken of nearly same character. American quilts are often thought to fall into the catagory of folk art. But obviously not all quilts are skillfully executed and many don't show any sort of imaginative creativity. A log cabin quilt, in my opinion, is not folk art because it is not unique.

3. Are there current day 'folk artists'? As antique dealers and buyers we generally think of folk art as having some age. But I suppose it's possible for there to be current day folk artists (do you know any?) By my definition they would have to reflect a specific people group or country. Their artwork, likewise, would have to somehow relfect that culture. Cutsie country cutout crafts fail both requirements.

4. Can handmade furniture qualify as folk art?

5. Tramp art? Is it folk art? Do other countries have tramp art? Is some tramp art folk art and some not?

Alrighty, There's a start. Any thoughts?

(*<~ I think that what I produce might be termed 'folk art'. I make pyramids out of empty Bacardi Breezer bottles.

does THAT count,

Doug ~>*(((>< Big fish eat Little fish ><))*<~

Fayette, Here is my personal definition of 'folk art': 'The extraordinary creative statement of an untrained individual expressed in ordinary media.' ( Bracing myself for the controversy). In my opinion, Folk art is more about the impulses of the individual rather than a group or country. I could really stir things up by asserting that if its made to be sold it doesn't qualify.

I think you said it Fayette, whatever your definition is, thats what it is. Folk Art, Pop Art, Whatever Art, its just a name some smart ass dealer type - fashion maker - know f*** all - chancer gives something to bang the price up. Personally I class ' folk art ' as items made by ordinary people to serve the same purpose as store bought items they couldnt afford to buy. Who said poor folks aint got no eye for beauty ; ) ?? Jim

Hi Fayette,

I agree with your frustration in defining folk art. I think that a large part of the problem is that there are so very many people who are unable to judge the artistic merit or inherent quality of a piece. We have become used to shoddily-made pieces with massed-produced decals for decoration.

I would say that an individual's character reflected in a piece is more an indicator of Folk Art than an associated country or group. Being part of the group just makes recognition and identification easier. And Folk Art must be decorative.

Getting people (meaning the general public

Hi Ronnie

Depends on what type of items you look at, from a North American view hand made items like quilts are generally considered a type of Folk art. Furniture as you describe it by a local joiner ( or by Shakers) would be considered 'Chairs R Us', because they are a regular production item of a tradesman. For the chair to be considered Folk Art it would have to be a handcrafted unique or very limited production pieces made from scavenged material, by a semi or unskilled person for their own or family use. A Folk art example of furniture would be a rocking chair made out of bits of other old chairs and a spinning wheel, or whittled out of a stump.

Mike Wilcox

Nah....Isn't that called intoxication? ;~))))))

Mike Wilcox

Well Ronnie, the ' Fling ' is a nonsense for tourists !!! so its a folk art in extracting the Bawbees frae eegits : )) and the native language which would be Pictish is unknown, Gaelic is, as you know an Irish import brought in by them everso plausible Bible - punching monks !!!!!! about 600 a.d. though I must admit it has a fine lilt to it, and must have made the dull traucle of the daily chores ( making Folk art for the Tourists ) a bit less tiresome. ; ) Jim

Begone Demon, tempt me not......: )) Robin was from Edinburgh !!! capiche !! Aye the poor Picts maligned with daubs of woad..... true telepathes, and pyschopaths !!!!! ' I never gambled, I never gargled, I never smoked at all ' until I ........... fill in the line, and the performer, if ye can ??? ; )) Jim

Ha, your a boy indeed ! right singer wrong song !! should be ' until I met my two good amigos Nick Teen an Al K Hall ' Oh I could go on.. and on... but I wont , thank Christ he says !! I'm off to bed singing ' Somebodies pinched me winkles ' !!!! Sunday at Ingleston, oh wow ; ) Cheers Jim