A Theory of Craft
Function and Aesthetic Expression
By Howard Risatti
Foreword by Kenneth R. Trapp
352 pp., 6.14 x 9.21, 44 halftones, notes, bibl., index
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Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4696-0090-1
Published: February 2013 -
E-book EPUB ISBN: 978-0-8078-8907-7
Published: September 2009 -
E-book PDF ISBN: 979-8-8908-7997-4
Published: September 2009
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- Paperback $37.50
- E-Book $27.99
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About the Author
Howard Risatti is professor emeritus of art history at Virginia Commonwealth University. His four previous books include Skilled Work: American Craft in the Renwick Gallery and Postmodern Perspectives: Issues in Contemporary Art.
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Reviews
"A well-organized argument for the consideration of craft as art and its elevation in status. . . . An important contribution to the field of contemporary craft activity and its contributions."--Wintherthur Portfolio
"Destined to become required reading for undergraduate and graduate courses in art and craft history. . . . A book worth waiting for."--Ceramics Monthly
"With a writing style that is direct and engaging, Risatti examines the value of the handmade in an age of mass-production and constructs a critical framework for evaluating the place of craft media in today's art environment."--FiberArts
"[A Theory of Craft] lays out reasons for the historical dichotomy in Western philosophy between fine art and crafts."--Library Journal
"Howard Risatti offers a very palatable narrative in A Theory of Craft: Function and Aesthetic Expression. Risatti dives headfirst into the craft versus art and design argument, peeling back the layers to understand the most basic definitions, functions and history of craft."--Arts Reader
"Risatti has long been ahead of the curve in regards to bridging the art/craft divide. . . . A tantalizingly broad argument for craft's relevance."--Surface Design Journal
Multimedia & Links
Read In a guest blog post, Howard Risatti revisits a question he received concerning ecological sensitivity for craftsmen and women, praising the teachings of M. C. Richards and others. Read "Environmentalism Reviving Tradition in Art"
Read In another guest blog post, Risatti addresses the change over time in motivations for producing art, questioning how this alters the esteem for craft. Read "Monetary Motivations in Art and Perceptions of Craft"