Module 12

OHT 2

Visual Arts

Excerpt from A statement on the arts of Australian schools pages 23/24

Art

The term suggest a concern with concepts, feelings, ideas, images and forms and is often used specifically to refer to media such as painting, printmaking and sculpture. A wider definition would include work in all media and embrace metal art, textile art, and ceramic art among others.

Craft

The term suggests a concern with the crafting of an art work, with closer attention being paid to skills and techniques. Craft objects may be functional or non-functional and involve traditional or non-traditional methods. Contemporary craft works are often conceptual in nature and employ design processes, so that the boundaries between art, craft between art, craft and design become less distinct. It is also common for the word `craft' to be used in association with some media, for example, textiles, ceramic, glass, wood and metal.

Design

The word suggests a process where the intention and purpose of a product is specified in advance. Designers often work to a brief which puts limitations on or sets requirements for the image, product or environment to be planned. By contrast the artist or craft artist may not be constrained by working specifically for a client and may work for more personal reasons, such as the desire to solve aesthetic problems or to give meaning to experience. And whereas the artist and craft artist are the makers of their products, designers often plan or design products to be made or manufactured by others.