Sunday Slideshow–Bradford Pear Blooms

The Bradford Pear trees reached their blooming peak this week.  These shots were taken shortly before rain caused the petals to shower down like snow.  Now the green leaves are appearing.  I don’t know why they are called pear trees since they do not produce pears.  They produce little berry-like things. Still they are beautiful trees with dark red fall foliage and a symmetrical shape.  People tend to plant Bradford Pears in abundance around this part of Tennessee.  They grow fast and always look nice with almost no pruning.  If anyone knows why they are called pear trees, I’d love to know.

Blurry Lines

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Where are the lines between Art and Craft?

The fall Art and Craft fairs are in full swing now.  Who decides whether it is Art or Craft?  Are there a set of rules that say this is craft and that is art?  The debate has raged on and on with no definitive answers.  A search turns up numerous articles and forums on the subject.

Attending the Tennessee Arts and Crafts Fair in Centennial Park in Nashville, Tennessee yesterday, I walked around with this idea in mind.  Could I distinguish which was which? Sometimes.  More often, items seemed to be both.

The blog, Divine Caroline has an article written by Mary Francis.  Francis says, “This entire discussion is particularly touchy in an artistic world where a lot of the products can be gasp useful (like quilts, or wearable art or jewelry) but does its use and technique demean it as art? Personally, I don’t think so.”  Maybe it is in the eye of the beholder.

The lines between art and craft are very blurry at times.  It is and, perhaps, always will be a matter of opinion.  You be the judge.

Ceramic artist David Gurney talks about the difference on a You Tube video here

 


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