Make a Beer(soda) Tote

Beer Tote

I am no master wood worker, I am barely an amateur.  In fact, I shouldn't even use the word woodworker when talking about the things I have made.  Regardless, I love making things out of wood and am slowly getting better.

I found this little project online a couple years ago and ended up making one for my brother as a Christmas gift.  He likes it but probably rarely uses it.  It's a wooden beer tote with a handy little bottle opener on the side.  I used mainly scrap wood which meant it was cheap and I picked up that bottle opener from World Market. The image above is the one I made but here is the link to the plans as well as a photo of their tote.

http://thenewhobbyist.com/2012/11/making-a-wedding-wooden-beer-totes/

The New Hobbyist

Theirs has cleaner cuts but I am going to make another one for myself and hopefully I can improve. If you are looking for a fun project and/or want to give someone a handmade gift, this one is easy and useful. Would be perfect for someone that is really into craft beers.
Here are some more details images of the one I made.

And here is a really cool bottle holder I found on Pinterest but don't really know where to buy it.

-Brian

The Line: Fine Art & Craft

Since as recently as the mid-1500s fine art was placed higher than craft in the art hierarchy. This has been problematic and disrespectful to the intense labor and beauty that craft consists of. A bare bones definition to explain art is: something that is useless- without function, while the definition for craft has always been: something that is useful - something that has a function that may also happen to be beautiful. But this gets messy, take for instance Necklace designed and made by Tone Vigeland:

Using a strict matrix by which to judge this piece one would say it's craft, it's a necklace after all and can be worn. However here's the problem, it can't actually be worn. It's made of hand forged and flattened steel to ultimately achieve a feather-like look. Because of  its construction it loses its function. So, is it craft or fine art? Should there even be a distinction? Or should we simply allow craft to stand side-by-side with painting in the hierarchy of the arts? 

- Grace

Ken Price: Ceramic Master

Los Angeles-based American artist Ken Price creates astounding ceramic sculptures that beg to be contemplated and evoke emotion rare from such a humble material. 

Out West

2010

Bro

2009

Sissy

2007

Marti

2006

L. Blue

1961

Untitled (Two Parts)

1974

Price's variety of work (more can be viewed at kenprice.com) illustrates his high level of skill. His ability to master both biomorphic as well as geometric shapes creates a wide range of work all bearing his signature. 

What do you think? Do you like Ken's work? Do you think his work is fine art or craft?

- Grace

Craft vs. Fine Art

Where is the line between craft and fine art? 

This is something I ponder often and get into discussions about more than I'd like. 

Is this woven basket craft or fine art? 

Should this basket be in a museum?

Why?

What about this set of nesting baskets? 

Would your mind change if I told you they were done by world renowned glass blower Dale Chihuly? 

This set is in a museum. 

What about this basket? 

Made in 1800 by Apache Indians. 

Native American art is craft. Native Americans didn't paint, instead they made baskets, sewed, crafted elaborate war bonnets. Is this not their fine art? 

This basket is also in a museum. 

Something to think about: it wasn't until 1567 that a distinction between craft and fine art was defined. And when it was defined architecture was considered above fine painting. 

Leonardo DaVinci thought sculpting was a low form of art because the artist got dirty while they created. 

Michelangelo was a sculptor and is considered a great artist of the Renaissance. 

- Grace

Harney Awe

So I'm a little late on this one, but I just stumbled across the work of Paper Engineer Benja Harney this past week and I am in awe. His work is superb! 

Harney creates paper sculptures for a lot of companies including but not limited to, Hermes (duh!), Lego, and Top Shop. 

I'm so jealous of his talent, I'm green! You can check out more of his work on his blog here.

Harney's work brings up the question that first appeared in the late 1500's---is his work craft or is it fine art? Where's the line between craft and fine art, and if there is one, should there be?

- Grace