Comments on: Art and artisans: the debate we had to have

By: Kevin Murray

Kevin Murray — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:10:40 +0000

Thanks Andrew. This site is the best place to keep in touch. But I’ll also put you down for Two Hands, a seasonal newsletter.

By: andrew widdis

andrew widdis — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:27:45 +0000

Hello Kevin,
Thanks for your reply.
Please let me know more about, or how I can follow/research “a Code of Practice for Craft-Design Collaborations”.
Cheers, Andrew.

By: Kevin Murray

Kevin Murray — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:57:06 +0000

Thanks for the comment Andrew. It’s very important that we hear from makers like yourself about the opportunities for out-sourcing. Certainly, there’s a sadness that you are being forced to take this option, due to the lesser value of handmade here (hopefully that will change one day). But at the same time, I can see that you like many find the association with makers in more traditional societies most inspiring. As far as I know, Fair Trade deal mostly with associations, rather than individuals. There is a Code of Practice for Craft-Design Collaborations in development, though that won’t be around for a while. But we’d certainly welcome your thoughts as it evolves.

By: andrew widdis

andrew widdis — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:24:18 +0000

Hello Kevin,
Seems there is a lot of talk about Western artists getting work made in third world countries as a way of keeping costs down.
I have been heading this way for a number of years now. I can’t make a living making ceramics in Australia. I can’t compete with Maxwell and Williams, and Australians do not have an appreciation for the handmade.
I tried to find a manufacturer in Australia to make my ceramics. I spoke with Bendigo pottery. The product they were prepared to make for me was in mid-fire clay, not porcelain, a poor colour range, chunky and at ten times the price of Asia.
I’ve finally realised that Australia has never had a strong ceramics manufacturing industry. So, having no success finding someone who could make anything similar to what I want in Australia I decided to look at getting ceramics made in China or the like.
I’ve settled on Vietnam to have my ceramics made. I was there in 2004 and bought a lovely hand thrown bowl. Made in a small factory in Batrang Village, I liked how it was still a craft in Vietnam. Not mass produced white ware from China.
My only remaining issue is how to ensure a proper environment/lifestyle/pay for the person making my work. I see something like “Fairtrade” as vital. It not only gives me a peace of mind, but it also conveys that to the end buyer.
Over the next month I will contact Fairtrade to see if they would cover ceramic production in Vietnam. I know they cover handcrafts from the highlands of Vietnam.
If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them.
Cheers,
P.S. I still plan to make as much as I do now. It’s what I love to do. Having work made overseas will give me the ability to make a living.

By: Paola Moreno

Paola Moreno — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:49:27 +0000

Muchas gracias por este post … es TAN importante que estos temas estén hablandose en alguna parte del mundo. Ojalá el Código de Práctica sea un buen incentivo para continuar esta discusión en otras partes del sur y del norte.