What is found in the archives brings up themes of what is “traditionally” considered archivable and shows how craft is stripped of its multiplicity. The lack of inclusion of craft– the practice, the artists, and the objects themselves– ignores how it can be a way of thinking and making connections that go beyond aesthetic qualities of objects. Craft can speak to us of what is important, what is relevant, and what is lasting in our society. Stories told through craft can show connection to our body memory, acknowledge labor, and serve as a constant dialogue between personal histories and material. The multiplicity of crafts and its definitions– layering of various skills, relationship to place and community, and material knowledge– suggests the crucial role they have in preserving cultural heritage.
How do you archive an object without losing its materiality and meaning?
Think of holding a pot in your hands. What does it tell you?
What can be gained or lost though preservation?
To understand the complexity and multiplicity of craft is to know that there isn’t a definitive answer.