While many of us enjoy buying beautiful, hand-crafted goods, we don’t always think of the positive impact our purchases have on our lives and community. In support of our Indie-pendence theme this month, I have 5 reasons to buy handmade.
1. Supports Local Economies
Buying from local businesses (crafters and artists) that are buying their supplies locally, you are putting your money back into the local economy, instead of large conglomerates that funnel their money to a headquarters across the country or across the world.
2. Builds Community
Supporting local artists allows a flourishing artistic community. It’s not just the local artists that benefit. It invites more galleries and boutiques as well as community artists projects, gardens, murals, arts education, and more.
3. Better Quality Goods
You know exactly what’s gone into each product and can speak with the crafter about the why and how of making each piece. In addition to the detailed craftsmanship, many handmade goods are made from natural or recycled materials. This and making the products to last for generations instead of years lessens our impact on the natural world.
4. More Beauty in Your Life
Many mundane and practical pieces used in everyday life can be enhanced by using instead beautifully crafted handmade goods. Beauty makes the soul rest easier and smiles more prevalent.
5. Responsible Buying
No sweatshops, less than minimum wage workers, nor corporate outsourcing. It feels good to be connected to where our goods come from, to know that each piece was made with joy and completed by one or maybe a handful of people.
Supporting handcrafted goods means we can become responsible for where our money goes and what we bring into our lives: beauty, health, and community.
Showing posts with label ArtByIris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ArtByIris. Show all posts
July 9, 2008
February 26, 2008
Thoughts about today's art world, artists and artisans
-by Iris Lavy
I've always felt myself to be a crafts person... know what I mean, this need in the hands, to do something, make something from nothing there's such a satisfaction in it... today's art world includes many artists who's art is mainly of concept, of an idea - that's the emphasis of today's 'high art' world.... but my fingers need to touch, move, make.... seems like the art world today wants to divorce from the 'crafty' side of the art. Many contemporary exhibitions are about an idea, which can be executed by anyone, all the artist has to do is conceive of the idea, clarify the instructions... It actually upsets me, as I feel it deprives us from one more thing amongst the many other things our modern, specialized society is depriving us... not that I don't respect an art of concepts and ideas, of thoughts and words, I do, and I see it as an additional, new form of art, but it saddens me to see that more and more, the art of crafting, the artists who still want to hold brushes and paint, clay, wood, paper scissors, artists who need to touch and mold metal and glass, or even specialize in the intricate technical details of correct exposure and camera aperture - are all being looked down on in today's 'high art' world. Today's high art is all about installations, statements - we have moved into the ultimate abstract - that was and should have been the next step from the abstract art of the 50's, or should it have been?
As an artist, I am always asking myself this question, what am I doing this for? I want to make a statement with my art, but what is my statement today? I know, one of my statements is certainly that creating art IS about crafting, it IS about making with your hands and your fingers.... I mean, it's great that the art world is expanding the way it is, but I still need to TOUCH the material, and mold my ideas into colors and shapes and lines, because it's the only
way for me to feel that my art is actually TOUCHING the heart of whoever sees and experiences it, and maybe they can take the piece I MADE and symbolically store it inside their heart by hanging it - or a reproduction of it in their visual environment - their home, or workplace, and have the image I created become an occasional visual reminder for them of the EXPERIENCE of being touched that way.... just like a beautiful piece of jewelry does to us when we wear it, or a dress, or a beautiful vase we place flowers in....
Iris Lavy
www.artbyiris.etsy.com
www.artbyiris.com
www.artbyiris.blogspot.com
-by Iris Lavy
I've always felt myself to be a crafts person... know what I mean, this need in the hands, to do something, make something from nothing there's such a satisfaction in it... today's art world includes many artists who's art is mainly of concept, of an idea - that's the emphasis of today's 'high art' world.... but my fingers need to touch, move, make.... seems like the art world today wants to divorce from the 'crafty' side of the art. Many contemporary exhibitions are about an idea, which can be executed by anyone, all the artist has to do is conceive of the idea, clarify the instructions... It actually upsets me, as I feel it deprives us from one more thing amongst the many other things our modern, specialized society is depriving us... not that I don't respect an art of concepts and ideas, of thoughts and words, I do, and I see it as an additional, new form of art, but it saddens me to see that more and more, the art of crafting, the artists who still want to hold brushes and paint, clay, wood, paper scissors, artists who need to touch and mold metal and glass, or even specialize in the intricate technical details of correct exposure and camera aperture - are all being looked down on in today's 'high art' world. Today's high art is all about installations, statements - we have moved into the ultimate abstract - that was and should have been the next step from the abstract art of the 50's, or should it have been?As an artist, I am always asking myself this question, what am I doing this for? I want to make a statement with my art, but what is my statement today? I know, one of my statements is certainly that creating art IS about crafting, it IS about making with your hands and your fingers.... I mean, it's great that the art world is expanding the way it is, but I still need to TOUCH the material, and mold my ideas into colors and shapes and lines, because it's the only
way for me to feel that my art is actually TOUCHING the heart of whoever sees and experiences it, and maybe they can take the piece I MADE and symbolically store it inside their heart by hanging it - or a reproduction of it in their visual environment - their home, or workplace, and have the image I created become an occasional visual reminder for them of the EXPERIENCE of being touched that way.... just like a beautiful piece of jewelry does to us when we wear it, or a dress, or a beautiful vase we place flowers in....Iris Lavy
www.artbyiris.etsy.com
www.artbyiris.com
www.artbyiris.blogspot.com
January 24, 2008
Love is in the Air!
CARDS, STATIONARY & TAGSFrom gift tags, to cards, original art, and prints, The {NewNew}'s got it all for Valentine's Day. Check out these great holiday themed items from FineArtist, LucidDreamDesigns and Stereoette.
GIFTS FOR THE GAL IN YOUR LIFEAnd for that HOT Femme in your life the {NewNew} has some great jewelry, clothing, fine art, candles and more! This selection of items by Art By Iris, Bead Scarf,Brooklyn Bee, Brooklyn Butterfly, Cakehouse, JT Stitches, Dew On A Petal, KimmChi, Fine Artist, Nina Dinoff, Ms. Kitty Fantastico, and the lovelyStereoette
GIFTS FOR THE GUY IN YOUR LIFEFor the Guy in your Life, we've got some great stuff, from shirts to iphone cozies, cufflinks and more! By Art By Iris, Brooklyn Bee, Cakehouse, JT Stitches, KimmChi, Fine Artist, Nina Dinoff, Ms. Kitty Fantastico
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