The Labor of Art

This study examines artists who pursue labor-intensive art forms. Artisans were specifically chosen due to the laborious nature of their craft, whether it be the time dedicated to or the physical demand required to finish a work of art. Throughout this study I seek to find why they continue to practice their art in the midst of a society where like pieces can be mass produced and sold at bottom dollar. I conduct semiformal interviews with these artists to understand their stories and identify their “why.” This inquiry uncovered five commonalities among the artists: Teacher, Memory, Embodiment, Family, and Challenge. These themes are not just interconnections between the interviewed artists, but may also suggest connections between the crafts and fine art