Craft Schmaft

Since the early seventies the distinction between art and craft has been increasingly blurred. Material Pursuits, a new show at the University of Vermont's Flemming Museum, continues to call attention to this outdated debate. And while the premise of the show depends on this dichotomy the curators push far beyond this simplistic comparison. Yarn, fabric, and other materials usually the domain of the crafter, as well as the knitting, crocheting, and sewing with which these materials are held together are now, without a doubt, part of the contemporary artists arsenal. No longer the domain of the domestic, artists like Alicia Dworsky and Jason Middlebrook explore the potential of all potential materials to achieve their artistic ends. The art vs. craft debate may or may not be over, but for the artists in this show, it is inconsequential.