JOHN'S MARQUETRY FORUM

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WARNING!! THIS PAGE CAN BECOME CONTROVERSIAL AND IS INTENDED TO BE INFORMATIVE, PROVOCATIVE AND FORTHRIGHT. I WILL EXPRESS MY HONEST VIEWS AND I INVITE EVERYONE ELSE TO DO THE SAME. IF SOME ICONOCLASTIC OPINIONS ARE PRESENTED BY ANYONE, PLEASE LET US ALL KEEP THINGS ON THE HIGHEST LEVEL AND NOT GET PERSONAL. ALSO ANYTHING I WRITE ON THIS SITE IS COPYWRITED BY ME AND ANYTHING SUBMITTED BY OTHERS MUST NECESSARILY BE REPRODUCED WITH THE ORIGINATOR'S FULL PERMISSION.

DATE: Sun, 27 April 1997

FROM: John Eifler

SUBJECT: THE BACK OF A PICTURE

MESSAGE: My very first statement should tell you a little bit about my methods. Walls do not have eyes and backs of pictures go against walls. Apply a veneer backing onto the back of every picture. This is to compensate for the stresses caused by the veneer applied to the front surface. It also makes for a more finished product. It also gives the artist or craftsman a place to write a world of information for posterity and anyone who is interested. I use a ball point pen right on the unfinished but sanded wood and I write the following: 1- I give the picture a title. 2- If it is an original, I say, "An original." If it is a copy, I give credits. 3- I sign my name. 4- I date it with the finish date. 5- If it is a gift, I personalize it in any manner I wish with appropriate comments plus the date of the gift and my name as that person would use it such as Dad, John or Grampy.

After I do all the writing, I burn my initials into the back lower right corner with a stamp I made and then I apply the same finish to the back that I put on the front. That process is for another day. The walls do not know the difference, but many years from now some person may care to look, and that thought excites me. :-) John.

URL: http://www.wood-veneers.com/j-home.htm

E-mail: JohnEif@aol.com

REPLY # 1

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DATE: Sat, 21 Dec 1996

FROM: John Eifler

SUBJECT: Art vs. craft with veneer and anything else

MESSAGE: To everyone! I would like to open up a discussion concerning art vs. craft. Are they really as far apart as some people would have you believe? Can there be such a thing as pure craft or pure art. In other words, can an artist of any type function properly without learning the craft necessary to properly perform that art? And can a craftsperson perform that craft in a pleasing and aesthetic manner without it being somewhat artistic?

It is my contention that any form of art cannot be performed properly until that artist has mastered all the tools, mediums and processes necessary to convey to the viewer a certain message or feeling. By the same set of standards how can craft or any meaningful task lack aesthetic aspects? Where is the dividing line? Cannot a veneered project become a work of art? What about wood inlaying, or marquetry, done artistically and with superb craftsmanship? Is that pure craft? How about a stack of car bumpers called a sculpture? Why is that automatically art? And what about a poorly done painting that has no aesthetic value because the "artist" did not posess the skills necessary to perform the craft of painting in an artful manner? Is that really art?

How about some of you artists and craftspeople making some comments about this rather controversial issue? Thanks.

URL: http://www.wood-veneers.com/j-home.htm

E-mail: JohnEif@aol.com

REPLY # 1

DATE: Sun, 19 Jan 1997
FROM: Lars Gandarve
SUBJECT: RE:Art vs. craft with veneer and anything else

MESSAGE: Comment about Art versus Craft.

Don't think this is a good subjekt, art is better done than discussed, even though it has to bee.

In spite of that, here is what I think to day:

There no way to safely pinpoint art by quality standards, Whats good in one context might be bad in another. The media (Oil on canvas, or veneer or what so ever) is only a vehicle. Art is defined in the spectators mind, by intelectual work and by comparing idéas, own and others. It's also defined by people who has gained respect for their opinions.

One definition that I like is that art has to be exploring.

Lars Gandarve

URL: http://www.cadvis.se

E-mail: lars.gandarve@swipnet.se

REPLY # 2

DATE: Wed, 7 May 1997
FROM: John Sedgwick
SUBJECT: RE:Art vs. craft with veneer and anything else

MESSAGE: Hello again John I am connected at home now and have had a little time to browse your home pages to add to your Art-v-craft statements first let me say I agree with your first paragraph completly. As would Michael Angelo, Rodan and most of the classic artists. Unfortunately that which 99% of us mere mortals regards as art has little meaning for most of todays more economically sucessfull artists and their promoters. The quest for a higher meaning of life or its representation has become the quest for some leaving a trail of unfulfillred representations in their path. Rather like the search for hidden meaning of the clasic ink blot, when it is simply just an ink blot. At some point in the distant future the path of the art and the artist in most of this century will be described as the "wilderness years" . Sooner or later BS will not be saleable except as fertilizer. Untill then I will be happy to be a Marquetrian and leave the Art/ Craft clasification to the viewer.

Regards John Sedgwick

E-mail: sedgwick@skylinc.net

REPLY # 2a

DATE: Wed, 7 May 1997
FROM: John Eifler
SUBJECT: RE:Art vs. craft with veneer and anything else

MESSAGE: Hi again John! I threw that blurb out on Dave's site a couple months ago and as you can see it got one response. Thank you for yours and it will be added to that page. I make some pictures that I feel are well done craft and some of them,I feel, are legitimate art. I was a bit upset a few years ago when I was snubbed by the Boulder, Colorado Art Society. I will refer to your pictures which I have seen as Art anytime. John Eifler

E-mail: JohnEif@aol.com

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