For Art’s Sake

Back in March, Reuters released the results of an investigation to uncover the identity of British street artist Banksy. While Banksy’s true name has been an open secret among fellow artists, and other news sources have guessed at it in the past, the article provided extensive evidence that led to the conclusive unmasking.

If you haven’t read any of the multiple news stories that have rippled out since, I’m not going to ruin the surprise here. Like many others, I appreciated Banksy’s anonymity, as it added a certain je ne sais quoi to his artwork. I enjoyed coming across his pieces as I surfed the net, including “Flower Thrower,” “NOLA (Umbrella Girl)” and “Lizzy Stardust.” And who could forget the infamous “Girl with Balloon” shredding incident at Sotheby’s auction in 2018? Each piece is a commentary on culture – sometimes profound, sometimes satirical and many times both. That’s enough for me.

Then there are times when a person’s motivations enhance a creation.

Craft projects and fine art pieces are often entertaining to look at and are even useful (I still proudly wear a couple of my grandma’s hand-knit scarves when winter comes around), but there is so much more that goes on behind the scenes. This, in my humble opinion, is where the real magic resides. I enjoy learning about how a creator got into a specific medium, what inspired them to pursue a certain project and how their work has resounded with audiences. That knowledge makes the piece even richer and beautiful in my eyes.

I recently received a New York Times newsletter that noted the passing of John Bassinger whose claim to fame was to have memorized the entirety of John Milton’s “Paradise Lost.” The obituary noted that Bassinger “devoted himself to pursuits that some would have dismissed as fanciful,” such as walking from New York to San Francisco. That phrase struck a nerve.

When it comes to art, crafting, general hobbies or passion projects, who are we to dismiss anything on how nonsensical we perceive it to be? Everyone’s entitled to their opinion of course, but at least we can credit the effort a person put into a pursuit.

For example, I might refrain from using a holey handmade potholder gifted a young relative, but I can understand how much time, guidance and courage it took to make it. While visiting an exhibit on David Hockney (may he rest in peace) wouldn’t be high on my to-do list, I appreciate how much he studied, experimented with art forms and ultimately influenced the pop art movement. History is not my forte, yet I applaud the artisans at museums and historical sites who are using traditional handcrafting techniques to recreate textiles and flags in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. Although not every Banksy installation is my cup of tea, I admire the tenacity and creative thinking it takes to design and display avant-garde art.

Learning about and sharing the stories behind business ventures and works of creation in the art and craft industry thrill me to no end. These narratives enrich the end products, adding context and meaning. Time after time, I engage with incredible entrepreneurs, creatives and businesspeople who seek to expand and enrich this industry. You’ll find a sampling in these pages.

Carol Jaeger came out of retirement to open an art supply store in Damariscotta, ME that not only caters to the multitude of resident artists but fulfill her creative interests. Zahra Ammar and Tasneem Kapadia joined forces to introduce crafters of all ages to paper quilling through their company My Creative Camp. Retailers across the country are finding fun, new ways to engage with their creative neighbors.

Whether you simply appreciate art or find backstories intriguing, we welcome you to the community.