The Craft Factor - The Development of Craft Sales

Volume 9, number 2, Spring 1984

The SCC's annual summertime market is coming up later this month. On June 28th, the WaterFront Craft Art Market will be held in Kiwanis Park North (Spadina Cres. & 22nd St) from 10am-7pm. As we gear up for this exciting event, let's take a look back 30 years at the first SCC market to be held in Saskatoon.

In the spring of 1984, the SCC hosted Spring Winds, and for the Spring issue of The Craft Factor 1984, interviewer Michelle Heinemann spoke with market coordinator Sandra Ledingham about the new show.

Many of the reasons for holding a market remain true today, as do many of Sandra's tips for successful booth design.

Read the full article here

Join us for WaterFront on June 28th! Check out the Facebook page or the SCC website for more info.

The Craft Factor - The Many Faces of Michael Hosaluk

Volume 18, Number 1 Summer 1993

The current show on display at the Affinity Gallery is "Put a Wedge in It" - an exhibition of new work by artist, craftsperson, designer and maker Michael Hosaluk and invited friends. Using the wedge as their theme for discovery, the group of collaborators have created a range of fascinating and diverse works.

Hosaluk: Expedition (Wedge Heads)
Photo: Vivian Orr

Michael is a longtime member of the SCC and his exhibitions have graced the gallery over the years. In 1993, his show "Faces/Places" was in the gallery, and today we will take a look at the article "The Many Faces of Michael Hosaluk" written by Alicia Popoff about that show.

The article discusses Michael's style and analyzes a number of the pieces.

Read the fulll article here

"Put a Wedge in It" can be viewed in the Affinity Gallery until February 22, 2014.  Learn more about the show here

The Craft Factor - Dimensions

Volume 11, Number 2 Summer 1986

Dimensions is the Saskatchewan Craft Council’s touring, juried, exhibition of Fine Craft open to all Saskatchewan craftspeople. Dimensions is a dynamic, colourful exhibition of thirty-five Fine Craft works in a wide variety of media. 
2013 celebrates the 30th  Dimensions exhibition organized by the Saskatchewan Craft Council. As we welcome Dimensions into our gallery once again, let us take a look back.

The thirty-five works in Dimensions '86 are as dynamic and varied as the works in Dimensions today.  

A sample of pieces from Dimensions '86

Dimensions 2013 at the Affinity Gallery

Annemarie Buchmann-Gerber is one craftsperson who has had work selected for numerous Dimensions over the years, including 1986.  

Annemarie Buchmann-Gerber
A Midsummernight's Dream - Dimensions 1986
(detail shown)

This year, Annemarie was awarded the Premier’s Prize Award for the Outstanding Entry, for her piece Homo Sapiens on Stitches.

Annemarie Buchmann-Gerber, Saskatoon

Homo Sapiens on Stitches

Photography: Grant Kernan, AK Photos

This piece, along with the other outstanding works in Dimensions 2013 can be viewed at the Affinity Gallery from November 15, 2013 to January 5, 2014

Reception: January 3 from 7-9pm

The Craft Factor - Marketing in Cyberspace

Vol 20, No 2 Summer/Fall 1995

In the mid 90s, Karen Schoonover addressed issues around artists using the Internet - still a very new thing in most households, workplaces and schools at the time - to market them self. The internet was - and still is - a low-cost option for artists to use for self promotion, and as an inherently visual medium, offered much potential to boost awareness about an artist and their work.

Excerpt from "Marketing in Cyberspace"

If you need to be reminded: What radio did was bring music into people's homes for free, giving them a sample of what the musician had to offer, and encouraging album sales. The hope was that artists could offer sample images of their work online, and this exposure would lead to sales.

Unlike the music industry however, sales in art and craft aren't charted via tools like Billboards Top 20 (which is based on hard figures from album sales). So the direct connection between online exposure and eventual sales can't be measured.

But if you consider how often a potential customer or gallery owner asks you if they can view images of your work online, then you can begin to understand just how close to the mark Karen was almost 20 years ago.

Read the complete article ...

The Craft Factor - Mel Bolen

Vol 26 No 2 Winter 2002

Currently at Affinity Gallery is Two Perspectives, an exhibition of work by ceramic artist Mel Bolen and painter Karen Holden. The exhibition is unique juxtaposition of sculpture and painting and an exploration of surface and texture in nature.

These are concepts Mel Bolen has been exploring for most of his craft career, which spans over 40 years. In 2002, artist Grant McConnell reviewed an exhibition by Bolen, "Salt of the Earth" at Darrell Bell Gallery. The review was accompanied by a first hand account of Bolen's process in creating his sculptural masterpieces.

Read the complete articles ...

The Craft Factor - Winning and Losing

Vol 20, No 2 Summer/Fall 1995

Paula Gustafson tackled an issue artists of many mediums (not just craft) face over the course of their career: Am I an artist, or a producer? Does it have to be one or the other? Can I be both? Gustafson explores this issue with thoughtfulness and some very good examples of life on both sides of the craft (and art) career spectrum. Much of the article takes direction from the experiences of potter Robin Hopper, and glass artist Robert Held. Both agreed that to some extent, their experiences with production work led to a better understanding of their craft, and contributed to their skill building process.

So maybe it doesn't have to be one or the other, if the artist allows each aspect of their practice to enhance the other.

Read the full article

The Craft Factor - Better Booths

Vol 13, No 3 Fall 1988

Submitted in the Fall of 1988, the article "Better Booths" from set designer Michael Bantjes came at an oportune time, just before the Christmas craft show season. The article succinctly covers a variety of topics in respect to booth design and product display.

Read the full article

Craft artists face many challenges when selling at craft markets, not the least of which is that every venue is different - lighting, booth size, drape colour, market size and booth layout etc. Marketers need to be able to adjust to the pros and cons of each venue.

September 6th at the SCC building in Saskatoon, Susan Robertson will be leading a workshop on Booth Design. Susan will present a number of ideas about how to go about designing your booth for craft shows, some of the Do's and Dont's of booth display, and share some economical solutions for craft display! Friday September 6th 2-4pm at the SCC Boardroom, 3rd Floor 813 Broadway Ave
SCC Members $10
Non Members $15
Space is limited!
Attendees are encouraged to bring pictures of their own past displays/booths for feedback and advice on improvement.
DEADLINE to register AUGUST 26th email scc.memberservices@sasktel.net

The Craft Factor - Sask Handcraft Festival 1980 - 1990

Our weekly Craft Factor post comes early this week, as we continue to look at the history of the Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival, which celebrates 40 years this weekend! July 19-21, 2013 at the Alex Dillabough Centre, Battleford.

In The Craft Factor, we find a wonderful record of the festival up to 1990. After this date, The Craft Factor shifted focus to devote more space to review exhibitions of craft, and reports on the festival moved to the SCC's member newsletter, The Bulletin, as well as briefs in Annual Reports.

As mentioned in the previous post, jurying of the craft artists exhibiting at the craft market began in 1979. The jury continued to refine this process in 1980, and came out of the selection of marketers with some observations and suggestions for future jury sessions.

Read the complete article Vol 5 No 2 June 1980

1980 also marked the first year that the Saskatchewan Craft Council took over organization of the craft market from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. June Jacobs of Meacham was the first SCC Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival coordinator.

The Craft Factor - The Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival in the mid to late 70's

The Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival began in 1974, Sponsored by The Saskatchewan Department of Industry and Commerce and the Town of Battleford. The first couple of festivals/craft markets were organized by the Department of Industry in cooperation with a group of volunteers known as "The Battleford Committee"

1976 marked the first year that the newly formed Saskatchewan Craft Council took over the responsibility to organize the juried craft competition at the market (which would later go by the name Dimensions).

Excerpt from "Battleford Postscript" October 1976

Read the full article Vol 1, No 4, October 1976

In 1977 there were some problems with the exhibition space as the Town of Battleford was still completing work on the much anticipated New Arena. Also, craft artists reported problems with the camping sites (which most of them used over the weekend) including inadequate shower facilities. It is a testament to the commitment from the Town of Battleford even early on in the festival, that improvements were made by the next summer!

The Craft Factor - 25th Anniversary Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival

Vol 23, No 3, Winter 1998/99

Former Member Services Coordinator Chris Jones organized 14 Saskatchewan Handcraft Festivals during his nearly 15 years with the Saskatchewan Craft Council. In 1998, Chris submitted this article on the 25th Anniversary of the Festival, in his 2nd year with the SCC.

Excerpt from "Impressions from the Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival"

Read the complete article ...

Left: Winston Quan (will be at the 40th SHF in 2013)
Right: Zach Dietrich and Wendy Parsons

The Craft Factor - Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival 10th Anniversary

Vol 8, No 3, Summer 1983

The 40th Annual Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival takes place this coming July 19-21, 2013

Leading up to this momentous occasion, on Talking Craft, we'll take a look back at the history of the Festival, beginning with this report from the 10th Annual Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival. The SHF has undergone many changes over the years, but the one thing that has remained constant, is the support from the Town of Battleford.

Excerpt from 10th Annual SHF Report

The Town of Battleford continues to provide the Alex Dillabough Centre to the SCC for no charge, including staff time, which is an investment worth thousands of dollars. This contributes greatly to the continued success of the Handcraft Festival.

Read the complete article ...

The Craft Factor - On Reviewing Craft

Vol 12, No 3, Fall 1987

The Craft Factor often featured reviews on current exhibits at the Saskatchewan Craft Council Gallery, or reviews on other exhibitions of craft by SCC members across the province. In this article from Susan Eckenwalder, the role of the review (and critiques in general) in the realm of craft is explored.

Excerpt from "On Reviewing Craft"

Eckenwalder discusses the need for reviews, as well as ways to review thoughtfully and respectfully.

Read the entire article ...

The Craft Factor - Saskatchewan Arts Board Part 3

Vol 15, No 1, Spring 1990

The final article in the series "Championing the Crafts - The Role of the Saskatchewan Arts Board in the Development of Crafts" covers 1968 - 1975 and the birth of the Saskatchewan Craft Council. This final installment was written by Brian Volke, a graduate of the U of R BFA program (in painting) and an accomplished musician.

Excerpt from Part 3 of "Championing the Crafts"

Read the complete article ...

Read Championing the Crafts Part 1
Read Championing the Crafts Part 2

The Craft Factor - Saskatchewan Arts Board Part 2

Vol 14, No 1, Spring 1989

Part 2 of The Craft Factor's highlight on the Saskatchewan Arts Board "Championing the Crafts" ran in the Spring 1989 edition and was written by U of R Professor, Alexandra Wittock, and covered the second decade, from 1958 - 1968. Wittock chronicles the growth of art and craft organizations, as well as noting how different craft forms fared.

Excerpt from "Championing the Craft - The Second Decade"

Read the complete article ...

Read Championing the Crafts Part 1
Championing the Crafts Part 3 (June 12, 2013)

The Craft Factor - Saskatchewan Arts Board Part 1

Vol 13, No 3, Fall 1988

The Saskatchewan Arts Board is celebrating the organizations 65th Anniversary in 2013. Support from the SAB was fundamental in the creation of the Saskatchewan Craft Council, in helping the SCC secure funding in the early days and continuing to support funding for the SCC, and in recognizing craft as an art form.

Long before the SCC was officially ratified in 1975, the Handicraft Committee of the Saskatchewan Arts Board had been organizing craft markets, juried touring exhibitions, workshops and artists in residence programs.

In the Fall of 1988, the late Jane Turnbull Evans submitted Part 1 of a 3 part series in The Craft Factor "Championing the Crafts: The Role of the Saskatchewan Arts Board in The Development of Crafts - The First Ten Years"

Excerpt from Part 1 of "Championing the Crafts" Vol 13, No 3 - Fall 1988

Read the full article ...

Upcoming related posts:

Championing the Crafts Part 2 (June 5, 2013)
Championing the Crafts Part 3 (June 12, 2013)

The Craft Factor - Member Participation Urged at AGM

Vol 10 No 2, Summer 1985

The 2013 AGM for the Saskatchewan Craft Council takes place this Saturday, May 25th at The Neil Balkwill Centre in Regina, with pizza at 5:30pm and the AGM beginning at 6:30pm. In addition to the presentation of reports and financial statements, new board members are also voted in to fill vacant positions ... if quorum (a minimum of 25 voting members) is reached. In the 1985 Craft Factor, SCC member Joan Flood summed up the issue of attendance at the AGM (with no small amount of grace):

Excerpt from "Member Participation Urged at AGM"

Please join us at this year's AGM - in addition to the business of the AGM and voting, the event gives members the chance to meet and chat with the SCC board and staff face-to-face, rather than via email or over the telephone. We certainly relish that chance, which is all too infrequent.

See you at the AGM!

Read the complete article ...

The Craft Factor - SCC Adopts Sale Standards

TCF Vol 3 No 2, May 1978 and TCF Vol 3 No 3, August 1978

This week we take a look back at the birth of the Saskatchewan Craft Council jury standards. The standards and criteria where introduced primarily as a way to ensure the quality and originality of work offered for sale at all SCC organized craft sales. That remains the case today: Juried status (aka Marketing status) with the SCC is for the purpose of selling work at SCC sales, namely: WaterFront, Saskatchewan Handcraft Festival and WinterGreen.

Excerpt from "SCC Adopts Sale Standards"
Vol 3 No 2, May 1978

The Craft Factor: Vol 1 Issue 1 - Founding Members

Published the fall of 1974, The Craft Factor was a newsletter simply titled, "The Saskatchewan Craft Council Is" and contained reports from the founding conference, a craft quiz, a list of craft outlets and supplies as well as a recipe section.

Most noteably, the inaugural issue of what would become a defining publication for the SCC contained the list of the first paid members of the SCC!

For the complete article ...