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The Arts and Crafts movement began as a form of rebellion against the Industrial Revolution of 19th century England. Numerous people of the time felt displaced by the rising of factories and mass produced products meant to enhance our daily lives. This feeling has carried through to the present. It is not uncommon to find people who are stressed out by the hustle and bustle of every day life, looking for the simpler times and the feel of something handmade. The movement celebrated the values of those handmade items and their creative use of traditional techniques handed down from generation to generation. Some of the better known members of the movement have designs which are still influential today; William Morris for his designs in textiles, John Ruskin and Oscar Wilde for their writings which helped to fuel the movement, and Gustav Stickley for his architectural designs in regards to the craftsman style bungalow. While the movement itself gave rise in England, it is not surprising at how well it was received in America. Our desire to continue our separation from being a colony to being an independent nation fueled the movement here and gave birth to the nation's first arts and crafts school, Rookwood Pottery which was founded in 1889 in Cincinnati. Then following close behind came the New York School of Ceramics in Alred in 1900. Also, around the same time, Berea College and Arrowmont School were founded in the southeastern states. Today the movement still has momentum; numerous schools now offer degrees in fine arts which prior to World War II was not the case. Also, fairs and events dot the countryside in early spring and late fall highlighting the ingenuity and creativity of people from all walks of life. In a world where technology and mass production seem to infiltrate everything, it is comforting to see we have not strayed so far from our rich and vibrant history.
Source material for the Craft Arts History comes from artist interviews, artists' own personal writings, "Crafting as a Business" by Wendy Rosen, "The Forgotten Arts & Crafts" by John Seymour and "The complete Book of Rug Hooking" by Joan Moshimer. Heirloom Crafters has made every attempt to check the accuracy of the Craft Arts History section of this website and assumes no responsibility for any unforeseen errors or omissions.
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