Arts and Crafts Revolution?

Queen Victoria Opens The Great Exhibition

When people speak of the Arts & Crafts Movement of the 19th century they generally think of the art form we associate with it. However, there was a cause as there are in all movements of it's kind that still resonates to this day. It was a call to arms against the onslaught of industry and the destruction of craft work. A call to arms that may need to be trumpeted again. Here is a short version of the circumstances surrounding the movement.

On May 1, 1851 Britain opened "The Great Exhibition of All Nations" which was intended by Albert and Victoria to be a celebration of Britains industrial strength as well as foster an appreciation for free trade and industrialism. The problem was that many in Britain did not see this industrialism and free trade as a blessing but more a curse. Industry was making some people wealthy and others poor thus dividing the nation into a deplorable class imbalance. If I may borrow the words "A nation of masters and wage-slaves was emerging." A nation devoid of social responsibility of any kind. This issue and debate I might add is complicated. Too complicated for me to cover in this blog plus there is plenty of information out there on the subject.

As quickly as industrialization was destroying values and deepening the class divide it was equally crushing the craftsman under it's weight. The economic part is easy to digest since we see this still today too. The artisan soon found himself put out of business in the name of price, volume and convenience. More damaging still is the social change that took place. Industrial goods were being glamorized and idolized so much at the time that people no longer valued craft work in the way they had. Again, it's much more complicated than what I am laying out here but you understand where I am going.

William Morris at Oxford Aged 23

Then comes The Arts & Crafts Movement. It's founding members were nostalgic about the works created by ancient artists and craftsman. They were hungry to bring back products that exemplified hard work, passion, originality and craftsmanship as opposed to the uniformity of mass production. They desired to rescue the lost arts and techniques of craft work before they disappeared from our world forever. The movement blossomed from about 1880 through 1910 but lasted quite a bit longer in some places around the world.

It's interesting that these ideals the followers of the Arts & Crafts movement lived by are so similar to the ideals many artists of today have founded their businesses on. I myself founded Ferrochie on the principles and values of hand crafted work but at the time never made the connection. Many artists I have spoken to didn't realize how closely aligned we are with the sentiment of that time. I wonder if there is something we can learn from this past movement that may give rise to a new modern movement based on today's realities.
One thing is for certain in my mind and it's that industrialization is here to stay. It's a major part of our world economy and is as necessary as drinking water in keeping it running. I've never been against industrialization as those of the movement were either. I feel that we just lost touch with the fact that machines are tools for humans to use to help us create. They are not tools to help us become lazy, disconnected from our work and ultimately lose valuable skills. The moment we allow a machine to dictate the design of something or force us to change our design because it's easier, we lose. However, the social disasters that they feared do still haunt us today. Look at the ridiculous wage gaps between the average worker and the executives of any given organization. Lowering worker benefits while increasing executive bonuses is another. These as well as a host of other inequalities in the workplace exist in excess. It's now such common place that our system has adjusted to work with this issue rather than to correct it. Education is geared to preparing young people for this reality as though it's the only option. You need only look as far as the vast number of fast food MBA's available to see it. These days very few schools offer education in crafts, trades or the like. Why? No market for it.

Can we get back to a place and time when hand craft is more main stream and respected again? Some of us think we can or at least I do. I'd settle for a time an place where hard work, dedication and passion are respected and rewarded in any career choice. A place where we can reconnect with the humanity in produced goods rather than the profit in it.