Damascus; is it art or not art ?

[bjalongi]

Is that a damascus cheeze spreader?

I like it.

Yes it's art. It seems as though many knife makers who make damascus knives, do so for the asthetic aspects of the pattern. Yes, it's strong, but so are many other types of high carbon steels.

 

[bjalongi]

I would have to say that damascus id not art, it is a medium. Like wood, paint, silver, or clay, there is no inherent art in the medium, the art comes from the person manipulating the medium, in this case the damascus smith.

Ken

I disagree, slightly. Yes, damascus is a medium, however, its a secondary medium. The beginning meduium is steel, nickel, etc. For example, high dollar fabrics can be an art form all by them selves and can accent a room, piece of furniture, or the like, with no manipulation. Thread was used to make the fabric, so in this case thread is the medium.

Darn logic class.

 

[John Frankl]

With a good propane forge and hydraulic press, I can teach a chimp to make pattern welded steel. No, in and of itself it is not an art.

The art, whether in steel or any other medium, has little to do with the material itself. Rather, it is in how it is manipulated.

John

 

[deker]

I would have to say that damascus id not art, it is a medium. Like wood, paint, silver, or clay, there is no inherent art in the medium, the art comes from the person manipulating the medium, in this case the damascus smith.

Ken

Where I'd argue that steel is the medium and the pattern welding is the manipulation of the medium that creates the art.

-d

 

[rhrocker]

Here's one of my pattern welded knives. I used 1095 & 15n20. Is it art? No, not in my opinion. Why? I learned how to make the blade by reading two of Jim Hrisoulas books, The Complete Bladesmith, and also The Master Bladesmith, by the same author. On page 233 of The Master Bladesmith, Jim says "Damascus steel has taken the custom cutlery world by storm. At one time in the not-so-recent past, only top bladesmiths had mastered the ability to make a pattern-welded blade. But today this has changed. There are more makers welding top quality blades then ever before. And, while it takes time and practice to learn this skill, it is not as difficult as some would have you believe." However I like what he says on page 234: "Making a patterned blade gives a smith the opportunity to express himself creatively, something rather uncommon in today's rush-and-hustle world. Many people believe that each blade has a soul. Maybe it's true, for I can see things in a well patterned blade that transcent the beauty of the steel. Look for yourself. You may see them too."
So he's sort of saying it's in the eye of the beholder, be it the maker, or some other person. Did Jims instructions make me an "artist". No. Is my knife "art"? It is to my Dad who it belongs to now. For me though, it's not a bad job of making a damascus billet into a ladder-pattern Bowie-style knife. I have a long way to go though. This is my 19th year playing in my forge, and I've only scratched the surface. I seriously doubt that I'll become any form of pattern-steel artist in my lifetime, I'm just not that good yet.
I love Don's title he gave his photos, "Artsy-fartsy". I'll borrow his title for a bit and give it to my knife.

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[Whoever Wherever]

Art (as defined by me) creation of unique self expression that suprasses the maker or function.

Therefore in my mind self expression and art have nothing to do with one another. All art may be self expression but not vice versa. Bethoven has been dead forever. I have no idea about him, his time, or the social context of his work. It is not even in a medium I listen to in present day. Despite all this I feel what he is saying. His art has become mnore than he himself could ever be.

Also art is topographicly different than comunication. Another thing I think people get into is that art should comunicate something to the enduser. I believe that ideal comunication is a straight line. In ideal comunication person B would get exactly what person A was comunicting without variable, addition or subtraction. Art on the other hand is more of a triangle. There is the artists view of his work and what it means and expresses to him/her. Then there is each persons view of the art when they experience it. And lastly there is the combined effect of the perception and exposure of the art to the public on a whole. This would be best expressed by Loveless' work. After seeing his work the world of knife making has been changed forever.

Due to my criteria I would consider Damascus both past and pressent as art when at its best. I do believe simply duplicating existing patterns becomes Craft and not art however.