If you were to take a trip down the length of the state of Illinois and into Paducah, Kentucky, you would see signs announcing, in Southern Illinois, the presence of an Illinois Artisans Gallery and in Paducah, the National Quilt Museum. Should you decide to stop in Illinois and visit the Illinois Artisans Gallery, you would probably see, among other things, examples of photography framed as art pieces, hand-crafted one-of-a-kind exquisite furniture pieces, and unusual metal sculptures. Then, in Paducah, you might spend hours wandering through the quilt museum looking at the exhibits of modern quilting. In the minds of some people, the named articles you would see in either of these places represent art while other individuals see them as craft work but not art. Choose one of the types of “work” discussed above – photography, hand-crafted one-of-a-kind furniture, metal sculpture, or modern quilts. Decide whether or not the type of work you chose is art. Find an image of the type of piece you chose. Offer information about it regarding its creation, location, date etc. Explain, using your definition of art, whether or not this type of work can be considered art. You will need to actually analyze the piece to point out how it does or does not fit the criteria you set up as being necessary for “art.”
