A clear trend surfaced during my visit Saturday: reused, environmentally friendly materials for useless objects. (See some of my most memorable finds below -- and view a slideshow of the event here.) The most common crafts included things made from (reclaimed) wood, ironic (vintage) jewelry, salvaged photographs, and crocheted objects. (It's odd that I didn't see any made from reclaimed or organic thread.)
I believe crafts are important. Creating something with your own hands is among the most rewarding things anyone can do. The commercialization of crafts, though, is complicated. Often the people who are into crafts would rather make the works themselves instead of paying someone else who's already done it -- I don't think it's about the cost, it's really about the desire to experience the process. Crafting brings us back to a tactile activity that most people lack in their daily lives and occupations. (Hello, computers.)
You didn't have to look far at the Renegade Craft Fair to see people taking pictures and ooing and aahing at the workmanship, but I saw few handing over their credit cards. And the ones who did seemed to do so impulsively, with little interest in the particulars of the craft. Because those in the D.I.Y. community would rather, well, do it themselves, the smart artisans have focused on luxury and are making things that provide less and less utility, as if to say, "I know that you know you don't need this, but you want it nonetheless and you can afford to blow your cash."
Now, just because something is useless doesn't mean it is fantastic, beautiful, and totally cool. Just the same, something that has no utility can still enhance your life. At that point, however, I would argue that means it is art rather than craft, but that's an argument that's raged since time began. Whatever the case, it's just a funny phenomenon. The fair was a confirmation that we must really like stuff.
Next: Some of the most useless crafts I found.
Next: Several art finds -- some of which are rather utilitarian.
