Crafts by Chris

Musing on polymer clay, beads, jewelry and other stuff.

polymer what?

Posted on | March 3, 2010 | 11 Comments

I’ve been busy working on orders and fighting this sinus/upper respiratory crud (the crud is winning by the way).

I have taken some time recently to catch up on blog reading about the International Polymer Clay Associations recent Synergy2 conference. Every once in awhile, I come out of my hole to see what’s going on with the polymer clay community. My favorite is getting to see photos of so many talented artists and their incredible art on display.

However, I was disturbed to read that some polymer clay artists are dropping the word clay and referring to their work as polymer. Why does this disturb me? Well, mainly because artists have worked hard to get to the point where polymer clay is considered an acceptable art medium. To then change what you call it makes no sense to me. Polymer is a rather broad term that encompasses several different products.

Why is that polymer clay has taken so long to be considered an accepted art medium in the first place? It’s ok for someone to weld some scrap metal and bicycle parts together as a sculpture and it’s called art? Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen some incredible sculptures made this way. My point is, why isn’t art appreciated for it’s aesthetic value regardless of material?

At shows, most people think my beads are glass until they pick them up and feel how lightweight they are. Then they will look at me questioningly. When I say that they are made from polymer clay, they reply, “FIMO?”. I work mainly with PREMO!, but the point is they know what it is. Usually the next thing out their mouth is, “I tried working with FIMO years ago, but nothing I made ever looked like this”. Which says to me that they appreciate the work and talent that goes into it because it eluded them. I feel the same way about potters. I love watching them and have such respect for their talent, because I couldn’t get past centering the clay on the wheel. When it comes down to it, isn’t that what we are after? Someone who respects and admires your work?

Category: Polymer Clay, artists, beads

Comments

11 Responses to “polymer what?”

  1. What she said « Dystini – Polymer Clay
    March 3rd, 2010 @ 10:31 am

    [...] polymer what? [...]

  2. Dystini
    March 3rd, 2010 @ 10:39 am

    Well said! I totally agree and you’ve said it better than I could.

  3. Regina
    March 3rd, 2010 @ 10:58 am

    Excellent post! I own some of your art and am proud to have it!
    I really think you are right. I am a painter who works with acrylic paint… essentially pigments in a polymer emulsion.
    To drop “clay” from the name of your art form is ridiculous. Polymer means nothing on its own because it is too broad!

  4. Chris
    March 3rd, 2010 @ 12:38 pm

    Thanks Dystini and Regina! Glad to hear I’m not the only one who thinks this way. :)

  5. Anita Brandon
    March 3rd, 2010 @ 10:56 pm

    Polymer what? Right on! I’ve been thinking along similar lines every since I heard yesterday that the trend seems to be headed that way. I think it’s a mistake, especially given how hard we have fought to give credibility to the medium of “Polymer Clay”.

    Hope you are feeling better and may your spring arrive very soon.

  6. Polymer fish lips
    March 4th, 2010 @ 4:32 am

    [...] out: Iris Mishly, Amy Crawley, Janice Barbanel and comments on the clay/no clay discussion from Chris Dembinski. “Not Your Child’s Fimo” was the title of the shout out from Lisa Bayne of Artful [...]

  7. Elaine
    March 4th, 2010 @ 7:08 am

    Well and there’s the thing right – I don’t show or enter the highest level competitions (which is what the speakers at Synergy do). So I have rarely had Fine Arts issues at shows. No one I have met in my time claying has sneered at my work and said, oh it’s child’s clay.

    They’ve all been impressed with the intricacy and finish.

    And I giggle at trying to convince non artists to use ‘polymer’. My techie background includes a lot of association with chemists and biology folks. Polymer is a chem term, much more related to the ‘plastics’ stigma that the fine artists are trying to steer clear of!

  8. Melinda Hayes
    March 4th, 2010 @ 8:04 am

    Right on Chris! I’m proud to say I work in polymer clay.

  9. Carolyn Fiene
    March 4th, 2010 @ 6:46 pm

    When I’ve heard comments about ‘clay’ most have related polymer clay to pottery … not to child’s play clay. I too am proud to be working with polymer clay and intend to continue calling it just that … with my head held high!

  10. Terry McCarthy
    March 5th, 2010 @ 12:31 pm

    I agree wholeheartedly with every word and sentiment that you have so eloquently expressed. Bravo!!

  11. catching up : Crafts by Chris
    March 15th, 2010 @ 2:52 pm

    [...] Being a Gemini, communication is supposed to be one of my strong points. To some degree it is….I can talk your leg off. However, when it comes to writing I struggle with every word. Quite possibly because with the written word you don’t get the tone of voice or my hand gestures (yes I talk with my hands). Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you for the great comments on my polymer what? post. [...]

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