Saturday, August 14, 2010

Searching for Artists....

These last few weeks, while the baby is sleeping, I have been searching for artists.

Artists are not hard to find - with the variety of handmade marketplaces they are, for lack of a better way to say it, a dime a dozen.   But I am looking for a very specific type of artist.  The modern crafter.



Craft has been around for many, many years.  Certainly more than I have.  And it has taken a variety of forms - some of which I am terribly fond of and would love to include in my own home, and some of which I can't quite seem to integrate into my style.  The "Home Sweet Home" plaques have never quite looked right in my antique modern mishmash of a house.

Recently, though, with the serge of the handmade movement what I have found is that there are a lot of artists out there making what I like to think of as "Modern Craft" -- functional handmade objects that would integrate seamlessly into a contemporary home.  They have a clean, polished aesthetic, and make high quality work. 

The problem I've had as a customer is generally in finding these people.  I can dig through pages of search results on handmade websites, spend my weekends at craft fairs, or simply create my own website, showcase their items, and then just figure I've made myself a one stop-shop!  Somehow, the third option seemed the most reasonable to me.

So soon, I will be launching AlereModern.com, which will be a hand selected group of talented artists who create high quality, modern work.  If you're an artist who is interested in being a part of this new site, please contact me (with a link to your portfolio/website).  And if you're a lover of the handmade, stay tuned, subscribe to the blog, and start saving your pennies (and dollars) because there will be a lot to love at AlereModern.com!

Cheers,
Caitlin



** Disclaimer Re: the use of Craft vs. Art ** I know some Artists are particular about this, but by "Craft" I mean no offense, all I really mean is functional art.  Bowls, rugs, jewelry, etc., -- things you use rather than look at.