“Visual arts” refers to a broad spectrum of related fields. These include the artist, photographer, craftsman, art critic, architect, graphic designer, printmaker, art teacher, fashion designer and more. These jobs differ because of the tools and techniques used and the messages they send. The term artist is said to refer to a painter, sculptor or a potter.

As an aspiring artist, I never wanted to be seen as a craftsman, as I felt that being an artist was more prestigious. I would get into heated arguments about the difference between an artist and a craftsman. This was quite ironic because my expressive forms were textile and ceramics. When I joined the Guyana Women Artists’ Association (GWAA) in 2011 this perception was further reinforced as I was challenged to create a textile that would fall in the bracket of ‘fine art,’ a challenge that I accepted and was successfully able to execute. At our exhibitions, anything that was not deemed as fine art was placed on a ‘side table.’ In my opinion, as women artists, there was this quest for disassociation from craft-like things because of the lack of recognition of women as ‘artists.’ The association was formed since 1987 and yet many didn’t consider its members as artists. Thus, there was a transitioning period to challenge us to create ‘fine art.’ Thankfully, that is now in the past and GWAA has returned to its roots where women are encouraged to be true to themselves. There is no longer this restriction to create ‘fine art’. This for me is quite liberating.

When one hears of an art exhibition, there is an expectation to view paintings and sculptures only. In the past, certain works were rejected by art galleries because they lacked a certain criterion to be considered as fine art. However, in more recent years the National Gallery has become more open to other art forms. While some may say, they have dropped their standards, in my opinion, they are beginning to accept the diversity of the art world. I have also found myself more open so that creating craft-like work is now an option I consider. After all, functional things tend to be easily sold. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that artists should just create things that will be sold, because, many artists with that mentality tend to lose themselves. I’m simply saying that we should recognize the diversity of creators in the art field, to the point where we see ourselves as equals.

Castellani house has expanded its doors to include works in fine craft, photography, textile and installation. In future, I hope to see works in illustration and graphic arts and more. Art is diverse and as artists, this is one thing we should not forget or choose to ignore.
A few weeks ago, a good friend of mine shared a project she had completed. It was a small illustrated book she had helped create for a little boy’s birthday. My friend made the illustrations. An illustration is a picture or diagram that helps to make something clear or attractive. They are found in newspapers, books, magazines, on television and the internet, and are used to share a message or answer a question. Immediately I started referring to my friend as an artist because, in my opinion, she created a work of art. Technically she would be considered as an illustrator. However, I now see things differently and I no longer strive to be technically correct.

One of my art tutors once told me, “an artist is who you are, it’s not just what you produce. You either are an artist or you aren’t.”