How would you distinguish between fine arts and crafts?
It's interesting to me to classify something as a "craft"- apart from the word "art". What is it that makes us want to separate art from craft, or craft from art for that matter?

It certainly can't be for lack of artistic inspiration. For instance, Artist George Nakashima said, "It is not always easy to find the best expression of a piece of wood". He allowed his medium to inspire what he would make.

It can't be for lack of artistic tools or techniques. For instance, in batik " The patterns to be dyed into the the clothe are drawn with a canting, a wooden 'pen'". These tools and techniques are similar to any pen drawing Pablo Picasso or Michelangelo executed on paper.

It can't be in the lack of beauty in the form. Even in a simple basket like that of Monden Kogyoku, Flower of a Wave, we see patterns and intricacies of color and texture woven in flowing, beautifully executed design made by the art of weaving.

It can't be for lack of design elements. In Dale Chihuly's Sea Form Series, we see line, texture, form, color,tone...and more...all elements of design. So why would there be a separation of the word art from craft?

The only thing left that I can think of is functionality. But I am left with the question of why a piece of art, being functional, would then separate it from art. It seems that if someone wanted to make a distinction between functional art and non-functional, instead of classifying it as "fine arts" or "crafts", it would be more honest to call crafts, "fine arts with functionality".

All quotes taken from "the Art of Seeing" by Paul Zelanski and Mary Pat Fisher