Carvers vs. sculptors

[Patrick Healy <Aterra@xxxxxxx>]

Hello,

I've been reading this "debate" between Mr. Arnold and
Mr.O'Mahoney with interest.

It is the classic debate about the creative mind or the
craft mind.  That is how I see it.  A craft mind looks
at each and every piece of stone as "how" it will become
the carving.  A creative mind looks at stone as "what"
it wants to become.  A simple, but fundamental
difference.

I believe that it lies in one's personal nature as to
whether they are led to become a craft mind or a
creative mind.  However, I firmly believe that the
creative mind MUST be able to hold the chisel, as it
were.  Do you really believe "Nadine" was carved by
Noguchi's carvers?  I believe if my memory serves, that
Noguchi knew very much how to carve........

And for Michelangelo, you do understand that in his time
(the mannerist period) he was actually using the idea of
unfinished work as part of his thought process.  Is not
the craft mind more interested in the finished piece
than what the piece is becoming?

That is the real question, exactitude of craft verses
creative vision.  Also, would we have works like
Noguchi's, Moore's, Michelangelo's if we were in a world
of only "underpaid carver's"?  I doubt we would advance
in art or understand our time as well.

and then.....