On April 16, Washburn hosted a Brown Bag International Lecture organized by the International Programs office from 12-1 p.m.

The lecture focused on the evolving dynamics between traditional craftsmanship and modern artistic practices by showcasing international research and experiences.

“We all enjoy something that you can feel and touch … but I think that the immediacy of holding something as an object, kind of buried that line between craft and art,” said Bobby Tso, associate professor of art.

The lecture also discussed how art is often seen as distant, intellectual and sometimes hard to connect with, but traditional craft offers a different experience and brings people closer through touch and function.

It’s still about ideas, but you can feel it and that’s when you realize craft isn’t separate from art, it’s just more personal.

“My first audience in this day and age, art and expression, is going to be more important than ever before. I don’t see [traditional craft] dying,” said Danny Wade, associate provost for faculty development and professor of English education.

They talked about how traditional craft will still hold value in the next 10-20 years. Even with all the technology, people still care about handmade things. 

In the future, art and expression will matter even more, and crafts will still be a big part of that, not just as skills, but as ways to connect with something honest and human.

“There seems to be a fundamental difference between what AI does and what the actual artistic experience and expression and the process of creating art. It’s fundamentally part of what it means to be human. It’s essentially a human endeavor and AI cannot do humanity,” said Steve Hageman, director of First Year Experience.

AI is useful for coding and technology, but art feels different. The topic touched on how creating art is more than just making something, it’s a human experience.

At the end of the lecture, the speakers highlighted the importance of balancing tradition with innovation, encouraging artists to integrate new technologies like AI and augmented reality into their practices without losing the tactile and human essence of their work.

Edited by Eden Conrad and Morgan Albrecht