A few weeks ago I did a book signing for The Artful Home book at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA. What a thrill it was to have the opportunity to visit this beautiful museum that has, in a few short years, become the premiere destination for contemporary craft in the New England region! Located on 22 acres of woodland, the museum is less than an hour’s drive outside of Boston. On a sunny October afternoon, the surrounding environment is every bit as stimulating as the artwork to be found inside.

My book signing coincided with the opening reception for two exhibitions, one on studio furniture and the other on ceramic sculpture. It was the ceramic exhibition that won my heart. It featured the work of seven dynamic ceramic sculptors using the process of wood fire to bring to life unglazed sculptural forms. Masterfully curated by Lucy Lacoste, I discovered new works by some of my favorite artists, including Karen Karnes, Chris Gustin, Jeff Shapiro, and Don Reitz.

The experience happily reminded me of the valuable role small museums such as the Fuller play in showcasing the great and innovative craft work of our time. If you are not familiar with this jewel, check it out at www.fullercraft.org.

I am constantly asked by magazine reporters how I define “art.” These writers, arbiters of taste in our society, are grappling with the issue of whether a beautiful piece of handmade furniture, or a brilliant glass vessel, can be considered art. My response is always the same. Here at The Guild, we consider work produced by a talented and skilled artist to be a piece of art.

The art world attempts to categorize and define. And artists continuously refuse to be categorized and defined.

There is no right or wrong way to look at art. The goal is to follow your own instincts, make your own choices, and learn how to live with the art that you love. And, although many factors influence price and value, our most important goal should be to develop an individual approach to enjoying the art we acquire and display in our home. From there, all other considerations, including definitions, fall by the wayside.