Hi,
Below's an article from a blind yarners group. David
Crochet "Sculptor" Nathan Vincent: Breaking Down the Barriers of Traditional Gender Permissions
Recently, Gwen Blakley Kinsler, founder of the Crochet Guild of America, e-mailed me about a fascinating crochet artist, Nathan Vincent, whose work she saw featured in a catalog for a traveling needle arts exhibition. Gwen wrote the following article about this "out-of-the-box" artisan's unique approach to his work as a crochet "sculptor," and Nathan generously provided the accompanying photographs.
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Nathan Vincent By Gwen Blakley Kinsler In a relatively short time, Nathan Vincent has achieved success by returning to crochet and pursuing skills he learned as a ten year old. Since 2004, he has begun to explore the attributes of crochet and has shown his work in several nationally acclaimed exhibits. I first saw his work in the catalog for the national traveling exhibition, "Twist & Shout, the New Needle Arts," an initiative of The National Needle Arts Association organized by the Florida Craftsmen. This exhibit will be traveling throughout the country through August 30, 2007. Nathan Vincent is representative of the other artists in this exhibit, 26 percent of which are crocheters. One of the artists features knitted works, but is also a crocheter. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts from State University of New York at Purchase in 2004, Nathan originally did painting with embroidery. Looking back, he says, "I was having difficulty getting my message across. I wanted to do sculptural work but it wasn't working with fabric. I wanted to continue with a 'feminine' process and found that knitting did not fill the bill. With a little experimenting, I realized that I could do sculpture much easier and faster with crochet." Nathan goes on to say, "I am interested in what society expects men and women to do. My work explores gender permissions and the challenges that arise from straying from the prescribed norms. I create 'masculine objects' using the 'feminine process' of crochet. Crochet lends itself very well to this theme as it is thought of as traditionally women's work. It also is a soft and feminine style of creativity. The sculpting process of crochet is non-traditional and allows me to draw attention to the challenges of defining gender identities. My work focuses on the contradiction between medium and subject matter. The objects were inspired by memories of attempts to be masculine. Men in my life spent their time in the garage with tools getting greasy and doing heavy duties." Nathan further explains, "By crocheting the objects linked to masculinity, I believe I am breaking down the barriers of traditional gender permissions. The objects, no longer rough and manly, are soft and inviting. They evoke the feminine."
Boxing Gloves
Cigars
Lawn mower
Recliner and TV Nathan has found that using sizes H and J crochet hooks work best for him. He has begun to branch out and explore the many textural yarns available to him and says, "I look for the yarns that fit what I am trying to convey in a particular piece." Nathan is not real familiar with crochet books, magazines or the Guild. He says he prefers not to be influenced by what other crocheters are doing. "I just create as I go," explains Nathan. "I don't write instructions for my artwork, but I can read them. When I have an idea such as the "Men's Bathroom" sign in filet crochet, I find a book and study the technique." When asked how he sees crochet fitting into the world of Fine Arts today, he answered, "We have a more open, pluralistic society today in the art world. I think the concept of crochet as sculpture is so new that people are enamored by it. Many people connect to my work because they have done a little crochet at some time in their life or have seen family members doing it for years. Yet, they are surprised because I am taking crochet to a new level." The theme of Nathan's works is so flexible he finds that his creations are fitting into many venues. Nathan says, "I am discovering that especially younger curators in their thirties are very excited about the direction of my art." Nathan's work can be seen up close and personal at the following exhibitions through August 30, 2007, and at his Web site at