Glenn Adamson was the keynote speaker for Craft Forward on Friday night with a lecture titled, “The Invention of Craft.” I've been looking forward to this speech for months.
The programming started late, which delayed the Glenn Adamson lecture even later into the evening. I am home now (near 12:00 midnight) and tomorrow is another entire day of lectures, so here is the Glenn Adamson review in brief.
What did I learn? Glenn Adamson presented an intelligent, articulate, and amazing speech!!!! Plus much more.
This was one of the most marvelous lectures I have ever heard. He spoke to the audience without referring to any notes. He laid a foundation for his argument. He introduced key terms early in the lecture such as "cutting edge, friction, and tension" offering definitions and examples. As the lecture developed and he referred to these terms over and over, you knew what he was talking about. Finally, at several points, he reminded us of his three key points so that we did not lose track of the train of thought.
That all sounds so simplistic. His thesis was not. Wow!
What were the thought-provoking issues raised? I am saving the content issues raised in his lecture for another post about the Glenn Adamson lecture which you can find here.
What questions were Asked and Answered? I did get to speak to Glenn Adamson earlier in the evening after the Manufractured reception. I asked Glenn if he "was going to give the same lecture at the SNAG Conference Keynote address or write a new one." He said he was writing a new lecture!
There is no doubt in my mind that if you miss his lecture at the SNAG Conference on May 27, followed by the lunch discussion as part of "The Smaller Conference Experience" you will really be missing something special. That is all I can say for now. (see below)
Background about the speaker.
A historian and theorist of craft and design, Dr. Glenn Adamson is deputy head of research and head of graduate studies at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). He leads the V&A History of Design graduate program, collaboratively offered by the V&A and the Royal College of Art.
Here is a link to a YouTube video of Glenn Adamson so you can see and hear him speak. The quality is not very good, but you will get the idea.
People told me that The Craft Reader is much more "rewarding" to read than Thinking Through Craft.
FUTURE OPPORTUNITY: Glenn Adamson will be the Keynote Speaker at the upcoming SNAG Conference in Seattle. His lecture is first thing Friday morning, May 27.
Glenn Adamson, SNAG Conference Keynote speaker, and Lola Brooks, a conference presenter, will be our guests during the informal “Brown Bag Lunch Discussion” as part of "The Smaller Conference Experience."
Bring your lunch and join us for a fascinating exchange with Lola and Glenn in a relaxed environment. Ask your questions, voice your concerns, and dive deeper into the issues of making that affect us all. This is your chance to make connections that last the entire conference -- and beyond.
Brigitte Martin and Harriete Estel Berman will host the lunch discussion. We welcome everyone to join us.
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This post was updated on January 28, 2022, to provide current links.
by Glenn Adamson.