Fiber art is the kind of art that uses fibrous materials including natural and synthetic fibers. It is a very old form of art. It exists from the time when the term “fiber art” was not even coined. It was around the 1950s that this term was coined to acknowledge and give recognition to the people who worked with fibrous materials.
During the next few decades. There was a rapid rise in the popularity of fiber art industry along with the rise of feminist movement and the initiation of postmodern time and fiber art became a force in itself.
BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS OF FIBER ART
| PROS | CONS |
| Creative outlet | Requires proper equipment |
| Enhances cognitive skills | Buying equipment can be expensive |
| Keeps away various diseases | Needs training |
| Works as a stress killer | Involves sharp objects |
| Helps building community | Needs supervision |
| Develops motor skills | Long process |
| Reinstates self confidence | Can be frustrating |
| Used in therapy | |
| Useful products are made |
ADVANTAGES OF FIBER ART
- Creative outlet
Almost all of us require some time and place where we can express ourselves without any fear, where we can let our minds flow and create whatever we want without being chained. This creative outlet can vary from person to person and depends on them as to what they feel comfortable with. Practising fiber art skills can be one such outlet.
- Enhances cognitive skills
The activities involved in practising fiber art are knitting, spinning and such others. If one challenges one’s brain to learn a pattern and put it to action then it stimulates the capability of the brain and thus enhances cognitive skills.
- Keeps various diseases away
With growing age, a huge percentage of the elderly population becomes a victim of various diseases which mainly concern memory. Alzheimer’s and dementia are very common. But if one keeps their brain working using fiber art as a means then it reduces the risk of the aforementioned diseases by 30%-50%.
- Works as a stress killer
Creating art is a major way of killing stress. The repetitive nature of creating pattern in fiber art captures one’s mind, slows it down and makes it focus more on the pattern. This process gradually calms down the nerves and keeps the mind occupied and away from stress.
- Helps building community
A similar interest always brings people together. If one becomes a member of a knitting community, apart from learning the craft better, they also feel a sense of togetherness and being accepted by people of similar interest. Friendships are built and the social life of the person becomes healthier.
- Develops motor skills
People tend to lose their motor skills with age as they become less active. This slows down their brain and even make them less productive in their life. With the practice of fiber art, their fingers can retain their speed and agility and thus keeping their motor skills intact.
- Reinstates self confidence
Confidence is something that builds up with the completion of each goal. If you are pursuing a particular pattern in knitting, the completion of it will enhance your confidence. This confidence will make you attempt a pattern that is more complicated than the previous one and ultimately make you better at your skill.
- Used in therapy
The fiber arts like knitting and crocheting are therapeutic. Because of how the practice of fiber art affects cognitive skills, motor skills, community building and keeps various diseases at bay, it is used in therapy to help people cope with grief and depression.
- Useful products are made
The practicing of fiber are produces products that are both useful and aesthetic. So, it does not just act as a hobby or therapy, it also helps people make things that are useful for their household. It makes people self-sufficient.
DISADVANTAGES OF FIBER ART
- Requires proper equipment
To practice fiber art, proper equipment and materials are required. These equipment and materials are not always available in a household where no one practices knitting or such other art. Moreover, for every fiber there are equipment that are suitable for that particular fiber.
- Buying equipment can be expensive
The equipment required for initial stages of fiber art do not cost much. But as one progresses to the more advanced stages, the equipment required becomes more and more expensive. Moreover, the cost of fiber also varies with the quality.
- Needs training
Making of fiber art needs training. If one is pursuing fiber art, then there needs to be someone who can teach them the methods and patterns. Without training or someone to guide them through the process, knitting becomes quite hard. This serves as a disadvantage in the process.
- Involves sharp objects
For knitting, needle is an essential equipment, which a very sharp tool in itself. For people with very unstable mental health, the using of needle is not a good idea and might prove to be risky. It is also harmful for children who might show interest in fiber art.
- Needs supervision
As the practicing of fiber art involves the usage of sharp objects like needle and scissors, there must be supervision. To prevent children from harming themselves while working with sharp objects, there must be an adult near them who should be keeping an eye and taking care of the child.
- Long process
People do not learn to knit in a day. It takes considerable time to learn to knit and the various patterns and techniques related to it. Even after learning all the techniques, if one attempts a particular design, it will days for it to be completed and become something presentable.
- Can be frustrating
The process of knitting is quite a hard one that requires continuous effort, focus and determination. It takes days or even months to knit a sweater or a table cloth and to make the design perfect. This long process can be very frustrating for few people which might make them give up in the middle.
Even though the pursuing of fiber art can be very time consuming, it still stands as an artform that values aesthetics and signifies the revolution in art.
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