What's NOT in the KCE

     The Kentucky Crafts Encyclopedia does not attempt to deal, except peripherally, with many forms of non-utilitarian "art," i.e., artistic paintings, mixed-media images, collages, sculptures, photography, performance art, poetry and language arts, and music. 

      "Decorative Arts" are a special problem area; while all definitions of "CRAFT" are somewhat slippery — particularly insofar as they overlap with definitions of "ART" — this Kentucky Crafts Encyclopedia generally excludes most forms of "Decoration" of existing objects in which the original objects are not produced through the work of a craftsperson.

This decision on the developer's part is based on a liberal acceptance of this definition of "crafts":

‘’Practices which employ manual dexterity and skill, and an understanding of traditional materials, designs and techniques to make or repair useful things."

    Nor does this site include such modern "popular" decorative crafts as scrapbooking, rock-balancing, tabletop tableau assembling, journaling, terrarium creation, or "personalization" of pre-made objects. The developer of this site also de-emphasizes craft products based on practices that involve such modern "maker" tools as 3D-printers, laser-engravers, electronic cutting machines, CNC (computerized numerical control) routers, plasma-cutters, decorative infusible-ink transfer devices, sublimation printers, or machine embroidering equipment...  But still, Kentucky-based crafters using such new technologies may have slipped in...

        See the topics: Arts/Crafts Controversy and Decoration/Decorative Arts for more general clarification. 

     Because of the broad scope of this project, it will proceed in phases and—it is hoped—will involve resources, writers, and advisers from all parts of Kentucky. This work will be based on current and past scholarship and writings about Kentucky crafts, and will also encourage investigation into areas where research has been scarce.