The Invisible Line

What distinguishes art from craft? Since the traditional answer skews utilitarian and hinges on an object's 'use value,' musical instruments are typically grouped into the latter category. This is a grave oversight. In The Invisible Line: When Craft Becomes Art, seven West Coast artisans discuss their work and make the case for curatorial inclusion of instruments (and other “primitives”) alongside the finest sculptures, etchings, paintings, and pastels the world's museums have to offer. Conceived and edited by Larry Robinson, the man behind The Art of Inlay: Design and Technique for Fine Woodworking, The Invisible Line consists of seven lavishly self-illustrated essays penned by self-employed, practicing artisans (rather than academics, art historians, journalists, or critics) at the height of their careers. Whether you're a a practicing musician, an art aficionado, a luthier or woodworker, or an everyday person with an affinity for the aesthetically pleasant, this gorgeous volume is sure to awe and inspire.