At the inaugural CRITgroup meeting in November 2011 the possibility of a collaborative project was raised. After one year of Creating, Reflecting, Investigating and Talking, we recently presented our first collaboration, Creative Whispers.

We are interested in investigating the perceived differences between ‘art’ and ‘craft’, as this has been a feature of our conversations in several meetings. How does the apparent need to ‘label’ oneself as a particular kind of practitioner (a ‘photographer’, a ‘craft worker’, etc.) affect individual practices and how do those descriptions of discipline relate to differing methods of producing work? To get started, we are running three ‘mini projects’, which we will use to pin down and agree a clear research question to inform the next working stages of the project. The idea of these is that by introducing particular boundaries or criteria we will flush out key aspects of our respective practices, which will equip us in our collaborative investigations. The second project is titled Crafting by Committee.
Crafting By Committee will be a shorter, three session project taking us up to the end of 2013 in which each collaborator will produce a brief project proposal, situated within their current practice. The rest of the group will act as a panel who will, upon hearing the proposal, specify particular criteria for how the project must progress. The practitioner must then follow these instructions precisely and return to the panel with the outcome. The hope is that we can use these pieces to reflect upon how decision making within different practices can impact upon outcomes but also be an intrinsic part of the creative process. Again, these will be research pieces, starting points for potential development and pieces of work in their own right.

The initial project proposals are recorded below as a precursor to the first stage of Committee Feedback.
Project Proposal: Christine Wilcox-Baker

HOW DO I DESCRIBE MYSELF?  I am a multimedia artist inspired by Nature and I use appropriate materials and methodologies to suit each project I carry out. However I generally start with research, photography and drawing and these processes inform the outcomes. Writing a proposal for this piece of work I think therefore means I should just specify the subject matter. I will then be open to the instructions of the Committee both in terms of crafting and methodology. 

PROPOSAL: I propose to make a piece of work about the biodiversity of the flora and fauna in my garden.
Cupcake Karma: Annabeth Orton

I propose to harness the power of cake to facilitate positive interactions between strangers in cities. Participants will be invited to join a cake decorating session in which they are asked to ice compliments, kind messages or uplifting comments on the cakes that they think would make a recipient feel good, or at least provide a mood-boost. These are then taken out and offered to selected members of the public who the cake decorator thinks their particular compliment applies to. No further interaction is required but it is hoped that the offering is accepted and a conversation might begin! At this point, the workshop facilitator explains the workshop to the recipient of the cake and asks to take a photo, giving details of where they can be found in an online gallery.

It is recognised that the practicality of arranging a workshop between Crafting by Committee meetings may not be possible and an alternative, but related activity or event may be necessary. It is anticipated that at the very least a revised proposal would be generated following committee feedback, even if no practical work can take place.
Initial Proposal: James Sharp

My proposal is to make a scrap book with the following features:
1. Irregular sized pages
2. Various recycled papers for the pages/signature including calendars, paper bags and wallpaper.
3. Binding to feature leather and textile covering, embellished with collage.
Initial Proposal: Renate Wendel

I describe myself as an abstract painter, but my artistic interests and expressions have always been wider reaching and include a sizeable body of life drawing and photography. One of the subject areas I have explored repeatedly is that of music and musicians and recently I have become interested in portrait painting, particularly portraits of musicians. I have previously explored portraiture through photography, but only tentatively through painting or drawing. My research question is: In portraiture how can I reconcile the figurative elements and expectation of creating a likeness with an underlying desire to create abstract work?
Collaboration: Shirley and David Hammond

This will be our first opportunity to collaborate with each other in producing a piece of art work. Also we will be collaborating with a glass company in St Helens who have donated materials for this project. We will be working in kiln fused glass using enamels for coloured effects. Using our research of structures whilst in china we aim to develop a theme of its changing economic status yet retaining its traditional culture. The finished piece will be a large three dimensional object made up from numerous smaller three dimensional objects. One will be able to view it from all angles.
Manchester and Water: Kevin Linnane 

Most cities have been formed or developed beside rivers. Manchester has a long association with water from its beginnings on the junction of the Irwell and Matlock through its use in industry and commerce. It is now washing away some of that commercial history
Water has many other associations; it is central to many religions and is the giver and taker of life. Buddhists perform the Bathing of the Buddha ritual to celebrate the birth of Buddha and for participants to pray for peace and inner harmony. Hindus believe that rivers are a symbol of the god who gives life. They believe that bathing in a holy river is important because it cleanses them of any evil that they might have performed.

To create photographic landscapes that include water, using a large or medium format cameras and film. Film because water is necessary in processing and the developing process.
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