The Art of Craft

I've been thinking about the art of craft lately. And vice versa. It seems as though the line between the two is very fine. When does a cooking trade become a culinary art? And when does wood working become sculpting? It's not the tools you use or even the ingredients it seems. Is it a matter of utility and purpose? If the pipe were to be a real pipe instead of a painting of a pipe, it would serve the purpose to burn and enjoy tobacco. But isn't it also sometimes the pleasure of holding the wooden shape in your hand? Enjoying the hand carved curves, and feeling the passage of time smooth its wooden contours? So how is that different than enjoying the idea of a pipe? I guess to me, the drawing of a pipe tells a story more than anything.

All these thoughts were brought up after playing a show in Johnson City, TN. Why? Maybe after speaking to various people about their various crafty university programs, such as: Bluegrass and Old Time, and, my favorite of all, Storytelling. Yes you can get your masters degree in the (art?) (craft?) of storytelling.
There is also the International Storytelling Center right outside of town in Jonesborough, tn!

I think part of me keeled over and fell in love with that town. Now sure, you probably don't need to go and spend money on a program like that if you already live in the Appalachian mountains and could learn from you old neighbor down the street, but if it's beginning to be a lost art, then why not? I'm glad it's out there. And people go to school for all kinds of crazy useless things, like philosophy and literature, so I don't really see the big difference frankly.

When it comes down to it, isn't everything a story to be told? Don't know what exactly this all has to do with my question about art and craft, but I know it relates somehow. Any thoughts?