Degenerate Art: The Art and Culture of Glass Pipes - SXSW 2012 Accepted Film

"Degenerate Art" tells the story of glass pipe-making from the origins of the "color-changing" pipe, to the radical emerging art movement it has become today. Despite federal laws, pipe-makers have created a whole new genre of American folk art. A huge multi-million dollar industry has formed around this taboo culture. This subversive art challenges our right to free speech and expression, as well as reflecting the nature of the people who make and collect the pieces. One of the last true underground American scenes, glass pipe art remains invisible to mainstream culture.

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Entertainment

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• sxsw
• south by southwest
• austin
• texas
• music
• film
• interactive
• festival
• and
• conference
• 2012
• emerging
• independent
• panel
• interview
• talk
• degenerate art
• the art and culture
• glass pipes
• m. slinger

[sername888]

@slingtron3030 word!

[slingtron3030]

true, i dont think pipemakers are claming "fine art" status. i think we consider our work art because calling it "art" demands a certain respect, as opposed to people's ideas of simple functional pipes, which many of these pieces transcend...in fact there are many pipes that are made where the aesthetic out weighs the function to a point where you question whether its meant to be used at all....

[BabyBooch3]

As an artist (with a BFA in glass), I feel that "pipe art" is, undoubtedly, art. However, I believe that it falls into the functional art category, rather than fine art, in the same way that I view my jewelry as functional art. If the purpose of a piece is to be aesthetically pleasing while simultaneously serving a function, that qualifies as functional art. To qualify as fine art, in my opinion, the sole purpose of a piece must be to provoke the mind of the viewer, visually pleasing or not.

[sleepingglass]

one of the best looking movies in the lineup

[atatkin420]

im so fucking excited to see this

[liviedable]

I definitely want to see this. People are so quick to judge things they don't understand. There is so much amazing artistry and creativity in the world that goes unnoticed or at worst, persecuted, because people don't take the time to see the beauty in things that exist outside of their own limited sphere of life.

[InspectorDana]

The art of the work is amazing regardless of the intended use. I would never actually use one of these for smoking for fear it would get broken. They are a "one-of-a-kind" pieces.

[bravemicrowave]

<3 pakoh

[ryucha1]

first comment

fk yeah