Rigidity and flexibility are great concerns in both ceramics and textiles and have powerful narrative potentials. In this talk, I will introduce a few personal visual art and collaborative design projects (from sculpture, data-physicalization, and interactive VR sculpture) and will contextualize these in broader cultural, social, and environmental histories of materials. I will also be bringing a variety of examples from other artists and craftspeople and making some generalized observations on the development and cross-fertilization of craft and material processes across cultures.