Rochester Folk Art Guild opens studios for national craft weekend
7/18/26
The Rochester Folk Art Guild will open its working studios in Middlesex this weekend as part of a nationwide celebration of American craft. The free event will be held Saturday, July 18, and Sunday, July 19, with each session running from 11 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon at the guild’s East Hill Farm campus.
Visitors can tour the guild’s pottery, woodworking, weaving and sewing studios, meet resident artists and see works in progress. Artists will demonstrate traditional craft techniques and offer a behind-the-scenes look at how handmade objects are created.
The East Hill Gallery will also be open during the weekend, featuring pottery, woodwork, textiles, natural-fiber clothing and other work by guild artists.
The program is part of the inaugural National Craft Open Studios Weekend, presented by the American Craft Council through its Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026 initiative. The Rochester Folk Art Guild is among hundreds of participating studios nationwide.
Founded in 1957, the nonprofit guild operates as an artist community and craft education center. Its 350-acre East Hill Farm campus is at 1445 Upper Hill Road in Middlesex.
The guild said the open-studios program is intended to give the public a close look at the artists, places, and traditions behind handmade craft.
Fiber artists send messages with their art
7/16/26
Auburn, NY (July 16, 2026) – California artist Susan Doyle has two pieces in the Schweinfurth Art Center’s current exhibition, “T3%+!le$ –The Language of Fiber.” Each one features stitching and painting over pages from two frequently banned books, “1984” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
“Inspiration for my artwork comes from current events and my experience of the world around me,” she said in her artist’s statement. “I use a variety of techniques to express my concerns for political, global, feminist, and personal issues. My recent work deals with the proliferation of banned books in schools and libraries across the United States.”
All the artists in the exhibition use words to send a message – personal or political – to viewers. The show was organized by Surface Design Association (SDA), a group that promotes awareness and appreciation of fiber art and supports artists through publications, exhibitions, and events.
Artworks in the exhibit engage broadly with ideas of communication – from poetry and prose to computer code, indexing, and archiving – as it relates to the grammar of textiles and the vocabulary of fiber. The exhibition’s juror, artist Diana Weymar, pored through 500 separate artworks from 307 artists during the judging process. The Schweinfurth show includes 56 works by 40 artists.
The exhibition is being held in conjunction with “Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026,” a nationwide semiquincentennial initiative led by Craft in America. Participating institutions across the United States are presenting exhibitions that address the importance of the handmade and celebrating the diversity of craft that defines America.
“Many of these pieces touched on many different issues: school shootings, migration, ICE, censorship, political and personal slogans, gun violence, love, joy, gender, faith, headlines, family relationships, safety, caregiving, aging and more,” Weymar said in a July 8 Textile Talk. “I think there were a lot of pieces in this exhibit that matter to all of us.”
Kathleen McConaughy, of Rocky River, OH, submitted “Math: school shootings 2000-2023,” a stark red and white graphic quilt that shows each U.S. state and its school shooting statistics. “The biggest challenge with this piece was finding the data to do the piece,” she said. “There is no authorized, central data point in the United States about school shootings. Every source I found was conflicting.”
She settled on using numbers from David Riedman’s K-12 School Shooting Database. “The large numbers represent the number of school shootings in every state from 2000 to 2023,” McConaughy said in the Textile Talk. “And the fractions, the numerator represents deaths and the denominator represents other casualties. I worked on this over 2 years. It was very labor intensive.”
Her quilt won Second Prize in the exhibition.
Some artists tackle personal issues in their work. Artist Jessica Baker, of Woodstock, NY, stitched together playing cards that were torn by her mother, who was suffering from Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. Baker strung together 10 decks of cards in a tapestry, “Posthumous Collections 1,” that she hung from the ceiling in the Schweinfurth’s main gallery.
“There was something cathartic about repairing the things that she tore apart, especially because she was this incredible person in her lifetime,” Baker said. “She was creative. She was a scientist. She had so many hobbies, including embroidery, including collecting shells.
“So taking all these things into my studio and then repairing the things that really came apart at the end was a cathartic experience that helped with the grieving process,” she added.
Glens Falls, NY, artist Joy Muller-McCoola’s piece, “Migration Cairns,” received a Surface Design Association Award of Excellence. The artwork consists of several cairns or piles of felted and stuffed “rocks” that convey arrows or messages. “These cairns are meant to appear to offer direction, but there are arrows that go in conflicting directions, showing there’s no way to safety,” she said in the Textile Talk.
“I’ve included text on several of the stones that state the reasons for migration,” Muller-McCoola added. “They are written in the positive: tolerance instead of racism; peace instead of war; potable water, climate, air quality instead of pollution.”
The felted rocks are her way of dealing with the coming climate crisis. “We should have spent the last decade preparing for global migration … (from) where there isn’t enough water, where land is disappearing underwater, where heat is becoming unbearable,” she said. “Instead, we are involved in wars that decimate communities. So my cairns lead nowhere.”
“T3%+!le$ – The Language of Fiber” will be on display at the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn, NY, through Aug. 15, 2026. For more information on the exhibition, link to https://www.schweinfurthartcenter.org/t3-le-the-language-of-fiber. Surface Design Association’s Textile Talk can be viewed online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZfOBZ-kT9Y. Read more about “Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026” at https://www.handwork2026.org/.
If you go …
WHAT: “T3%+!le$ – The Language of Fiber,” an exhibition of 56 fiber art pieces from all over the world
WHERE: Schweinfurth Art Center, 205 Genesee St., Auburn
WHEN: Through Aug. 15, 2026
HOURS: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and closed on Sundays.
LINKS:
About “T3%+!le$”: https://www.schweinfurthartcenter.org/t3-le-the-language-of-fiber
Textile Talk video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZfOBZ-kT9Y
About “Handwork 2026”: https://www.handwork2026.org/
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About the Schweinfurth
The Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center is a multi-arts center that opened in 1981 thanks to a bequest from Auburn-born architect Julius Schweinfurth. The art center’s programs include more than a dozen exhibitions each year and educational programs for children and adults, which feature local, national, and international artists. For more information, link to schweinfurthartcenter.org.
Original article here.
Local artists open their studio doors Saturday, Sunday
Bethesda Magazine
By Jacqueline Kalil
7/16/26
The Art Glass Center at Glen Echo Park is a creative hub housed inside one of the campus’s historic buildings and on Saturday and Sunday it will welcome visitors as part of the inaugural National Craft Open Studios Weekend.
For resident artist Janet Wittenberg, it is a chance for more people to discover the cooperative studio and gallery, watch artists at work, learn about glass fusing and casting techniques, and speak with makers about their creative process. The studio will be open from noon to 4 p.m. both days.
“When we have visitors, we show them around, introduce them to our classes, our equipment and our setup, and explain what’s involved in the process,” Wittenberg told Bethesda Today on Wednesday. “People are usually pretty interested because it’s fun to see it all.”
Three other Montgomery County studios are also participating: the Art Glass Center, Cyd Rowley Jewelry in Kensington, Gaithersburg Artist Collective, and Fine Ceramics. Overall, more than 200 studios in 36 states will be taking part in the free event organized by the American Craft Council. The Minneapolis-based nonprofit has spent more than 80 years championing contemporary craft through exhibitions, educational programming and events that connect artists with the public.
“It’s really about connecting artists with people and providing transparency into the way artists work, the processes they’re utilizing and their amazing creative spaces,” Jaimianne Jacobin, the American Craft Council’s director of development, said in a phone interview with Bethesda Today on Tuesday. “I think seeing the process increases the appreciation for the work that is produced.”
Wittenberg said that because of the park’s historic designation, the Art Glass Center can’t rely on prominent signage to attract passersby, making events like National Craft Open Studios Weekend especially valuable.
“We have to be creative and come up with other ways to let people know about us,” Wittenberg said. “This is one way to enlighten those who may not be aware that we’re here.”
The event is part of Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a national initiative marking the country’s 250th anniversary through the work of American makers. Inspired by events such as Record Store Day and Independent Bookstore Day, organizers hope National Craft Open Studios Weekend will become an annual tradition that celebrates craft while helping artists connect with new audiences.
Original article here.
Culture to Do: July 15, 2026
New England Public Media
7/15/26
American Craft Council Open Studios Weekend
The Mill at Shelburne Falls
Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19 from 12 – 5 p.m.
This new nationwide celebration invites the public into the creative spaces of craft artists across the country offering guests a rare glimpse into the processes, tools and inspiration that shape how handmade works are made. National Craft Open Studios Weekend is presented by the American Craft Council and launches as part of Craft in America’s Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026. It’s a great opportunity to see what the artisans and artists at The Mill at Shelburne Falls are up to.
Local studios open to fans during National Craft Open Studios Weekend, July 18-19
Mitchell News-Journal
7/15/26
Minneapolis, MN —June 29, 2026–The first-ever National Craft Open Studios Weekend will invite the American public to explore the creative spaces of hundreds of craft artists for free on the weekend of July 18 & 19. This two-day event offers guests a rare glimpse into the processes, tools, and inspiration that shape how handmade works are made, and provides craft artists with critical support in their sales season.
Local participating studios include:
Cynthia Bringle Pottery & Gallery, 160 Lucy Morgan Lane in Bakersville
Penland School of Craft
Colleen Connolly, 2574 Rabbit Hop Road in Spruce Pine
Visitors can explore a wide range of creative spaces, from individual artist studios and community workshops to artist collectives and shared studio buildings, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how craft is made and the people who make it.
A comprehensive map of all participating studio locations in both rural and urban areas in 36 states plus the District of Columbia is available online — just register (it’s free with a $10 suggested donation — https://craftcouncil.org/events/national-craft-open-studios-weekend/) to get access to the map. Visitors can look for their next favorite artist in their own backyard or plan a trip farther afield to discover something new.
“From small towns to the biggest cities, communities throughout our country are witnessing an American craft renaissance,” says Andrea Specht, executive director of the American Craft Council. “It is more vital than ever that we see and support the things that bring us together, and for nearly 85 years, ACC has championed craft as a powerful force fostering human dignity and connection.”
National Craft Open Studios Weekend is presented by the American Craft Council and launches as part of Craft in America’s Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026. Similar to what Record Store Day or Independent Bookstore Day do for their creative ecosystems, National Craft Open Studios Weekend will provide support for artists and makers.
Original article here.
‘Becoming Heirlooms:’ A Craft Desert Exhibition
KPBS
7/13/26
“Becoming Heirlooms”:
A Craft Desert exhibition curated by Kerianne Quick and Adam John Manley in conjunction with Handwork 2026, a Craft in America initiative.
Opening Reception: Friday, September 11, 2026 | 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
On view August 24, 2026 – November 7, 2026
“Becoming Heirlooms” examines the extra functional power of craft and art objects, not merely as artifacts, but as tools for gathering, witnessing, and remembrance. Expanding the notion of “family” beyond bloodline or inheritance, the exhibition embraces broader forms of collectivity—chosen families, cultural lineages, ideological kinships, and experiences—that serve as touchstones for our shared existence.
At its core, “Becoming Heirlooms” considers the moment when a crafted object transcends authorship and utility to become a site of collective feeling—when an artist’s intention resonates beyond the individual viewer and ignites a shared emotional consciousness. These works become gathering points for empathy, reflection, and recognition, binding communities through the realities of the world they inhabit together.
Featuring new works by: Diana Benavidez, Matt Hebert, Michael Hernandez, Soyeon Kim, Christine Lee, Anna Mayer, Kaiya Rainbolt, Phil Rowland, India Thompson, and Georgina Treviño.
Event Supported By
San Diego Central Library Visual Arts and Culture Program
OnView@sandiego.gov
https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/visualarts
San Diego Central Library: Judith Harris Art Gallery
330 Park Blvd.
San Diego, California 92101
Hundreds of American Craft Artists invite public into their studios during National Craft Open Studios Weekend
Your Sun
7/13/26
The first National Craft Open Studios Weekend will invite the American public to explore the creative spaces of hundreds of craft artists on the weekend of July 18-19.
This two-day event offers guests a rare glimpse into the processes, tools and inspiration that shape how handmade works are made.
Visitors can explore a wide range of creative spaces, from individual artist studios and community workshops to artist collectives and shared studio buildings, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how craft is made and the people who make it.
A comprehensive map of all participating studio locations in both rural and urban areas in 36 states plus the District of Columbia is available online at craftcouncil.org/events/national-craft-open-studios-weekend — just register (it’s free with a $10 suggested donation) to get access to the map. Visitors can look for their next favorite artist in their own backyard or plan a trip farther afield to discover something new.
“From small towns to the biggest cities, communities throughout our country are witnessing an American craft renaissance,” says Andrea Specht, Executive Director of the American Craft Council. “It is more vital than ever that we see and support the things that bring us together, and for nearly 85 years, ACC has championed craft as a powerful force fostering human dignity and connection.”
National Craft Open Studios Weekend is presented by the American Craft Council and launches as part of Craft in America’s Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026. Similar to what Record Store Day or Independent Bookstore Day do for their creative ecosystems, National Craft Open Studios Weekend will provide support for artists and makers, and strengthen the national craft community through shared storytelling.
The American Craft Council is a national nonprofit fostering connection through the handmade. Building upon an 80-plus year legacy of tradition and innovation as a membership-based nonprofit, ACC leverages the transformative possibilities of craft through storytelling, resources for artists and appreciators, and events. In partnership with organizations across the country, we mobilize our diverse craft ecosystem to create a world where objects matter, makers thrive and craft connects.
Original article here.
Craft in America explores threads of culture
7/9/26
An exhibition highlighting the work of Hawaiian artist and cultural practitioner Marques Hanalei Marzan recently opened at Craft in America with an artist talk and reception.
“Marques Hanalei Marzan: Entwine” examines the artist’s use of traditional Hawaiian fiber techniques alongside contemporary interpretations of body adornment and sculptural form. Inspired by childhood curiosity about the construction of his grandfather’s lauhala hat, Marzan pursued instruction in weaving and related fiber arts passed down through generations of Native Hawaiian practitioners.
The exhibition features works created with hand-cut pandanus leaves and incorporates techniques including weaving, knotting, twining, and looping. Marzan also works with materials such as coconut fiber, cotton and wire.
Born and raised in Kāneʻohe, Hawaiʻi, Marzan is recognized as a Hawaiian cultural practitioner, educator and contemporary visual artist. He trained with master weavers Julia Minerva Kaʻawa and Esther Kakalia Westmoreland and has become known for promoting sustainable gathering practices, perpetuating Hawaiian fiber techniques and mentoring students within his community.
Marzan currently serves as cultural advisor and the Wayne Pitluck and Judith Pyle Curator for Cultural Resilience at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. In that role, he works to integrate Indigenous perspectives and practices within museum settings while supporting cultural practitioners and community engagement with traditional knowledge and artistic expression.
The exhibition is also part of “Handwork 2026,” a nationwide semiquincentennial collaboration focused on the significance of handmade artistic practices and the diversity of American craft traditions.
Craft in America is located at 8415 W. Third St.
For information, visit craftinamerica.org.
South King County Fine Arts Roundup: Here’s what’s happening across the region this July
B Town Blog
by Amy Robinson
7/6/2026
“Handwork 2026: Northwest Designer Craft Artists”
Postmark Center for the Arts, Auburn
July 15 – October 9, 2026
Wednesday – Fridays plus Second Saturdays, 12 Noon – 4 PM (6 PM on Thursdays)
Opening Reception Wednesday, July 15, 5:00 PM
“Founded in Seattle in 1954, Northwest Designer Craftartists is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to promoting excellence in contemporary craft throughout the Pacific Northwest. NWDC brings together professional craft artists, educators, arts leaders, and supporters to strengthen and celebrate the region’s vibrant craft community. NWDC joins Handwork, a nationwide celebration of craft in conjunction with the country’s 250th anniversary.”
Image and text taken from their website.
Admission is FREE.
Full article here.
Couple brings art and community together in downtown Hancock
Monadnock Ledger Transcript
7/3/26
Art at the center of community has been Erin Sweeney’s passion since the beginning.
“I think that building these little pockets of community wherever you are or in whatever situation you’re in, that’s the crux for me,” Sweeney said.
Sweeney and her husband Bob Petzold, opened Brick House Arts in downtown Hancock in the fall of 2024, offering artist workshops and a small retail space for local artisans. It wasn’t until the following year that the two fully committed and created a schedule for people to sign up for classes.
Workshops include, but are not limited to, bookbinding, book art, embroidery and a host of different classes for younger kids, usually involving lots more glitter and googly eyes.
Sweeney said a few weeks ago she worked with a group of kids of all ages to create personal monsters.
“We had a blast, and they made their creatures and there were pom-poms everywhere,” she said.
Sweeney grew up in Peterborough and has fond memories of the close-knit community found in small New England towns.
She said her mom has always been an active member of the community and never stops showing up for her neighbors.
“That’s how I grew up,” Sweeney said.
On the other hand, Petzold had no experience of small-town living before moving to Hancock to pursue construction and handyman work. But he welcomes the change of pace.
The couple has become active members of the community themselves by partnering with the Hancock Town Library, Grapevine and Avenue A to facilitate art workshops.
At the Hancock Town Library across the street from Brick House Arts, Sweeney helps out with craft events and participated in the summer kickoff event this year. In partnership with Jean Mann, she also organized for students to be showcased in the library’s gallery last month.
Margot Swanson, children’s librarian, has known Sweeney for years and said her flexibility makes her great with the kids.
“She’s creative and she lets kids be what they need to be,” Swanson said.
Swanson remembers fondly when she was out of glue sticks for the weekly Thursday ‘Crafternoon’ event, so she texted Sweeney in her moment of need. She said Sweeney quickly ran over with glue sticks for the participants.
Swanson said she feels grateful for their informal partnership. “I’m thrilled that she’s here,” she said.
The couple also contribute to the Hancock community garden and donate to the fire department and fireworks committee.
“We just want to be part of it all,” Petzold said.
When the two met, Petzold was living in the now workshop and retail space and Sweeney had a studio in Peterborough.
Eventually, they bought the brick house and moved in. Now, the couple lives above the workshop space.
In the past, the classic-looking red brick building lived many lives as a blacksmith shop, post office, hair salon, boutique and now as an art studio.
Sweeney hosts most of the workshops on the weekends, but with summer starting, she will start offering classes for younger kids during the week after the Hancock summer camp ends around 3 p.m.
“I want kids in here. I want older people in here, everybody in here, all abilities,” Sweeney said.
The front of the space is dedicated to the shop, which features clay items, paintings, soaps, monster pillows made by Sweeney, cutting boards and lamps made by Petzold and so much more.
Both said they are very happy to be part of the Hancock community.
“There’s really cool stuff going on and awesome people and everyone in Hancock is just really curious and everyone’s really helpful,” Sweeney said.
Arts and teaching
When Sweeney is not volunteering at the community garden or planning a creative craft for another workshop, she works as an assistant professor at Plymouth State University. She teaches art education and art studio courses.
Before moving to Hancock, Sweeney became bored with the traditional art gallery scene and wanted to create something different while still making art.
Now that she’s begun to succeed, she wants to teach her college students a similar lesson about the importance of community.
“I want them to see what kind of things they could do in the future, not spending a whole lot of money and figuring out a different model,” Sweeney said.
Whether that’s creating art or teaching it, Sweeney wants her students to understand that community is essential.
“I want my students to also understand being an active part of your community, especially as a public school teacher,” she said.
This is exactly what Sweeney practices at Brick House Arts.
“I am thinking of the whole thing as my current art practice,” she said.
Future plans
The couple hopes to expand their class offering with Petzold offering simple cutting board making courses.
Sweeney plans to continue growing in the community and offering accessible art spaces and opportunities for kids and adults.
During the pandemic, before starting Brick House Arts, Sweeney made art kits for people stuck quarantining in their homes. She hopes to bring this practice back with the tons of donations she gets throughout the year.
She wants to create a “library of supplies” that people can choose from locally and cheaper than the big box stores.
“This is our dream,” Sweeney said.
This year, Brick House Arts is participating in the Handwork 2026 collaboration with Craft in America and PBS, showcasing art initiatives across the nation.
Learn more about this crafty couple on their website: brickhousearts.com.
Original article here.