Woodworking Network: Craft in America Launches Craft Video Dictionary
5/13/24
Full, original article by Dakota Smith on Woodworking Network here.
Craft in America has launched the first-ever Craft Video Dictionary (CVD). The CVD is an online resource that gives the public a direct, close-up view of craft processes and techniques. Instead of words and images, CVD definitions are conveyed via video. Clear and concise, these videos are edited to focus on the artists’ movements and the transformation of materials. The project was initiated with support from The Decorative Arts Trust through their Prize for Excellence and Innovation in late 2020.
The first rollout of this new reference tool includes an initial batch of one hundred video definitions. This initial collection of videos begins to flesh out the ins and outs of art and craft making across a range of materials and media. Two hundred videos will be posted in total later this year.
The CVD includes techniques as demonstrated by artists with expertise in ceramics, metal, wood, fiber, glass, and more. Each video captures an artist manipulating material with their hands and tools through methods that are traditional, historic, and also very much still alive. “The CVD videos are intended to clearly define a craft technique, rather than demonstrate a how-to process. We hope this project will be useful to educators, museums, and everyone interested in craft,” says CVD project producer Denise Kang.
Thus far, 14 artists have been filmed across Southern California, and many of them are teaching artists at colleges in the region. The CVD includes definitions of terms ranging from sgraffito, which is a ceramics process, to glass blowing, and from cabinet making and joinery, to spindle turning, and blacksmithing.
By providing an intimate lens into the artist’s studio, CVD video definitions provide a sense of how the objects in our world come to be and what their craft entails. On creating the videos, CVD Project Director Emily Zaiden noted, “each artist during filming was able to take a step back from their second nature process and think about what someone unfamiliar with their craft might need to see and understand their work.”
A NEW, FREE ONLINE DICTIONARY OF CRAFT DEBUTS
This reinvented dictionary brings word definitions to life through videos of artists making objects.
About the Craft Video Dictionary
Three years in the making, Craft in America has launched the first ever Craft Video Dictionary (CVD), craftvideodictionary.org. The CVD is a free online resource that gives the public a direct, close-up view of craft processes and techniques. Instead of words and images, CVD definitions are conveyed via video. Clear and concise, these videos are edited to focus strictly on the artists’ movements and the transformation of materials. The project was initiated with support from The Decorative Arts Trust through their inaugural Prize for Excellence and Innovation, which was received in late 2020.
The first rollout of this new reference tool includes an initial batch of 100 video definitions. This initial collection of videos begins to flesh out the ins and outs of art and craft making across a range of materials and media. 200 videos will be posted in total later this year.
The CVD includes technique definitions as demonstrated by artists with expertise in ceramics, metal, wood, fiber, glass and more materials. Each video captures an artist manipulating material with their hands and tools through methods that are traditional, historic, and also very much still alive. “The CVD videos are intended to clearly define a craft technique, rather than demonstrate a how-to process. We hope this project will be useful to educators, museums, and everyone interested in craft,” says CVD Project Producer Denise Kang.
![Heather McLarty and Mary Jane Verniere at Adam's Forge demonstrating blacksmithing for the Craft Video Dictionary CVD](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Heather-McLarty-Mary-Jane-Verniere.jpg)
![Kazuki Takizawa, Deshon Tyau, The Craft Video Dictionary Project, Craft in America](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/F2631157-9884-4A03-B3DA-D0F9EB679513.jpg)
![David Johnson caning a chair at Allied Woodshop for the Craft Video Dictionary CVD](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DavidJohnson.jpg)
Thus far, 14 artists were filmed across Southern California, many of them are teaching artists at colleges in the region. The CVD includes definitions of terms ranging from sgraffito, which is a ceramics process, to glass blowing, and from cabinet making and joinery, to spindle turning, and blacksmithing.
By providing an intimate lens into the artist’s studio, CVD video definitions provide a sense of how the objects in our world come to be and what craft really entails. On creating the videos, CVD Project Director Emily Zaiden noted, “each artist during filming was able to take a step back from their second nature process and think about what someone unfamiliar with their craft might need to see and understand so as to appreciate their work.”
Woodworking Network: Craft in America Announces New Exhibition
April 26, 2024
Original post by Dakota Smith on Woodworking Network here.
LOS ANGELES, CA — The Craft in America Center has announced Building Blocks: Process and Wood, a group exhibition highlighting Southern California woodworkers who use tradition to create contemporary interpretations.
Craft in America is organizing an exhibition of woodwork and furniture-based sculpture made by the artists who were consulted and filmed for the new Craft Video Dictionary (CVD) definitions. The exhibition will consist of approximately two dozen recent works made by six artists in the field who are based across the Los Angeles basin. Ranging in styles and perspectives, these artists are unified by formal innovation coupled with a unique understanding of materials and techniques.
The Craft Video Dictionary is a new digital tool for understanding how objects are made. Launching in early 2024 with an initial exemplary array of video definitions that span media, material, process, and discipline, the CVD will continue to expand and develop over time. New, additional video definitions will be added at later intervals in 2024 and beyond. Especially for those who are not makers or artists, the CVD provides a chance to gain awareness about the crafting of objects, in real time. These educational videos are intended to clarify, elucidate, document, and explain craft techniques.
Participating Artists: Reuben Foat, Martin Alexander Hernandez, Ryan Taber, Lauren Verdugo, Larry White and Maxwell Wilson
American Folklore Society: Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026
![Handwork 2026 Logo](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/handwork-1024x423.jpg)
Original, full post by American Folklore Society | Events, News from the Field here.
Craft in America is pleased to announce the launch of Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026 , a national semiquincentennial initiative to showcase the importance of the handmade, both throughout their history and in contemporary life. Handwork 2026 will be a year-long collaboration among organizations, educators, and makers to celebrate the diversity of the crafts that define America, bringing compelling stories and underrepresented art and artists into the spotlight.
The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the national museum dedicated to American craft, is the lead partner for the initiative and will host the core exhibition for the project. Americans for the Arts, a leading non-profit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, is the Awareness partner for this project.
Americans For The Arts: Americans for the Arts Teams Up With Handwork 2026 To Celebrate Legacy of America Craft in Lead-up to U.S. Semiquincentennial
![Handwork 2026 Logo](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/handwork-1024x423.jpg)
Full article by the Americans for the Arts here.
(WASHINGTON, DC— April 18, 2024)—Americans for the Arts (AFTA) announces its participation in Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a national Semiquincentennial initiative to showcase the importance of the handmade, both throughout our history and in contemporary life. Handwork 2026 is a yearlong collaboration among organizations, educators, and makers to celebrate the diversity of the crafts that define America, bringing compelling stories and underrepresented art and artists into the spotlight.
“Americans for the Arts is honored to serve as an awareness partner for Handwork 2026,” said Nolen Bivens, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “Handmade artistry holds a special place in U.S. history, and we are eager to highlight the diverse stories and work that represent American craftsmanship. Handwork 2026’s yearlong initiative aligns with the values of Americans for the Arts by promoting vibrant arts communities and fostering dialogues to strengthen our unique, collective cultural identity.”
AFTA is pleased to join Handwork 2026 lead partners Craft in America, the national organization promoting and advancing original handcrafted work through programs in all media, and the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the national museum dedicated to American craft, which will host the core exhibition for the project, opening in 2026.
“As the flagship museum of American craft, the Renwick Gallery is the driving force in the national conversation about the dynamic landscape of contemporary craft,” said Stephanie Stebich, the Margaret and Terry Stent Director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. “We are delighted to be a lead partner with Craft in America for Handwork2026. Together we will showcase the artworks being created now by innovative makers that help us better understand ourselves, each other, and the world around us.”
Woodworking Network: Craft in America Announces Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026
![Handwork 2026 Logo](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/handwork-1024x423.jpg)
5/13/24
Original post by Dakota Smith at Woodworking Network here.
LOS ANGELES – Handwork 2026 will be a year-long collaboration among organizations, educators, and makers to celebrate the diversity of the crafts that define America, bringing compelling stories and underrepresented art and artists into the spotlight.
Craft in America announced the launch of Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a national Semiquincentennial initiative to showcase the importance of the handmade, both throughout our history and in contemporary life.
Handwork 2026 will be a year-long collaboration among organizations, educators, and makers to celebrate the diversity of the crafts that define America, bringing compelling stories and underrepresented art and artists into the spotlight.
The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the national museum dedicated to American craft, is the lead partner for the initiative and will host the core exhibition for the project.
Americans for the Arts, a non-profit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, is the Awareness partner for this project.
ArtDaily.com: ‘Between the Lines’ opening reception opens today at Craft in America Center
Original article on ArtDaily.com here.
LOS ANGELES, CA.- The Craft in America Center is opening Between the Lines, a two-person exhibition featuring master glass sculptors John Luebtow and Stephen Edwards. These two maverick sculptors have shaped the field of glass through potent artwork and technical prowess. Constantly innovating, they use glass in ways that defy expectations— bending, casting and cutting it into astounding forms that push the material to its limits. Over the decades, both their intimate and monumental works address relationships with nature, spirituality, and family.
Line is the guiding force shaping the form of each work. Line and form relay philosophical signifiers stemming from the artists’ personal experiences and outlooks. Responding to concepts through abstraction, glass becomes a material for echoing dynamics of the natural world.
This exhibition pairs these two luminaries who are also tied by a teacher/student relationship: Edwards was once a student in Luebtow’s high school art classes. Insatiably curious about process, both artists consistently push the boundaries of technical development and have created significant facilities, both of their own and at institutions. In addition to illustrious art careers, the two masters have been instrumental in creating education programs and facilities in glass, and have taught scores of art students; Luebtow at Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, and Edwards at Alfred University in New York.
With more than a century of knowledge between them, these objects are a glimpse at how these artists create abstract forms with powerful, transcendent ideas about beauty, conflict, tension, nature and existence.
John Luebtow has become one of the most respected names in contemporary glass sculpture over the past forty years. He developed innovative techniques in glass-making, introducing and incorporating gestural and expressive qualities into impeccably finished sculptural components. He holds a BA from California Lutheran College, and two MFAs from UCLA (one in ceramics and one in glass).
Stephen Edwards built one of the largest hot glass programs in the nation at Alfred University, where he taught for 22 years. Prior to that, an early stepping stone was working as an artist-in-residence at the Penland School of Crafts. Near Penland, he established his first private glass studio in Micaville, North Carolina in 1982. Edwards graduated from Illinois State University with a Master of Fine Arts Degree in 1980.
Opening Reception: Saturday, March 9, 3:00–5:00pm PST Artist talk: Saturday, April 27, 3:00pm PST
KRQE.com: New Mexico Artists, Museums Featured in PBS show “Craft in America”
![Leandro Gomez Quintero, vehicles, MINIATURES, Craft in America](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Leandro-Gomez-Quintero-vehicles-Sidney-Lubitsch-photograph1-1024x682.jpg)
11/14/23
Read the full, original article by Fallon Fischer at KRQE.com here.
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Artwork from the New Mexico Museum of Art’s collection and the Museum of International Folk Art’s collection were featured in the PBS series “Craft in America.”
The Museum of International Folk Art will host the national premiere screening of the episode, followed by a panel discussion in the museum’s Vernick Auditorium. There will be free museum admission all day, including to the screening and panel discussion.
“Craft in America” staff and film crew traveled to New Mexico twice in 2022 to film the “MINIATURES” episode. The public broadcast of “MINIATURES” on PBS will take place on Dec. 29, 2023. All episodes are available for streaming on the PBS App, craftinamerica.org, and pbs.org/craftinamerica.
For more information on the event, click here.
Craft in America Premieres New Season with episodes: Play & Miniatures
![Leandro Gomez Quintero, vehicles, MINIATURES, Craft in America](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Leandro-Gomez-Quintero-vehicles-Sidney-Lubitsch-photograph1-1024x682.jpg)
![Noah's Ark at Skirball Cultural Center, PLAY, Craft in America](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Noahs-Ark-at-Skirball-Cultural-Center-Denise-Kang-photograph2-1024x741.jpg)
[Los Angeles] – PLAY and MINIATURES premiere on PBS December 29 at 9pm and 10pm, respectively (check local listings).
Streaming starts December 1st on the PBS App, pbs.org/craftinamerica, and craftinamerica.org.
The episodes comprise the newest season of Craft in America. The Peabody Award-winning and Emmy-nominated documentary series has produced 15 seasons since 2007, discovering the beauty, significance and relevance of handmade objects and the artists who make them.
“Craft in America…[has a] knack for telling big stories… about the formation of culture, the purpose of creativity, the idea that the pursuits of beauty and utility are foundational to humanity.” – New York Times
PLAY
PLAY explores the intersection of play and artistry. From puppets to piñatas to unicorns, this hour reveals how artists use the tools of childhood to inspire imagination, celebration and wonder. The featured artists and institutions are Lorena Robletto, Roberto Benevidez, Calder Kamin, Schroeder Cherry, Skirball Cultural Center Noah’s Ark & Puppet Festival and Cotsen Children’s Library.
![Calder Kamin with her unicorn installation, PLAY, Craft in America](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Calder-Kamin-with-her-unicorn-installation-Denise-Kang-photograph1-edited.jpg)
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Lorena Robletto and Roberto Benavidez (Los Angeles, CA)
PLAY opens in Los Angeles with two artists’ distinct takes on the art of the piñata. Lorena Robletto creates festive and creative piñatas with fair labor practices at her business, Amazing Pinatas, while Roberto Benavidez takes a sculptural approach to the piñata, making work inspired by Hieronymus Bosch and medieval illuminated manuscripts.
Calder Kamin (Breckenridge, CO)
From Los Angeles, we travel to Colorado to Calder Kamin’s art installation at the Breckenridge International Arts Festival. She is committed to reusing and recycling in her art and sculpts from discarded plastic, creating a unicorn with old Mardi Gras beads and engaging the community to learn sustainable art methods.
Schroeder Cherry (Baltimore, MD)
In Baltimore, artist and museum educator Schroeder Cherry introduces us to his cast of handmade puppets. Cherry puts on puppet shows to share African American history with children and adults alongside his practice as a painter and collage artist.
Skirball Center Noah’s Ark and Puppet Festival (Los Angeles, CA)
Crossing back to the West Coast takes us to the Skirball Cultural Center, a Jewish educational institution that is hosting their annual puppet festival. This year, artist Chris Green joins to revisit one of the centerpieces of their children’s programming, Noah’s Ark, a vast installation featuring hundreds of animals crafted from found objects.
Cotsen Children’s Library (Princeton, NJ)
We track the legacy of one of the founding Board members of the Skirball, Lloyd E. Cotsen, to the Cotsen Children’s Library at Princeton University. Cotsen was a collector and philanthropist and the Cotsen Children’s Library now houses his vast collection of children’s books. We learn how children’s books enrich the lives and minds of the community and all of us through play and imagination.
MINIATURES
MINIATURES explores the world of tiny objects and the artists that make them. From folk art to marionettes to tiny furniture, the artists of MINIATURES reveal what motivates them to work at a scale that demands a masterful attention to detail. The featured artists and institutions are Mark Murphy, Alexander Girard, the International Folk Art Market, Leandro Gómez Quintero and Gustave Baumann.
![Erkebu Djumagulova, Felted Dolls, Denise Kang photograph](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Erkebu-Djumagulova-Felted-Dolls-Denise-Kang-photograph1-1.jpg)
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Mark Murphy (Astoria, OR)
We meet Mark Murphy, a miniaturist living and working in Astoria, Oregon. Mark shares his process for creating intricately detailed miniature furniture. We travel with him to the Chicago International Miniatures Show and connect with his community of other remarkable miniature artists.
Alexander Girard (Santa Fe, NM)
We visit Santa Fe, New Mexico, to reveal the iconic 20th-century designer Alexander Girard’s passion for folk art through the “Multiple Visions” exhibition at the Museum of International Folk Art. In the 1980s, Girard transformed his collection of over 100,000 pieces of miniature folk art from all over the world into one expansive exhibition that has been displayed exactly as he designed it for over 40 years.
International Folk Art Market (Santa Fe, NM)
We travel the globe at the annual International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where artists and makers from around the world including Mexico, Peru, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Eswatini, and more share their practices and culture through miniature folk art and other craft traditions.
Leandro Gómez Quintero (Baracoa, Cuba)
From IFAM, we cross the continent and ocean and follow the model vehicles of artist Leandro Gómez Quintero to his home in Baracoa, Cuba. Leandro crafts his faithful recreations of vehicles like the iconic Willys Jeep with intricate detail and accuracy, using found materials to tell the story of Cuba and her people through his art.
Gustave Baumann (Santa Fe, NM)
Finally, we celebrate the prolific multidisciplinary artist, Gustave Baumann, who created paintings, woodblock prints and marionettes in the first half of the 20th century. Baumann was deeply inspired by the landscape and people of Santa Fe, and the city keeps his legacy alive today with their yearly Christmas marionette show.
ARTIST & INSTITUTION BIOS: PLAY
![Lorena Robletto and Francisco Cardenas, PLAY, Craft in America](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Lorena-Robletto-1024x576.jpg)
Lorena Robletto
Lorena Robletto is a Los Angeles based piñata artist. After serving as a social worker for immigrant families and consulting for immigrant-owned businesses, Robletto turned her focus towards the artistry of piñatas and set up a shop, Amazing Pinatas, in the Los Angeles Piñata District. Her studio and storefront is now located in Mid City, where her team creates custom piñatas of any scale along with ready-made piñatas and various signature designs. She frequently makes props and commissions for the entertainment industry and other branded events.
Roberto Benavidez
Roberto Benavidez is a figurative sculptor originally from South Texas, specializing in the piñata form. After moving to Los Angeles, he rediscovered his passion for the visual arts and studied figure sculpting and bronze casting at Pasadena City College. Benavidez later switched to paper, a more accessible material than bronze, deciding to focus on the piñata technique, a familiar form from childhood. Benavidez plays with underlying themes of race, ephemerality, beauty and sin, layered with his identity as a mixed-race queer artist, with a focus on impeccable craftsmanship. Some of his otherworldly creatures could have stepped out of Hieronymus Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights. Currently, one of Benavidez’s ‘Painting Piñatas’ is on display in all LA Metro buses under the Through the Eyes of Artists poster series, and another landscape is on view at LAX Terminal 1.5 in Craft in America’s LA Scenes exhibition.
Calder Kamin
Artist, educator and advocate, Calder Kamin transforms trash into beautifully crafted creatures and opportunities to inspire others to be creative and courageous about the future. Nature’s endless ability to reuse and adapt motivates her to eliminate waste and reimagine it as art. Kamin’s creative reuse art projects and public workshops have traveled to museums across the states including The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, The American Museum of Natural History, The Contemporary Austin, The i.d.e.a. Museum, and The Amon Carter Museum of American Art. Plastic Planet, her 2016 solo exhibition at Women & Their Work, was supported by a Mid-America Arts Alliance Artistic Innovations Grant and the subject of an episode for the PBS series Arts In Context. She was the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art’s Art Truck Artist, the first AIR at the Beach Museum of Art, and Artist-in-Residence at BreckCreate, Landmark Apartments, the DoSeum and San Antonio’s Children’s Museum. Kamin is a board member of Austin Creative Reuse, a non-profit that diverts community waste to artists, crafters and educators as resources.
Schroeder Cherry
Dr. Schroeder Cherry, a native of Washington, DC, is now a Baltimore-based artist working with puppets, paintings and mixed media assemblages. Dr. Cherry captures everyday scenes of African American life, often set in barbershops and utilizing repurposed materials. He has worked in museums across the US, including The Art Institute of Chicago, Smithsonian Institution’s Anacostia Museum, Studio Museum of Harlem, J.Paul Getty Museum, The Baltimore Museum of Art and Maryland Historical Society. He has held senior grant maker positions at Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. He is the Museum Curator at the James E. Lewis Museum of Art and currently teaches museum studies at Morgan State University. His works “are open-ended narratives inspired by travel, music, literature, folklore, and everyday events.”
Skirball Cultural Center
The Skirball Cultural Center is a place of meeting guided by the Jewish tradition of welcoming the stranger and inspired by the American democratic ideals of freedom and equality. They welcome people of all communities and generations to participate in cultural experiences that celebrate discovery and hope, foster human connections, and call upon us to help build a more just society. Open to the public since 1996, the Skirball is one of the world’s most dynamic Jewish cultural institutions and among the leading cultural venues in Los Angeles.
Chris Green
Chris Green is a Brooklyn-based designer, director and performer. His theatrical and installation works have been presented nationally and internationally in venues including the Skirball Cultural Center, Lincoln Center, New York City Center, St. Anne’s Warehouse, Geothe Institute (Delhi), National Geographic Museum, La Jolla Playhouse, Teatro del Lago (Chile) and BAM Harvey. Since 2005, his design studio, Chris Green Kinetics, has received awards of excellence from the American Association of Museums, TEA, and a Regional Design Award from AIA. Recent projects include Firebird, with ten puppeteers and a full orchestra, Hagoromo, a puppetry and dance collaboration with David Michalek, David Neumann and Wendy Whelan, and This Is Hunger, a multi-media installation about hunger in America traveling across the country in an expanding tractor-trailer.
Cotsen Children’s Library
The Cotsen Children’s Library, a unit within Princeton University Library’s Department of Special Collections, is the benefaction of Lloyd E. Cotsen, ’50, and Charter Trustee, Emeritus. The curatorial division administers the research collection of illustrated children’s books, manuscripts, original artwork, prints and educational toys, hosts academic conferences on children’s books and publishes their proceedings, and sponsors fellowships for research. The outreach division of Cotsen serves children of all ages, families, librarians and educators. Campus visitors can explore Bookscape, a whimsical reading environment with its two-story bonsai tree, Wall of Books, exhibition space, and attend free weekly story hours and special events.
ARTIST & INSTITUTION BIOS: MINIATURES
![Mark Murphy, MINIATURES, Craft in America](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Mark-Murphy-1024x576.jpg)
Mark Murphy
Mark Murphy is a miniaturist who specializes in Arts & Crafts furniture including Greene & Greene and Japanese furniture. He studied at Ohio State University, with an emphasis on sculpture. He finished his studies at the Philadelphia College of Art with a BFA in woodworking and furniture design. Shortly after that, he moved to San Francisco where he started making scale furniture models. It was at that time he met the miniature house builder Pam Throop and started making pieces for her period American and English houses. Mark also does collaborative work with several other miniature artists including Mary O’Brien, Patricia Hartman, Patricia Richards, Lee-Ann Wessel and Annelle Ferguson. A Fellow of the International Guild of Miniature Artisans, Mark has been teaching miniature furniture construction since 2000. He shows his work at miniature shows (The Guild Show in Hartford, CT, The Good Sam Showcase of Miniatures in San Jose, CA and the Chicago International Miniatures Show). His work is in private miniature collections and miniature museum collections including the Gateway Center in Maysville, KY and the Toy and Miniature Museum in Kansas City, MO.
Alexander Girard
Alexander Girard (1907–1993) was a highly influential and prolific interior and textile designer in the 20th century. He designed interiors for restaurants, homes, offices, and aircraft. He created textiles, typography, and tableware. His work extended to exhibitions, toys, and an entire city street in Columbus, Indiana. Folk and pop art were inspirations for his bold, colorful and whimsical artwork. Girard was a defining figure in the history of the Museum of International Folk Art. He donated more than 100,000 objects from his and his wife Susan’s folk art collection. In 1981, this became the museum’s permanent exhibition, “Multiple Visions: A Common Bond.”
International Folk Art Market
The mission of the International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe, NM, is to create economic opportunities for and with folk artists worldwide who celebrate and preserve folk art traditions. IFAM envisions a world that values the dignity and humanity of the handmade, honors timeless cultural traditions, and supports the work of artisans serving as entrepreneurs and catalysts for positive social change. Recognized globally as the largest market of its kind, IFAM provides an event for some of the finest folk artists to gather in one location, exhibit their artwork that is rooted in tradition and culture, and partake in cross-cultural artistic exchange. The earnings generated from the Market return to the home communities of the artists, creating long-term economic opportunity.
Leandro Gómez Quintero
Leandro Gómez Quintero uses paper, cardboard and found objects to create models of American cars and Jeeps, all of which are used as methods of transportation in his hometown of Baracoa, Cuba. They are individually hand painted and detailed to mimic the original vehicle. His sculpture represents Willys Jeeps from 1942–1955, as well as Dodge Power Wagons, GMCs, and Fords from the era. These sculptures are representations of what his community sees on a daily basis, and Leandro hopes to preserve and offer knowledge through his art, as well as reflect the history of transportation and everyday life in Cuba. Quintero says, “They bring humor and call attention to the fact that we are an isolated community within a country that has been isolated for many years. By showing the people a part of their everyday lives in a lighthearted way, they come to appreciate and can smile at some of the difficulties that we encounter in just trying to live our lives and getting from one place to another.” (Courtesy of International Folk Art Alliance, 2017)
Gustave Baumann
(1881–1971) was an American printmaker and painter, and one of the leading figures of the color woodcut revival in America. While still a young boy, Baumann emigrated with his family from Magdeburg, Germany, to Chicago. He returned to Germany to study at Kunstgewerbeschule in Munich, and later attended the Art Institute of Chicago. After moving to Santa Fe in 1918, he became a leading member of the art community. Baumann was appointed area coordinator of the Public Works of Art Project of the Works Progress Administration beginning in the early 1930s. During this time, he also carved and decorated a large number of marionettes, with which he, his wife and other artists toured the state, acting out Hispanic and Native American folk stories.
![](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2018-Horizontal-Logo-with-url2-web-1024x576.jpg)
This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.
ABOUT CRAFT IN AMERICA
Craft in America is the Peabody Award-winning series on PBS exploring America’s creative spirit through the language and traditions of the handmade. The series takes viewers on a journey to the artists, origins and techniques of American craft. Each episode contains stories from diverse regions and cultures, blending history with living practice and exploring issues of identity, ritual, philosophy and creative expression. Craft in America’s organizational efforts include educator guides that adhere to national standards and the Craft in America Center in Los Angeles.
OUR MISSION
To promote and advance original handcrafted work through programs in all media
OUR GOALS
To document the importance of handmade objects and the artists who make them
To provide a gateway to discover, explore and experience craft
To celebrate our nation’s cultures through craft
CRAFT IN AMERICA, Inc. is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
CONTACT
Lauren Over or Terry de Castro
press@craftinamerica.org
Craft in America Premieres New Season with episodes: Inspiration & Home
November 1, 2022 (Digital Release) December 16, 2022, 9pm and 10pm (PBS Broadcast Premiere)
(check local listings)
![Suzanne Thao, Craft in America, INSPIRATION episode](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Inspiration-Suzanne-Thao-.jpeg)
![Wharton Esherick Museum. Courtesy Wharton Esherick Museum, Charles Uniatowski photo](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Wharton-Esherick-Museum1_Courtesy-Wharton-Esherick-Museum_Charles-Uniatowski-photo-copy2.jpg)
[Los Angeles] – INSPIRATION and HOME stream on the digital platforms of PBS and Craft in America starting November 2022, and premiere on PBS December 16 at 9pm and 10pm, respectively (check local listings). The episodes comprise the newest season of Craft in America. The Peabody Award-winning and Emmy-nominated documentary series has produced 14 seasons since 2007, discovering the beauty, significance and relevance of handmade objects and the artists who make them.
“Craft in America…[has a] knack for telling big stories… about the formation of culture, the purpose of creativity, the idea that the pursuits of beauty and utility are foundational to humanity.” – New York Times
INSPIRATION
November 2022 (Digital Release) December 16, 2022, 9pm (PBS Broadcast Premiere)
featuring artists who impact and influence
INSPIRATION premieres during the holiday season when inspiration and human authenticity are at the fore. Fittingly, INSPIRATION visits communities and distinguished artists of varied disciplines impacting new generations of makers through their work. The featured artists and organizations are Diedrick Brackens (Los Angeles, CA), Hmong Community – Suzanne Thao, Tousue Vang, Chef Yia Vang, and Mandora Young (St. Paul, MN), Ayumi Horie (Portland, ME), Maddy Inez Leeser, Mary Little, Simon Rodia and the Watts Towers, Alison Saar, and Betye Saar (all of Los Angeles, CA).
![Diedrick Brackens, a deep and abiding dance. Courtesy Craft Contemporary, Josh Schaedel photo](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Diedrick-Brackens-a-deep-and-abiding-dance_Courtesy-Craft-Contemporary_Josh-Schaedel-photo-copy-1024x576.jpg)
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- Simon Rodia and Watts Towers (Los Angeles, CA)
The episode opens with the iconic Watts Towers—a monumental structure designed by Italian immigrant, Simon Rodia. We visit the Watts Towers Arts Center Campus, a vibrant community hub in the Watts neighborhood in South Central Los Angeles. Its extensive programming, classes, and education outreach serve as a local anchor for creativity.
- Alison Saar, Betye Saar, Maddy Inez Leeser (Los Angeles, CA)
We spend time with Alison Saar and three generations of the Saar family—Betye, Alison, and Alison’s daughter, Maddy Inez Leeser—who inspire each other as a close-knit family of artists. In the segment, Alison shares her many influences, including her mother Betye, one of the most impactful artists of the last half century.
- Ayumi Horie (Portland, ME)
On the other side of the country, in Portland, ME, ceramic artist Ayumi Horie exemplifies the way the internet has impacted contemporary craft—creating practical, usable ceramics combined with unapologetic activism.
- Hmong Community – Suzanne Thao, Tousue Vang, Chef Yia Vang, and Mandora Young (St. Paul, MN)
The episode turns its attention to the significant impact of immigrants on American creative culture, focusing in particular on the Hmong community of St. Paul, Minnesota. Viewers learn how the ancient practice of paj ntaub embroidery is an artistic and economic foundation for the Hmong, and how their culture continues to thrive and evolve.
- Mary Little (Los Angeles, CA)
Mary Little creates evocative, sculptural wall hangings inspired by landscapes from her childhood in Ireland.
Textile artist Diedrick Brackens explores identity and race, among other narratives, drawing from the past to retell profound histories in his weavings.
HOME
November 2022 (Digital Release)
December 16, 2022, 10pm (PBS Broadcast Premiere)
visits environments filled with artistry and meaning
![Wharton Esherick Museum. Courtesy Wharton Esherick Museum, Charles Uniatowski photo](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Wharton-Esherick-Museum1_Courtesy-Wharton-Esherick-Museum_Charles-Uniatowski-photo-copy2-1024x576.jpg)
The idea of Home has taken on heightened importance in recent years. Craft in America’s new episode embraces its many meanings—from the physical structure, to the belongings we cherish, to the meals we share with family and friends. “Through the artists and stories represented in this episode, HOME honors the significance of our surroundings, while also acknowledging the challenging histories that have shaped our ideas of it,” shares Carol Sauvion, Executive Director of Craft in America. Executive Producer Patricia Bischetti adds, “HOME offers a nuanced exploration of the environments we make and the personal, historical, and creative influences that shape them.” The featured artists and organizations are Syd Carpenter, Helen Drutt English, Wharton Esherick (all in Philadelphia, PA), Biskakone Greg Johnson of the Ojibwe Tribe (Wisconsin), North House Folk School (Grand Marais, MN), and Sim Van der Ryn and the Outlaw Builders (Northern California).
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- Ojibwe Tribe (Wisconsin)
Our exploration of handmade environments and hand built homes begins with the Ojibwe wild rice harvest in northern Wisconsin. Members of the Ojibwe tribe have been living in this region for centuries, and tribal member and craftsman Biskakone Greg Johnson shares his mastery of the crafts and traditions of his people.
- North House Folk School (Grand Marais, MN)
Our crew then films the construction of a timber frame house at the North House Folk School. Here, Scandinavian and northern European traditions and techniques are taught to craftspeople of all skill levels interested in building and living a well-crafted life.
- Syd Carpenter (Philadelphia, PA)
We meet sculptor Syd Carpenter whose work sheds light on the obstacles faced by African American farmers who want to remain landowners. Carpenter’s work speaks to the systemic racism that continues to threaten the homes of many communities throughout the nation.
- Wharton Esherick (Philadelphia, PA)
We explore the life and legacy of Wharton Esherick, one of this country’s most innovative artists who reimagined “home” through the creation of his hand-built house, studio, furniture, utensils, and other objects that expressed his commitment to artful living.
- Outlaw Builders (Northern California)
Viewers are then introduced to a series of experimental buildings from visionary architect Sim Van der Ryn and the “Outlaw Builders,” an irreverent group who flourished in the 1960s and early 70s. We take our cameras to Inverness, CA, where on a remote ridge the group constructed a remarkable example of this sensibility that still stands today.
- Helen Drutt English (Philadelphia, PA)
To conclude the episode, we turn our attention inward, to the handmade objects that fill our homes and the histories that impact our sense of place. In Philadelphia, Helen Drutt English, considered the “godmother of craft and a global ambassador,” shares her remarkable collection, which reflects the culmination of handmade objects at their finest.
ARTIST BIOS – INSPIRATION
![Betye Saar, Alison Saaar, Maddy Inez Leeser, Craft in America, Inspiration episode](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Betye-Saar-Alison-Saar-Maddy-Inez-Leeser2_Carol-Sauvion-photo-1-1024x577.jpg)
Photo: Carol Sauvion.
Diedrick Brackens (Los Angeles, CA)
Diedrick Brackens is a textile artist drawing from many influences, including techniques from around the globe, his upbringing in a small Texas town, and poetry. He received his BFA from the University of North Texas, Denton, TX in 2011 and his MFA from California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA in 2015. Brackens has exhibited in solo and group shows including the Hammer Museum (Los Angeles, CA), the New Museum (New York, NY), Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts (Cambridge, MA), and NOMA (New Orleans, LA). His work can be found in various museum collections, including the Brooklyn Museum (New York, NY), Crystal Bridges Museum for American Art (Bentonville, AK), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, NY).
Hmong Community – Suzanne Thao, Tousue Vang, Chef Yia Vang, and Mandora Young (St. Paul, MN)
In the mid-1970s, thousands of Hmong refugees from Laos came to the United States after the US withdrew from Vietnam. Despite the many obstacles they faced, they managed to create vibrant, thriving communities in California, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, among other areas. Craft is an artistic and economic foundation of Hmong communities as evidenced by their intricate, colorful textile traditions. They have also made significant contributions in the areas of art, culture, cuisine, and history. St. Paul, Minnesota has the largest Hmong population in the United States.
- Suzanne Thao is a master maker and instructor in the tradition of paj ntaub (“flower cloth”), a needlework technique practiced by Hmong women. She has been practicing and teaching the technique for over 50 years, having learned it from her grandmother, mother, and aunts starting at age 7. Deeply committed to preserving Hmong art, Thao has shared the technique with her daughter, Chuayi Yang, and is the inaugural instructor of Project Paj Ntaub, a free paj ntaub workshop offered through the Hmong Museum in St. Paul, MN.
- Tousue Vang is a Hmong American, storyteller, and image maker who has worked in the field for over ten years. Growing up, Vang was surrounded by traditional Hmong story quilts and is continually inspired by the art and tales of his heritage. Vang’s practice combines traditional narrative with new visual language to tell unique stories.
- Chef Yia Vang was born in a Thai refugee camp and lived there until his family was able to resettle in Wisconsin. He is a renowned chef and founder of the Union Hmong Kitchen, an award-winning restaurant in Minneapolis that brings Hmong cuisine and food traditions to the local community. Chef Yia is a James Beard Award finalist and has been featured in Bon Appétit magazine, CNN, and National Geographic, among other honors.
- Mandora Young is an artist and educator specializing in traditional paj ntaub textiles. She teaches classes and workshops for all ages at libraries and schools, welcoming both Hmong and non-Hmong community members. Young is committed to passing down the paj ntaub cloth embroidery techniques as well as conveying the significance and history of the art form.
- Ceramic artist Ayumi Horie believes that handmade objects hold power, and together with the stories that accompany them, can drive change. Horie has taught and lectured widely, including at the International Ceramics Research Center (Denmark), the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts (Deer Isle, ME), and the Archie Bray Foundation (Helena, MT). She was awarded the 2015 “Distinguished Fellow in Craft” by United States Artists and an Honorary Membership at NCECA in 2020 for her outstanding contributions to the field. Her work is in museum collections, including the Museum of Art and Design (New York, NY). Horie holds a BA from Mount Holyoke College, a BFA in ceramics from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, and a MFA in ceramics from the University of Washington in Seattle.
Ayumi Horie (Portland, ME)
Ceramic artist Ayumi Horie believes that handmade objects hold power, and together with the stories that accompany them, can drive change. Horie has taught and lectured widely, including at the International Ceramics Research Center (Denmark), the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts (Deer Isle, ME), and the Archie Bray Foundation (Helena, MT). She was awarded the 2015 “Distinguished Fellow in Craft” by United States Artists and an Honorary Membership at NCECA in 2020 for her outstanding contributions to the field. Her work is in museum collections, including the Museum of Art and Design (New York, NY). Horie holds a BA from Mount Holyoke College, a BFA in ceramics from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, and a MFA in ceramics from the University of Washington in Seattle.
Ayumi Horie (Portland, ME)
Ceramic artist Ayumi Horie believes that handmade objects hold power, and together with the stories that accompany them, can drive change. Horie has taught and lectured widely, including at the International Ceramics Research Center (Denmark), the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts (Deer Isle, ME), and the Archie Bray Foundation (Helena, MT). She was awarded the 2015 “Distinguished Fellow in Craft” by United States Artists and an Honorary Membership at NCECA in 2020 for her outstanding contributions to the field. Her work is in museum collections, including the Museum of Art and Design (New York, NY). Horie holds a BA from Mount Holyoke College, a BFA in ceramics from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, and a MFA in ceramics from the University of Washington in Seattle.
Mary Little (Los Angeles, CA)
Mary Little is an Irish-born artist whose career began after graduating from the Royal College of Art in London as an avant-garde furniture maker creating one-of-a-kind pieces. She is now producing wall artworks inspired by her childhood memories of Ireland. Her work has been exhibited at Craft Contemporary, L.A., the Textile Museum (Washington D.C.) and the Übersee-Museum (Bremen, Germany). Her pieces are in the permanent collections of the Vitra Design Museum in Basel; Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris; Victoria & Albert Museum, London and have been reviewed in Fabrik, New York Times, Luxe magazine and Architectural Digest.
Alison Saar, Maddy Inez Leeser, and Betye Saar (Los Angeles, CA)
- Alison Saar is a multi-disciplinary artist working in sculpture, installation, and mixed media. Through her practice, Saar explores a multitude of themes, including gender, race, and spirituality from personal, societal, and historical perspectives. Influenced by her mother, artist Betye Saar, and her father, ceramicist and restorer Richard Saar, Saar demonstrates a deep understanding of materiality and craft, and her work is often rooted in folk art traditions. Saar received her BA in art history and studio art from Scripps College in 1978, and her MFA from Otis College of Art and Design in 1981. She is the recipient of numerous awards including a Guggenheim Fellowship and multiple National Endowment for the Arts Artist Fellowships. She has exhibited in solo and group shows, including Galerie Lelong (Paris, France) and the National Museum for Women in the Arts (Washington, D.C.). Her work can be found in the permanent collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Walker Art Center (Minneapolis, MN), and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, among many others.
- In addition to Maddy Inez Leeser‘s ceramics practice, she self-identifies as an educator, animal caretaker, committed family member, faith keeper, investigator, magical practitioner, witness, and friend. In 2016, she received her BFA from Pacific Northwest College of the Arts in Portland, OR. Her work has been exhibited in solo and group shows, including Damp Earth at Harawik (Los Angeles, CA) and Possibility Made Real: Drawing & Clay at Gallery 12.26 (Dallas, TX). She has attended residencies at Conduit (Portland, OR) and the Vermont Studio Center.
- With a career spanning 60 years, Betye Saar (b. 1926, Los Angeles, CA) has made an indelible impact on our nation’s artistic and broader cultural landscape through her prints, collages, assemblages, and installations. Saar’s signature themes are African American identity, spirituality, mysticism, and American social and political context. Her assemblages powerfully address racist histories and propel us into a future of reclamation and change. Saar’s work has been exhibited and collected by countless museums and arts institutions, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Museum of Modern Art, the Walker Art Center, and the National Gallery of Art.
Simon Rodia and Watts Towers (Los Angeles, CA)
The Watts Towers are the world’s largest single construction created by one individual—artist and Italian immigrant Simon Rodia. He built the towers by hand over 25 years, completing them in 1948. The Watts Towers Arts Center Campus grew out of a call from local residents to create a meaningful relationship between the L.A. neighborhood of Watts, and the towers themselves. The realization of this community hub was led by Noah Purifoy, John Outterbridge, and Mark Steven Greenfield, as well as the continuing leadership of Rosie Lee Hooks. The arts center provides multidisciplinary classes, including visual and performing arts, gardening, and other multi-media arts. The center’s tours, lectures, and exhibits attract visitors from around the world.
ARTIST BIOS – HOME
![Syd Carpenter, Willie and Jelena Gray. Courtesy of the artist](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Syd-Carpenter-Willie-and-Jelena-Gray_Courtesy-Syd-Carpenter-1024x1024.jpg)
Syd Carpenter (Philadelphia, PA)
Syd Carpenter sculpts with clay to tell stories of African American culture, US history, legacy, and courage. The medium feeds naturally into her exploration of African American land ownership, farming, and gardening. She is Professor Emerita of Art and holds the Peggy Chan Professorship in Black Studies at Swarthmore College. She earned her BFA and her MFA from the Tyler School of Art at Temple University. Her work can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the University of Illinois, the Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Fuller Craft Museum, and many more collections both private and public.
Helen Drutt English (Philadelphia, PA)
Helen Drutt English has championed and promoted American craft internationally and helped to elevate studio craft into the realm of fine art. Her home is filled with the finest examples of craft objects and reflects her life-long commitment to studio craft at its best. Drutt English is a curatorial consultant, art historian, educator, and author. In addition, she founded the Helen Drutt Gallery in Philadelphia in 1973. She has received numerous honors for her profound impact on the field, including Honorary Fellow of the American Craft Council and the Lifetime Achievement in Crafts award from the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
Biskakone Greg Johnson and Ojibwe Tribe (Lac du Flambeau, WI)
Members of the Ojibwe tribe have been living in the Lac du Flambeau, WI region for centuries, and tribal member and craftsman Biskakone Greg Johnson is a cultural practitioner and educator committed to learning and teaching the traditional methods and crafts of the Ojibwe. He has revived the crafts of beadwork, winter bark basket making, weaving winnowing baskets and cedar bark mats, moccasin making, and canoe building. He is an instructor at the North House Folk School, teaching the skills and knowledge of his culture. He is also an Ojibwe language teacher.
Wharton Esherick (Philadelphia, PA)
Wharton Esherick (1887–1970) was a woodworker who worked and lived in Paoli, PA, where his hand-built home and studio stand today as the Wharton Esherick Museum in Malvern, PA. He was one the artists of the early 20th century who defined uniquely American handwork.The majority of his works, including the massive ones for which he is most famous, were produced with hand tools similar to those used by eastern Pennsylvania’s original settlers. The museum is a must-visit for anyone interested in woodwork or craft history.
North House Folk School (Grand Marais, MN)
The North House Folk School was founded in 1997 with a dedication to traditional craft and cooperative learning. The school has grown over the years, now hosting over 3,000 students per year and offering over 350 classes. Located in the Minnesota Northwoods on the shore of Lake Superior, it is one of the few places in the world where timber framing is being practiced and taught.
Sim Van der Ryn and the Outlaw Builders (San Francisco, CA & Northern California)
Visionary architect Sim Van der Ryn designed and built California state government’s first energy efficient and climate-responsive building, while serving as State Architect under Governor Jerry Brown. This work placed Van der Ryn at the vanguard of the Green Architecture and Sustainable Design movement. He is the President of the Ecological Design Collaborative and author of several influential books, including Design for an Empathic World: Reconnecting People, Nature, and Self, Sustainable Communities, and Ecological Design. While working as a professor of architecture at UC Berkeley for 40 years, he founded the “Outlaw Builders,” an irreverent group who flourished among the counterculture of the 1960s and early 70s. Their driving principle was good design, with disregard for building code, rules, and regulations. A remarkable example of this sensibility was built by the group in Inverness, California, where it still stands today.
ABOUT CRAFT IN AMERICA
Craft in America is the Peabody Award-winning series on PBS exploring America’s creative spirit through the language and traditions of the handmade. With 14 seasons produced since 2007, the series takes viewers on a journey to the artists, origins and techniques of American craft. Each episode contains stories from diverse regions and cultures, blending history with living practice and exploring issues of identity, ritual, philosophy and creative expression. Craft in America’s organizational efforts include educator guides that adhere to national standards, and the Craft in America Center in Los Angeles. Learn more at craftinamerica.org
OUR MISSION
To promote and advance original handcrafted work through programs in all media
OUR GOALS
To document the importance of handmade objects and the artists who make themTo provide a gateway to discover, explore and experience craftTo celebrate our nation’s cultures through craft
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