Los Angeles Times: Craft in America in ‘Turn On’ TV Recommendation

Gustave Baumann, MINIATURES, Paint and Pecos Bill, Craft in America — Gustave Baumann, Paint and Pecos Bill. Photo: Denise Kang

1/12/24

Original, full article by Robert Lloyd here.

“Craft in America” (PBS)

One of the lesser-known gifts from PBS to you is the long-running “Craft in America,” a colorful, fun, inspiring and at times deeply moving celebration of making things. They only produce a couple of episodes a season, but each hour is packed with thematically-related content that covers a range of media, cultures and current and historical practitioners. The latest episodes, which may be streamed from www.craftinamerica.org, www.pbs.org/craftinamerica or YouTube, along with those from past seasons, are “MINIATURES” and “PLAY.” The former includes the jeeps and trucks of Cuba’s Leandro Gómez Quintero, made from cardboard and found objects, and the perfect tiny replica antique furniture of miniaturist Mark Murphy; the latter encompasses piñatas — hands up if you knew L.A. had a Piñata District — Schroeder Cherry’s African American puppetry and the Skirball Museum’s environmental Noah’s Ark installation. Every artisan comes with a story, and community is an issue throughout — both of craftspeople among themselves, and in the wider world. (Locals can also visit the Craft in America Center, currently featuring works from the above episodes, 8415 W. Third St., open Tues.-Sat., 12-6 p.m.).