Papier mâché
Artist Roberto Benavidez uses papier mâché to start his bird piñata sculptures, making work inspired by Hieronymus Bosch and medieval illuminated manuscripts. Bonus video from the PLAY episode
Leandro Gómez Quintero segment
In Baracoa, Cuba, we learn about the model vehicles of artist Leandro Gómez Quintero. 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. Segment from the MINIATURES episode, now streaming on the PBS App, pbs.org/craftinamerica, and craftinamerica.org. PBS broadcast premiere December 29, 2023 (check local listings).
Cotsen Children’s Library segment
Lloyd Cotsen founded the Cotsen Children’s Library at Princeton University, which houses Cotsen’s vast collection of children’s books from around the world. We learn how children’s books enrich the lives and minds of the community and all of us through play and imagination. Segment from the PLAY episode, now streaming on the PBS App, pbs.org/craftinamerica, and craftinamerica.org. PBS broadcast premiere December 29, 2023 (check local listings).
Roberto Benavidez segment
Artist Roberto Benavidez takes a sculptural approach to the piñata, making work inspired by Hieronymus Bosch and medieval illuminated manuscripts. Segment from the PLAY episode, now streaming on the PBS App, pbs.org/craftinamerica, and craftinamerica.org. PBS broadcast premiere December 29, 2023 (check local listings).
Lorena Robletto segment
Lorena Robletto creates festive and creative piñatas with fair labor practices at her business, Amazing Pinatas in this segment from the PLAY episode, now streaming on the PBS App, pbs.org/craftinamerica, and craftinamerica.org. PBS broadcast premiere December 29, 2023 (check local listings).
Roberto Benavidez on creating piñatas & “piñathkos”
Artist Roberto Benavidez speaks with curator and art historian Catherine Hess on creating pinatas and “piñathkos”, paper paintings. Bonus video from PLAY, now streaming on PBS App, pbs.org/craftinamerica, and craftinamerica.org. PBS broadcast premiere December 29, 2023 (check local listings).
Gustave Baumann’s Printing the Democrat
Thomas Leech, former director at the press at the Palace of the Governors, on Gustave Baumann‘s woodblock print titled “The Print Shop” also known as “Printing the Democrat.” Bonus video from the MINIATURES episode, now streaming on the PBS App, pbs.org/craftinamerica, and craftinamerica.org. PBS broadcast premiere December 29, 2023 (check local listings).
Spirit of Play: Craft and Imagination
For artists, play can mean serious work. Play allows the mind to roam and encounter unusual solutions, whether it be in process or concept. The processes of making and imagining work in tandem for these artists, where grand, exquisite, whimsical and magical forms emerge from diligent exploration.
This exhibition celebrates the power of imagination, big ideas, craft ingenuity, and the child in all of us. It spotlights the work of several artists who are profiled in the 2023 episodes in Craft in America’s PBS documentary series, PLAY and MINIATURES.
Participating artists:
- Miniaturist Mark Murphy
- Paper sculptor Roberto Benavidez
- Piñata artist Lorena Robletto
- Puppeteer, artist museum educator Schroeder Cherry
- Artist, advocate, educator Calder Kamin
The PBS broadcast premiere for PLAY and MINIATURES is December 29, 2023 (check local listings).
Virtual Gallery
Click and drag, or use your arrow keys, to see a 360º view of the virtual space, including tags with object information and images.
![Craft in America, Spirit of Play installation](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_0608-edit.jpg)
![Craft in America, Spirit of Play installation](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_0613-edit.jpg)
![Craft in America, Spirit of Play installation](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_0578-edit.jpg)
![Craft in America, Spirit of Play installation](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_0575-edit.jpg)
![Craft in America, Spirit of Play installation](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_0602-edit.jpg)
![Craft in America, Mark Murphy](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mark-Murphy-Asian-Furniture-Display-tea-pot-by-Troy-Schmidt.jpg)
![Craft in America, Mark Murphy](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mark-Murphy-Painted-Country-Furniture-Display-ceramics-by-Jane-Graber-and-Lee-Ann-Wessel.jpg)
![Craft in America, Mark Murphy](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Mark-Murphy-Queen-Anne-Display-Tea-set-made-by-Lee-Ann-Wessel.jpg)
![Craft in America, Schroeder Cherry](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Schroeder-Cherry-Future-Voter-Series-Mail-2023-Mixed-media-on-wood.jpg)
![Craft in America, Schroeder Cherry](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Schroeder-Cherry-Future-Voter-Series-29-Splash-Girl-2023-Mixed-media-on-wood.jpg)
![Craft in America, Schroeder Cherry](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Schroeder-Cherry-Future-Voter-2-2021-Mixed-media-on-wood.jpg)
![Craft in America, Schroeder Cherry](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Schroeder-Cherry-Barber-Shop-Series-35-Shoot-2019-Mixed-media-on-wood.jpg)
![Craft in America, Schroeder Cherry](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Schroeder-Cherry-Future-Voter-19-Leap-2022-Mixed-media-on-wood.jpg)
![Craft in America, Schroeder Cherry](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Schroeder-Cherry-Juanita-2022-Rod-puppet-wood-metal-fabric.jpg)
![Craft in America, Schroeder Cherry](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Schroeder-Cherry-Juanita-detail.jpg)
![Craft in America, Schroeder Cherry](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Schroeder-Cherry-Dallas-Dan-2010-Rod-puppet-wood-metal-fabric.jpg)
![Craft in America, Calder Kamin](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Calder-Kamin-Fox-Fire-2021-waste-plastic.jpg)
![Craft in America, Calder Kamin](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Calder-Kamin-Rubbish-Rat-2019-waste-plastic.jpg)
![Craft in America, Calder Kamin](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Calder-Kamin-Lupin-Lupin-2023-waste-plastic.jpg)
![Craft in America, Calder Kamin](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Calder-Kamin-Snake-Plant-2022-waste-plastic.jpg)
![Craft in America, Calder Kamin](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Calder-Kamin-Goldenrod-2023-waste-plastic.jpg)
![Craft in America, Roberto Benavidez, Gynandromorph Piñata No. 8 (Purple-crowned Fairy Wren), 2023](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Benavidez-Gyandomorph-8-IMG_1004_edit_.jpg)
![Craft in America, Roberto Benavidez, Dracula Parrot, 2020](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Benavidez-Dracula-Parrot-IMG_0964_edit_.jpg)
![Roberto Benavidez, Comedores de Huevos (Bird No. 4) (American Robin), 2023](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Benavidez-American-Robin-IMG_1025_edit_.jpg)
![Craft in America, Roberto Benavidez, grouping of Gyandomorphs](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Benavidez-Gyandomorph-grouping-IMG_1009_edit_.jpg)
The Craft in America Center is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts & Culture. www.lacountyarts.org
![](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/COUNTYartsandculture_blue-1.png)
Harry & Sandra Liddell Reese
Harry and Sandra Liddell Reese are book makers based in Isla Vista, CA. Harry received his BA in religious studies from the University of California Santa Barbara, and his MFA in creative writing from Brown University. After completing his MFA in 1975, he discovered book printing as a creative medium which incorporated his interest in design, literature, and image-making. He met Sandra the same year, who was working as a middle school teacher. Sandra learned the craft of printing alongside Harry. The couple developed the printing house Turkey Press, which specializes in hand-crafted paper and typography, experimental formats, and unique binding methods. They additionally founded Edition Reese in 1990 to produce limited edition artists’ publications. Turkey Press has been the recipient of numerous awards and grants including the National Endowment for the Arts and the California Arts Council. The Turkey Press archive catalog was purchased by the Getty Research Institute in 1992.
https://turkey-press.myportfolio.com/the-art-of-work
![](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Reese-Isla-Vista-2014-300dpi-e1693004101222.jpg)
Leandro Gómez Quintero
Leandro Gómez Quintero (b. 1976, Baracoa, Cuba) 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. 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)
![Leandro Gomez Quintero, MINIATURES, Craft in America](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Leandro-Gomez-Quintero.jpg)
![Red Willys Jeep made by Cuban artist Leandro Gomez Quintero featured in the MINIATURES episode. Mark Markley photograph](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Leandro-Gomez-Quintero-Miniatures.jpg)
![Leandro Gomez Quintero, vehicles, MINIATURES, Craft in America](https://www.craftinamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Leandro-Gomez-Quintero-vehicles-Sidney-Lubitsch-photograph1.jpg)