Handwork 2026: 250 years of craft in the United States of America
6/4/26
Handwork 2026 is the most ambitious celebration of USA craft in a generation, built around the country’s semiquincentennial and running throughout the year across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Organised by Craft in America in partnership with the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, it brings together more than 280 organisations through exhibitions, residencies, education programmes and public events.
The centrepiece is a four-part documentary series produced by the team behind the Peabody Award-winning PBS series Craft in America. The first two episodes, East and West, premiered on PBS on 19 December 2025 and are now streaming free. East follows makers including Philadelphia potter Roberto Lugo, fibre artist Bisa Butler, and the century-old M&S Schmalberg fabric flower factory in New York. West moves across cowboy arts, Hawaiian indigenous weaving practice and Native American handwork, featuring bootmaker Graham Ebner in Austin and Native Hawaiian fibre artist Marques Hanalei Marzan in Honolulu. Both episodes are available on the Craft in America YouTube channel. North and South premiere in late 2026.
The initiative culminates in November with the opening of Handwork: Contemporary Craft at the Renwick Gallery, featuring more than 100 works from the Smithsonian’s permanent collection alongside new acquisitions including pieces by Angela Ellsworth, Ato Ribeiro and Roberto Benavidez. A companion book, Handwork: Handcrafted Objects That Made America, is published by Phaidon.
Original article here.
Red Mill, Hunterdon Art Museum to open ‘Peace Flag Project’ on Sunday, June 14
6/2/26
CLINTON – The Red Mill Museum Village and the Hunterdon Art Museum, in collaboration with Handwork 2026, invite the public to celebrate the opening of “The Peace Flag Project,” at noon on Sunday, June 14 on the Main Street Bridge.
This will be a fiber chain of hundreds of community-made flags displayed along the banks of the Raritan River and the historic Pony Pratt Truss bridge crossing the South Branch Raritan River. The reception includes remarks by Clinton Mayor Janice Kovach, along with a poetry reading by a Clinton Public School student and a performance by the Hunterdon Chorale Alliance. Following the ceremony, both mills will have public programs emphasizing crafts, community and the state’s 250th anniversary.
Original article here.
Spring Into Bainbridge Island Museum of Art’s New Exhibitions
6/2/26
By Hailee Wickersham
This article originally appeared in our sister publication, West Sound.
The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art’s new exhibitions for its 2026 Spring season are now on view.
This year, the museum’s exhibitions spotlight artist’s craft through concrete, hanji (Korean handmade paper), books, and more.
“This year, in honor of Handwork 2026, a national initiative by Craft in America, we are honoring the power of the handmade to connect us to one another, to culture, to community, and to ourselves,” according to a release from the museum.
The 2026 Spring exhibitions include:
“Deeply Rooted” by George and David Lewis
“Tethered” by Aimee Lee
“Crafting Futures,” a group exhibition by Emerging Artists Invitational
“What’s is An Artist’s Book?”
Additionally, Chris Maynard’s “Featherfolio Encore” has been extended through the store of June. Find more information on the museum’s Spring exhibition’s here.
BIMA is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; admission is free.
Nationwide educational initiative launched by Craft in America
6/1/26
By Larry Adams
LOS ANGELES — Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a nationwide initiative presented by Craft in America and timed to the country’s Semiquincentennial, announced its educational programming.
Through free K–12 education guides designed to meet National Visual Arts Standards—part of the National Core Arts Standards (NCAS)—and ten university-level artist residencies developed in partnership with artists, educators, and institutions across the United States, Handwork 2026 aims to inspire the next generation of American craft. Handwork 2026’s education initiatives are possible thanks to the generous support of the Windgate Foundation.
Craft in America Co-Executive Directors Ann Ruhr Pifer and Robyn Hollingshead said, “Through Handwork 2026, we’re creating opportunities for students of all ages to engage directly with artists and traditions that are too often overlooked in formal education. From K–12 classrooms to university campuses, these learning programs invite makers at every level to think critically, work with their hands, and connect more deeply with the communities and histories that shape American craft.”
K–12 Education Guides with a special focus on grades K–12, free education guides inspired by episodes of the Peabody Award-winning Craft in America documentary series on PBS explore the history, cultural traditions, and impact of craft in the United States, from Indigenous and Native American origins through the present day.
Produced by Craft in America, the eponymous series profiles artists and makers working across craft traditions while examining the cultural and personal stories embedded within handmade work. Available on handwork2026.org, CraftInAmerica.org, and through PBS LearningMedia, the guides include hands-on craft activities, encouraging critical thinking and creative engagement. Teachers can use the guides to facilitate discussions on art and culture, assign creative and responsive writing prompts, and engage students in hands-on projects.
The materials are designed to support connections across multiple disciplines, including environmental science, history, and social studies, and can function either as standalone units or as supplements to existing classroom curricula. The full library of education guides produced for previous seasons of Craft in America is available here.
Additional information about Handwork 2026 educational programming is available at www.handwork2026.org.
Original article here.
America Is Turning 250 This Summer – Here Are 10 Road Trip Stops You Can’t Miss
FinanceBuzz.com
6/1/26
3. Boston and Lexington/Concord, Massachusetts
This stop is perfect if you like your vacations with a side of history. Walk Boston’s Freedom Trail, visit Paul Revere’s House, and stop by Old North Church before heading to Lexington Battle Green and Concord’s Old North Bridge, where the Revolutionary War officially kicked off.
The Paul Revere House is even participating in Handwork 2026, a national 250th anniversary program celebrating American craft traditions across 300+ historic sites. It’s a low-key but worthwhile stop alongside the Freedom Trail.
The good news is it’s easy to combine these into one efficient road trip leg. Reward yourself afterward with a lobster roll or clam chowder because absorbing American history is hungry work.
Full article here.
Red Mill Museum Village and Hunterdon Art Museum Partner for “The Peace Flag Project”
5/30/26
(CLINTON, NJ) — The Red Mill Museum Village and the Hunterdon Art Museum, in collaboration with Handwork 2026, invite the public to celebrate the opening of “The Peace Flag Project,” a fiber chain of hundreds of community-made flags displayed along the banks of the Raritan River and pedestrian bridge.
The public is invited to the dedication ceremony, which will take place on Sunday, June 14, 2026 at noon on the Main Street Bridge, a historic Pony Pratt Truss bridge crossing the South Branch Raritan River in Clinton, New Jersey.
The reception includes remarks by Janice Kovach, Mayor of Clinton, along with a poetry reading by a Clinton Public School student and a performance by the Hunterdon Chorale Alliance. Following the ceremony, both mills will have public programs emphasizing crafts, community and the State of New Jersey’s 250th anniversary.
The “Peace Flag Project” symbolically and physically links the two museums in a landmark celebration of peace, unity and creativity. Hundreds of flags were created by community members including local scouts, school children, senior centers, professional artists, civic groups and crafting organizations, and hundreds of individuals united to create in the name of peace. By inviting the public to contribute to this project, the role of shared making in fostering connection and belonging is emphasized.
The “Peace Flag Project” is part of a yearlong celebration of traditional and contemporary craft practices in recognition of the state and nation’s 250th anniversaries. Both museums have scheduled events throughout the semiquincentennial celebrations which continue all summer. The peace flags will remain on view through August 30th.
“The Peace Flag Project” is the perfect opportunity to reflect on our nation’s past while envisioning its future through creativity and community,” said Gina Sampaio, Executive Director of the Red Mill Museum Village. “Through hands-on craft and contemporary art, this project demonstrates the potential for art to be a source of personal expression and civic engagement,” noted Jeanne Brasile, Executive Director of the Hunterdon Art Museum.
Original article here,
‘Now is the Time to Understand More’ Exhibition
5/29/26
The Penland Gallery has a new exhibition titled Now is the Time to Understand More, which runs until August 29 with a reception on June 19, from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM. The title is taken from a Marie Curie quote, “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”
Featuring the work of twelve artists, the exhibition offers interpretations of distinct experiences and observations, providing viewers the vehicle to engage in concepts that may challenge understanding or comfort. This eclectic display of objects—ranging from sculpture, to print, to ceramics and more—invites viewers to explore the relevance of craft, of making, and the value using our hands to express a point of view.
The exhibition includes work by Shae Bishop, David Harper Clemons, Ann Coddington, Mary Hallam Pearse, Mercedes Jelinek, Adam John Manley, Althea Murphy-Price, Lindsay Pichaske, George Rodriguez, Piper Shepard, Sok Song, and Dongyi Wu.
This show is presented in partnership with Craft in America’s initiative Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a year-long collaboration among organizations, educators, and makers celebrating the diversity and importance of craft in America.
Also on view at the Penland Gallery is the Pattern Play exhibition, a riotous exploration of surface, color, and composition featuring two-dimensional, functional, and sculptural work. It is on display through June 20, 2026.
The Penland Gallery includes a sales gallery with work in many materials by artists associated with Penland School of Craft and a room dedicated to the school’s history and programs. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It’s the first building on your right as you enter the Penland School campus, which is located on Conley Ridge Road just off Penland Road in Mitchell County, North Carolina. For more information visit penland.org/gallery or call 828-765-6211.
Penland School of Craft is a national center for craft education dedicated to the creative life. Located in Western North Carolina, Penland offers workshops in books and paper, clay, drawing and painting, glass, iron, metals, printmaking and letterpress, photography, textiles, and wood. The school also provides artists’ residencies, an outreach program, and a gallery and visitors center. Penland is a nonprofit, tax-exempt institution that receives support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resource. More information at penland.org.
The Weekender, May 28-31: International Enjoy a Cigar Day, Mayhem Market, Mayfair Festival + more
May 29, 2026
Materials to Masterpiece, League of NH Craftsmen Headquarters, Concord, NH – Explore the journey of traditional and contemporary craft, from humble raw materials to refined works of art. Unfinished pieces will be featured alongside finished work to illuminate the process, skill, artistry, and vision behind each creation. Gallery Hours: April 2–May 29, 2026 Monday–Thursday, 9 am – 4 pm. This exhibition is part of Handwork 2026, a year-long collaboration among organizations, educators, and makers to celebrate the diversity of the crafts that define America.
New exhibits at the Art Complex
May 22, 2026
Make some time to visit the Art Complex Museum in May, and take in these new exhibits featuring contemporary art and craft and paintings by some of America’s master painters.
American Beauty: Shaker Furniture and Contemporary Craft from the Collection. May 10-Sept. 6; This exhibition, part of Handwork 2026, pairs Shaker furniture with contemporary craft, exploring the influence of Shaker design and ideals. Featuring works in wood, clay, fiber, metal, and mixed materials, it celebrates craftsmanship that balances utility and beauty, tradition and innovation, and honors the artistry of the handmade.
Scenes of the Sea: American Paintings from the Collection. May 10-Sept. 6; For centuries, the American coastline has provided painters with artistic inspiration as well as a retreat. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as industrialization reshaped the American landscape, its coastal regions also offered the opportunity to explore new subject matter. Artists in this exhibit include George Bellows, Ture Bengtz, Albert Bierstadt, Jasper Cropsey, J.J. Enneking, Childe Hassam and Charles Woodbury.
Jan Lhormer: Earth and Sky. May 17 – Aug. 16; Known for her evocative landscapes, Jan Lhormer channels her connection to the natural world into expansive skyscapes and richly layered garden scenes.
For more information, go to artcomplex.org or call 781-934-6634.
Original article here.
COMING JULY 29 | Handwork: Handcrafted Objects that Made America
