California Masters: State of the Arts is an exhibition of twelve preeminent artists from across California who exemplify leadership in contemporary craft. Two artists, one from the South and one from the North of the state, were chosen to represent each of six primary craft disciplines: fiber, ceramics, wood, glass, metals, and alternative materials. The resulting group of works highlights innovation and technical rigor while speaking to a uniquely California context. Each of these artists has been a professor or luminary within their field, and has thereby influenced the current generation of handmade producers in this state.
This exhibition is presented in conjunction with California Handmade: State of the Arts, curated by Craft in America Center Director Emily Zaiden in collaboration with, and on view at, the Maloof Foundation for Arts and Craft in the foothills of Alto Loma, CA. For this exhibition, the twelve core artists (represented in California Masters) were asked to recommend six colleagues in their field, currently working and living in California, resulting in a historically important snapshot of the state of California craft today.
Carol Shaw-Sutton, The Bridge, 1998. Lashed willow and linen.Marvin Lipofsky,
California Color Series 1986 #7, 1986.
Mold blown glass, cut, sandblasted, acid etched
Marvin Lipofsky,
California Color Series 1986 #7, (detail), 1986.
Mold blown glass, cut, sandblasted, acid etched
Tanya Aguiñiga, Round Hammock Settee, 2012. Steel rod, leather, cotton ropeTanya Aguiñiga, Round Hammock Settee (detail), 2012. Steel rod, leather, cotton ropeTanya Aguiñiga, Round Hammock Settee (detail), 2012. Steel rod, leather, cotton ropeSandy Simon, Bull Jar, 2014.
Red earthenware, porcelain slip, glaze, nichrome wire, thrown
Marilyn da Silva, Silent Journey, 2014. Copper, brass, wood, gesso, colored pencil. Courtesy of Mobilia Gallery. M. Lee Fatherree photograph Marilyn da Silva, Silent Journey, 2014. Copper, brass, wood, gesso, colored pencil. Courtesy of Mobilia Gallery. M. Lee Fatherree photograph Steven Portigal, Nature Morte Rouille, 2013. ClayKatherine Gray, Hearth Half Life, 2014. Solid uranium glassChristina Y. Smith, Califor-Onely, 2015. Sterling silver fabricated brooch
Wendy Maruyama, Mirror Mirror, 2007.
Pau Ferro, bloodwood, 2-way mirror, video components
Wendy Maruyama, Mirror Mirror, 2007.
Pau Ferro, bloodwood, 2-way mirror, video components
Laura Mays, Ample, 2015. Stave/coopered Ash, Narra, upholstery, shellac finish
Consuelo Jimenez Underwood, Las 4 Xewum (undocumented), 2014.
Linen warp, silk, linen weft
Consuelo Jimenez Underwood, Las 4 Xewum (undocumented), (detail), 2014.
Linen warp, silk, linen weftConsuelo Jimenez Underwood, Las 4 Xewum (undocumented), (detail), 2014.
Linen warp, silk, linen weftConsuelo Jimenez Underwood, Las 4 Xewum (undocumented), (detail), 2014.
Linen warp, silk, linen weftJulie Chen, Family Tree, 2013. Digital printing and laser engraving on woodJulie Chen, Family Tree, (detail), 2013. Digital printing and laser engraving on wood