Craft In America
April 25
(C) MBN 2007 William Hoehne
April 24
01. Nakashima, George. Conoid Bench with Back. Designed: c. 1961. Production date of this example: 1974. American
black walnut, hickory, East Indian rosewood. 31” x 113” x 40”. Image courtesy of Mira Nakashima. As featured in
CRAFT IN AMERICA.
02. Bennett, Garry Knox. GR #13, (front) 2003. Wood, fiberglass, paint, 23k gold-plated brass. 31 ½” x 14 ½” x 19 ½”
Photo by: M. Lee Fatherree. As featured in CRAFT IN AMERICA.
03. Carson, Kit. Saguero Pin, 2006. Hand engraved. Silver, 18k yellow, green, pink gold, carico lake turquoise, green
turquoise, blue turquoise, spiny oyster shell, amethyst, 18k pull clasp. Photo by: Doug Hill. As featured in CRAFT
IN AMERICA.
04. Gurney, David. Tree of Life, 2006. Photo by: Doug Hill. 14”x 10” x 3”. Hand built, hand painted terra cotta. As
featured in CRAFT IN AMERICA.
05. Look, Dona. Basket #2004-5, White birch bark and silk thread. 13” x 13 ¾” x 13 ¾”. Photo by: Susan Einstein. As
featured in CRAFT IN AMERICA.
06. Loeber, Ken. Rose Brooch. Sterling silver and 18K gold. Forged and fabricated. 2.125" x 2.375" x .375”. As
featured in CRAFT IN AMERICA.
07. Makins, James. Ewer, 2002. Hand thrown Shigaraki clay with terra sigillata. Photo by: Lloyd Solly. As featured in
CRAFT IN AMERICA.
08. Maloof, Sam. Photo by: Gene Sasse. As featured in CRAFT IN AMERICA.
09. Maloof, Sam. Double Rocker, 1996. Handmade. Walnut. Photo by: Gene Sasse. As featured in CRAFT IN
AMERICA.
10. Nash, Geraldine. Geraldine’s Strings, 1999. Machine pieced top, hand quilted cotton. 72” x 84”. Photo by: Rachel
Gehlhar. As featured in CRAFT IN AMERICA.
11. Notkin, Richard. Cube Skull Teapot (Variation #23), Yixing Series, 2000, Stoneware. 11 1/2” x 4 ¾” x 3 ¼”. Photo
by: R. Notkin. As featured in CRAFT IN AMERICA.
12. Siemon, Caleb. Banded Low Bowl, Cranberry/Apricot, 2006. Blown glass. 9”x 15” x 15”x Photo by: Lloyd Solly.
As featured in CRAFT IN AMERICA.
13. Singletary, Preston. Killer Whale Hat, 2004. Blown and sandcarved glass. 7” x 17” x 17” Photo by: Russell Johnson.
As featured in CRAFT IN AMERICA.
14. Sisson, Karyl. Container XIII, 1990. Mini wood clothespins and wire. 4” x 14 ½” x 14 ½”. Photo by Lloyd Solly. Asfeatured in CRAFT IN AMERICA.
15. Wallace, Denise and Samuel. Crossroads of Continents Belt, 1990. Hand fabricated sterling silver, hand cut stones.
© Photography by Kiyoshi TOGASHI. As featured in CRAFT IN AMERICA.
1Yager, Jan. Tiara of Useful Knowledge.
Stick Pins, Tie Tack, Pendant, and Headband. Oxidized Sterling Silver, 18K & 14K Gold. Photo by: Jack Ramsdale.
As featured in CR
17. de la Torre, Jamex and Einar. Italian Style. 2006 Blown glass, mixed media 34” x 15” x 14”. As featured in CRAF
IN AMERICA.
18. Jaeger, Sarah. Small Tureen &Tray. 2006. Porcelain. Wheel thrown, wax resist glaze decoration, oxidation fired.
8”h x 10” diameter. Photo by:
19. Carson, Kit_Portrait Artist, Kit Carson, Smithsonian Craft Show, April 2006 as featured in CRAFT IN AMERICA.
Photo by Jennifer Gerardi
20. Penland_Teruyama, Shoko. Artist in Residence, Shoko Teruyama at work on a hand built ceramic box, June 2006.
Penland School of Crafts as featured in CRAFT IN A
21. Darwall, Randall_Portrait Artist, Randall Darwall, weaver at the Smithsonian Craft Show, April 2006 as featured in
CRAFT IN AMERICA. Poto by Jennifer Gerardi
22. Jackson, Mary_Portrait Artist, Mary Jackson, basket maker at the Smithsonian Craft Show, April 2006 as featured in
CRAFT IN AMERICA. Ph
23. Gold, Pat Courtney_Portrait. Artist, Pat Courtney Gold, Wasco basket maker. Photo by Trish Reynolds. As featurein CRAFT IN AMERICA.
24. Penland Weavers. Amy Putansu, Teacher and students in weaving studio, June 2006. Penland School of Crafts as featured in CRAFT IN AMERICA. Photo by Jennifer Gerardi
CRAFT IN AMERICA: Expanding Traditions
An Eight-City Nationally Touring Exhibition
“There is an extraordinary wealth of objects that mean so much to who we are as a nation, part of our living heritage, that are often hiding in plain sight” – Carol Sauvion, Executive Director, CRAFT IN AMERICA Handcrafted objects have been created by every civilization since the beginning of time. These artifacts not only are essential to daily existence, they also are a culture’s tribute to its own character and place in history; they embody the desire to remember, reflect, and connect - serving as bridges between individuals, community and the environment. CRAFT IN AMERICA: Expanding Traditions provides the opportunity to examine how compelling and thought-provoking craft objects produced in the last two centuries - including a range of everyday objects of use and extraordinary objects of contemplation - extend the historical traditions and cultural lineage. These innovative and vital objects also will reveal how craft taps into, and shapes, wider cultural streams, flowing freely into the broader narrative of contemporary art.
Exhibition Details
Chief Curator: Jo Lauria
Contributing Curators: Jeannine Falino, Dale Gluckman, Steven L. Grafe, Kenneth R. Trapp
Objects: Approximately 200
Education: Gallery guide free to all visitors; educational plans provided to museum educators, local teachers
Exhibition Schedule
Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, Arkansas
April 13 through June 24, 2007
Museum of Contemporary Craft, Portland, Oregon
July 22 through September 23, 2007
Mingei International Museum, San Diego, California
October 20, 2007 through January 27, 2008
Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, Texas
February 22 through May 4, 2008
Cranbrook Art Museum, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
June 8 through September 14, 2008
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
October 11, 2008 through January 18, 2009
Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs, California
February 18 through May 24, 2009
Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, Massachusetts
June 27 through September 27, 2009
CRAFT IN AMERICA:
Celebrating Two Centuries of Artists and Objects
A Clarkson-Potter Publication
“Craft, both historical and contemporary, is all around us. For me craft recognizes and communicates so much about what we are as a country. It is our identity and our legacy” – President Jimmy Carter, from his prologue to CRAFT IN AMERICA
For the millions of Americans who collect, study, and work with craft materials, CRAFT IN AMERICA: Celebrating Two Centuries of Artists and Objects explores the significance of craft in the last 200 years and complements the upcoming PBS television series (airing nationwide May 30, 2007 at 8pm on all PBS outlets) and nationally touring exhibition of the same name.
The only work of its kind, CRAFT IN AMERICA: Celebrating Two Centuries of Artists and Objects features the work of America’s most original and esteemed craftspeople past and present. Illustrated with more than 200 compelling photographs and encompassing objects from furniture, wood, ceramics and glass to fiber, quilts, jewelry, metal and basketry, this definitive work showcases some of the most important pieces of craft over the last two centuries and explores what makes American crafts uniquely American.
Authors
Jo Lauria an independent curator of crafts and decorative arts, was formerly a curator at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. She has organized numerous exhibitions, directed documentary films and written several books on art and design.
Steve Fenton is a respected writer, longtime collector of American craft and an esteemed communications professional.
President Jimmy Carter (prologue) is a dedicated craftsman and craft advocate who has created much of the furniture in his Georgia home. As president, Mr. Carter established the White House Collection of American Crafts.
Book Details
Title CRAFT IN AMERICA: Celebrating Two Centuries of Artists and Objects
Publisher Clarkson Potter (Random House)
Publication Date October 2007
Detail Hardcover / 304 pages / 9” x 11” / 200+ Photographs / $60.00 US / $77.00 CAN
ISBN 978-0-307-34647-6
Craft In America Comes to PBS, May 30, 2007
Life Becomes Art: CRAFT IN AMERICA Celebrates the Rich Legacy of An American Artform
Landmark project comprises 3-part PBS series, national touring exhibition and major publication.
Craftsman and longtime craft advocate President Jimmy Carter contributes to unprecedented project
CRAFT IN AMERICA
PBS Television Series: Airing on three consecutive Sundays, April 29, May 6 and May 13; Check local listings for details
LOS ANGELES – A visitor to an art-filled home may quickly take note of paintings or photographs on the walls, but may overlook the finely wrought furniture, ceramics, glassware or fabrics, though the skill and artistry involved in creating these useful and often stunning objects has been quietly recognized for centuries. CRAFT IN AMERICA celebrates these works of art and recognizes them as important pieces of history linking us to the very soul and essence of American culture. Comprising a three-part PBS television series airing in April 2007, a nationally-touring museum exhibition, a lavishly illustrated book and the most comprehensive Web site of its kind, CRAFT IN AMERICA is poised to become a national phenomenon.
CRAFT IN AMERICA is a multi-faceted journey into the origin and continuation of craft traditions. The project illustrates the craftsmanship passed from artist to artist over the last two centuries—and highlights the cultural significance of this craftsmanship. Ceramics, glass, wood, furniture, metalwork, jewelry, fiber and baskets are included in this ground-breaking project.
“There is an extraordinary wealth of objects that mean so much to who we are as a nation, part of our living heritage, that are often hiding in plain sight,” explains Carol Sauvion, executive director of CRAFT IN AMERICA. “Everything from the iconic Revere bowl, to a free-form Sam Maloof rocking chair, to a quilt that’s been passed down in your family from generation to generation.”
First-run Airdates:
Memory May 30, 2007; 8p EDT/PDT
Landscape May 30, 2007; 9p EDT/PDT
Community May 30, 2007; 10p EDT/PDT
Please check local listings to confirm all airdates/times
“In each of the three episodes – Memory, Landscape, and Community – we meet artists and their work in a way that goes beyond the media they work in. We explore the relationship between what they do, how they do it, and why they have chosen a life of creating great and moving art for all to enjoy and appreciate.”
Some of the series’ featured artists include Mary Jackson – a basket weaver who continues a South Carolina tradition that started with slaves from Africa; Richard Notkin – a Montana potter of protest who makes teapots and tiles that argue eloquently for peace and humanity; and Tom Joyce, a New Mexico blacksmith and recipient of a MacArthur “Genius” fellowship, who instills a sensitivity to the land and its people in each of his works.
Experience Craft in America: Nationally Traveling Museum Exhibition
An extensive museum exhibition, Craft in America: Expanding Traditions, begins its eight-city, two-year tour at the Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock on April 13, 2007. The exhibition then travels to Portland, OR; San Diego, CA; Houston, TX; Bloomfield Hills, MI; Oklahoma City, OK; Palm Springs, CA; and Brockton, MA (with additional dates and cities pending).
This landmark historical survey features more than 200 works, spanning a period of nearly two hundred years. Beginning with the Industrial Revolution, the exhibition explores the many cultures and movements that have contributed to the development and refinement of American crafts during the last two centuries. Integrating the various media of handcrafted furniture, ceramics, fiber and textiles, basketry, glass, wood, jewelry and metal, the exhibition represents a broad base of craft-makers including: traditional craft makers, designer craftsmen of the Arts & Crafts Movement, the artists of the WPA programs of the 30s, post World-War II studio craft pioneers and contemporary studio craft artists.
The exhibition is developed around the same three themes highlighted in the PBS production: Memory, Landscape and Community.
Reading Craft: Craft in America Book Hits Shelves in May 2007 with
Prologue by President Carter
President Jimmy Carter, a long time craftsman and craft advocate, contributed the prologue to the companion book, Craft in America: Celebrating Two Centuries of Artists and Objects. Published by Random House imprint Clarkson-Potter, this lavishly illustrated book features more than 300 images and showcases some of the greatest works of craft of the last two centuries. The publication explores what makes craftwork in America uniquely American while highlighting the objects created by America’s most original and esteemed craftspeople.
With an eye to the contribution craft has made to America’s vitality, history and identity, Craft in America: Celebrating Two Centuries of Artists and Objects examines: craft as communicator, the evolution of American craft, communities of craft (Shakers, Amish & native movements), and more.
In the prologue to the book, President Jimmy Carter says, “While president, I always had in my mind the desire to somehow recognize the skill and singularly American style that was present in craft objects. I was fortunate that Joan Mondale, wife of my vice president, Walter Mondale, shared my love and interest in the handmade expressions of our native artists. In no other place in the world will you find the unbridled creativity exhibited by the tens of thousands of craft artists who make craft a unique part of the American experience.”
Online Craft Source: www.craftinamerica.org
The project’s Web site, www.craftinamerica.org, is an online vortex that brings together all elements of this ambitious project. “CraftinAmerica.org will be an unparalleled resource,” says CRAFT IN AMERICA Executive Director Carol Sauvion. “If the public wants to learn more about well-known artists or discover those making creative break-throughs, it’s there. Plus histories, tools, and techniques – and ways to start learning a craft yourself.” The extensive Web site also will provide middle and secondary school teachers and students plans and activities to continue their journey.
CRAFT IN AMERICA will enlighten and satisfy the curiosity of all who have looked at a bowl, a necklace, a chair – and wondered how it came to be, and turned out the way it did. As Sauvion says, “Art is history; craft is our story.”
ABOUT CRAFT IN AMERICA
CRAFT IN AMERICA, Inc. is a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization with a mission to promote and advance original handcrafted work, through educational programs in all media. The CRAFT IN AMERICA multi-faceted project includes a PBS documentary, traveling museum exhibition and illustrated book. For additional information on CRAFT IN AMERICA the public should visit www.craftinamerica.org.
CRAFT IN AMERICA on PBS
Carol Sauvion is creator and co-executive producer of CRAFT IN AMERICA. Kyra Thompson is co-executive producer and writer of the series. Directors: Nigel Noble (“Memory”); Dan Seeger (“Landscape”); Hilary Birmingham (“Community”).
CRAFT IN AMERICA is a co-production of Craft in America, Inc. and the Independent Television Service (ITVS) with funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and is presented in association with KCET/Los Angeles. Executive in Charge of production for KCET is Joyce Campbell. Production Executive for KCET is Robert McDonnell.
