Craft in America
Craft in America: Memory, Landscape, Community- a three part PBS series airing 8-11pm May 30th, 2007
Part I - Memory
This 60 minute documentary, the first in the CRAFT IN AMERICA series, takes a personal tour through craft’s history in America beginning with the pioneers of the field. This episode juxtaposes the intimate stories of some of our country’s most prominent craft artists against the larger historical context of craft itself.
Part II - Landscape
The second episode focuses on the relationship between the artists and their physical environment. Craft artists depend on their natural environment for both materials and inspiration. This hour will look at the processes through which natural materials become finished works of craft, and what deeper messages may be contained therein.
Part III - Community
Throughout time, craft work has been a community activity. This hour will focus on the spiritual connection artists have to their communities through craft making. Some express the ideas, beliefs and desires of their community through their craft objects. Some pay homage to the community by continuing craft traditions that are in danger of being lost. Others actually perform their craft as a community project. The personal stories of gifted artists and passionate newcomers alike reveal the deeply held belief that craft is about more than just the making of an object, it is also about a way of life, a reason for being.
Metal artists featured are:
Vivian Beer, NC
Kit Carson, AZ
Tom Joyce, NM
Ken Loeber, WI
Tom Mann, LA
Denise Wallace, AK
Roberta & Dave Williamson, OH
Jan Yager, PA
Craft in America - Expanding Traditions - an eight city museum touring exhibition opening April 2007
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 in Brockton, Massachusetts
June 27, 2009 through September 27, 2009
“Craft in America: Celebrating Two Centuries of Artists and Objects” book arriving October 2007
