American Craft Council Baltimore Show 2017 Opens This Week!

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In just a few days, the American Craft Council (ACC) @ the Baltimore Convention Center opens their wholesale (February 22-23) and retail (February 24-26) American Craft Shows.

More than 650 top contemporary jewelry, clothing, furniture, and home décor artists from across the country will gather in Baltimore at the Convention Center. Touch, feel, and explore high-quality American craft and meet the makers behind the fabulous work. This is a HUGE show – a must-attend for craft lovers! Make sure you see incredible glass works by Kenny Pieper, ceramics by Joe Hicks and Ani Kasten, and wearable wood accessories by Drew Graham.

The ACC has also invited 20 makers from Craft Scotland to their flagship Baltimore show in 2017 – so the show will be extra ossum! Click HERE for more info. Click Here to jump to ACC event tickets.

Retail Show Dates:

February 24: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
February 25: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
February 26: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Baltimore Convention Center
1 West Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

Michael Janis’ Solo Show @ Maurine Littleton Gallery Opens Sept 16

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American Craft Council’s interview with Michael Janis about his solo exhibit at Maurine Littleton Gallery.

Washington Glass School Co-Director Michael Janis will have a solo exhibition of new glass works and sculptures at Georgetown’s Maurine Littleton Gallery. The exhibit,  “Echoes of Leaves and Shadows“,  is the artist’s first solo exhibition with Maurine Littleton Gallery, and the first at the gallery since artist Ginny Ruffner’s solo show in 2012.

Michael Janis has developed and refined an intuitive technique over many years where he manipulates crushed glass powder into detailed images and portraits. An artist who embraces the simple expression of narrative, Janis’ concise work perfects visual storytelling with fantastic imagery. His work explores the unseen sides of life, longing and loneliness, juxtaposed with fragile beauty. 

The American Craft Council interviewed Michael about his new works and artwork directions – this article is now online. Click HERE to jump to the American Craft article.

American Craft Council (ACC) 2016 “Present Tense” Conference Scholarship Application

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The American Craft Council announces a call for applications for student/emerging professional scholarships to attend the 2016 American Craft Council conference, “Present Tense,” on October 13 – 15 in Omaha, Nebraska.

The Council has a strong history of giving emerging makers and scholars opportunities to bring their work to the marketplace and platforms for engaging in ongoing dialogue about the future of craft.

To continue this tradition, the Council will offer $50,000 in full and partial scholarships for the “Present Tense” conference. Students enrolled in a formal university or craft school program (at both the graduate and undergraduate level), students participating in an apprenticeship/mentor program, as well as new professionals (>5 years out of school) are encouraged to apply. Full scholarships include funding for the conference registration fee ($215-$425) plus a travel and accommodation stipend. Partial scholarships provide for the registration fee and may or may not include a travel or accommodation stipend.

The deadline for all scholarship applications has been extended to Thursday, June 23rd. Applicants will be notified via email by Friday, July 8th. Recipients will be selected by a committee. Local, national, and international scholarships will be awarded.

ELIGIBILITY
All candidates must be:

1. A full-time student currently enrolled in an art school or university, OR participating in an apprenticeship program/working with a mentor, OR a new professional within five years of graduation. Graduate, undergraduate and post-doc students are invited to apply.
2. Must be a current member of the American Craft Council or become a member before the conference

CRITERIA
The scholarships committee will take into consideration the following criteria when considering applicants:

1. Evidence of commitment to and interest in the craft field
2. Interest in contributing to the dialogue and scholarship of the field at large
3. Potential to benefit professionally from attendance at the conference
4. Financial need

REQUIREMENTS
Scholarship recipients are required to attend the entire conference. To help us ensure the ongoing improvement of the scholarship program, all scholarship winners will be required to submit a post-conference evaluation by November 11, 2016.

NOTIFICATION
All applicants will be notified on or before July 8, 2016.

Details on the conference schedule and registration can be found on the registration page:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/present-tense-registration-21689739595

* Required

American Craft Council Search for New Director of Education

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The American Craft Council (ACC) is the leading nationwide arts nonprofit cultivating a culture of making. For more than 75 years, the American Craft Council has championed craft. The ACC recognizes and values the profound impact craft has on individuals and communities. Today, the ACC efforts span the nation, supporting professional makers through unique craft shows and educational resources. The ACC engages artists, the public, and scholars through a one-of-a-kind reference library, conferences, public lectures, and student programs. Their national awards honor long-time master artisans and spotlight emerging and traditional rare-craft artists.The ACC also promotes the handmade through their resource-rich website, award-winning magazine American Craft, and through social media platforms.

The ACC moved to Minneapolis, MN in 2010, and they have reinvigorated and expanded their programs to benefit and grow the craft community.

The ACC is seeking a new Director of Education – a key position in the organization. Below are the job details:

Position: Director of Education

Reports to: Executive Director of the American Craft Council

Summary: The director of education is responsible for creating a roster of thought-provoking, strategic, and engaging educational programming that will position the American Craft Council as a leader in the field, attract a growing audience, and facilitate meaningful conversation about craft.

Primary Responsibilities:
1. In accordance with the Council’s strategic plan, develop and execute a roster of programs that will:• Strengthen economic opportunities within the craft field, including development of professional development programs for established and emerging artists• Promote and advocate for craft as an important cultural resource• Provide thought leadership and cultivate critical thinking about contemporary craft2. Oversee the budget for the education department and work with the development department to make recommendations for potential sources of programmatic support for all educational programs. Working closely with the development team, assist in authoring grants and presentations to foundations, individuals, and organizations that may give financial support for education programs.3. Promote the programs of the Council in collaboration with the marketing department. Working with the marketing and communications director, identify and execute promotional campaigns for outreach for programs to a wide audience, including development of promotional materials in both print and online formats.4. Identify and develop beneficial programmatic partnerships with other individuals, organizations, and institutions that will strengthen the Council’s ability to fulfill its mission to champion craft. Develop and manage key relationships with local and national craft education, craft media, and other arts organizations. Continue local and national educational initiatives, including Library Salon Series, Crafted Conversations Series, Craft Cage Match, media-specific organization conference speaker partnerships, and others.5. Manage and develop artist training initiatives, including web coursework, in partnership with MICA and other constituent partners. Oversee School-to-Market program with partner school faculty and students as part of ACC show initiative.6. Supervise and manage the library as a key component of the Council’s education program. Position the library as a premier source for information about contemporary craft and expand access to library materials through digitization. Supervise and manage the librarian and part-time librarian, developing and recommending library policies to ensure smooth operation of all library functions.7. Lead strategy, planning, and implementation of ACC national conference program, beginning in 2016 and continuing every three years.8. Contribute to scholarly discourse on the field of craft through posts on ACC website, articles for American Craft magazine, Emerging Voices Awards publication, ACC podcast, and with outside partners as appropriate.9. Oversee the roster of ACC award programs including the ACC Awards (Gold Medal, College of Fellows, Award of Distinction and Award of Philanthropy), the Emerging Voices Awards, the Rare Craft Fellowship Award in Association with The Balvenie, and the American Craft Show Awards of Excellence.10. Supervise and manage the education coordinator, education and library interns, and project-specific contractors to ensure successful execution of programs and complete after action reviews of work.11. Act as an ambassador for the American Craft Council and its programs, promoting the Council as a leader in the field.

Additional Responsibilities:• Work collaboratively with other senior staff and the executive director to develop education policies and procedures for the Council.• Work with committees of the Council’s board, particularly the Education Committee and Awards Committee to determine strategies for education programming and awards presentation.• Maintain all records of programmatic and partnership activities.• Perform other tasks as assigned or necessary.

Position Requirements:• Seven years professional educational program development in the art/craft field• Organized self-starter with excellent written and verbal communication skills• Well-developed interpersonal skills including the ability to work closely with trustees, ACC members, colleagues, and outside constituents• Proficient computer skills with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications• Proven track record of successful development of arts educational programs on a local and national level• Experience in shaping and maintaining national partnerships with cultural institutions, membership organizations and colleges/universities• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred• Salary commensurate with experience.

Application: To apply, please send a cover letter, resume and salary requirements to Lindsay Noble at  employment@craftcouncil.org.

Please submit your application by February 26, 2106.

American Craft Council Baltimore Show Feb 19-21

The American Craft Council (ACC) is a national, nonprofit educational organization founded in 1943. with a mission to promote understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft.

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The Baltimore ACC Show is the American Craft Council’s flagship show – a must-attend for craft lovers – runs from Feb. 19–21, 2016 at the Baltimore Convention Center.

More than 650 top contemporary jewelry, clothing, furniture, and artists from across the country will gather under one roof. It’s a great chance to touch, feel, and explore high-quality American craft and meet the makers behind the fabulous work.

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Artist Drew Storm Graham is one of the outstanding makers that will be showing at the Baltimore ACC show – featuring his artistically handcrafted interchangeable wooden bow ties and his company Switchwood. (Booth: 2100)switchwood.tie

SHOW DATES AND HOURS

Friday, Feb. 19: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 20: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 21: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

LOCATION
The Baltimore Convention Center is at One West Pratt Street. 

TICKETS
Purchase your tickets online or at the show. CLICK HERE for online weblink. FREE for American Craft Council members and children 12 and under. Join the ACC and get in free!

SPECIAL FRIDAY EVENING ADMISSION
Get into the show for just $5 after 5 p.m. Sorry, no other discounts apply.

 

American Craft Council on International Glass & Clay Exhibit

Erwin Timmers, Rebound, part of the 2013 International Glass + Clay show in Washington, DC – photo by Pete Duvall.

The American Craft Council (ACC) gives the Washington, DC US/UK collaborative glass and clay show a mention in the ACC’s roundup of national exhibits:

“No time to lose! The 2013 International Glass + Clay runs through March 23 at Pepco Edison Place Gallery in Washington, DC. It’s a spectacular showcase of artists from Washington, DC and Sunderland, England, the third creative collaboration since the cities signed a friendship agreement in 2006.”

The International Glass and Clay 2013 exhibit is open through March 23, 2013, at Washington, DC’s Pepco Edison Place Gallery, located at 702 Eighth Street, NW, Washington, DC. The show is organized by Artomatic and the DCCAH

Can A Craftsperson Succeed Today?

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American Craft Oct/Nov 2012 issue

It’s not realistic for most craftspeople to make a living working alone (on their craft). That was the provocative argument made by Garth Clark, award-winning historian, writer, dealer, and auction specialist in ceramic art, in the Oct/Nov American Craft Magazine. In the interview by Monica Moses, Garth urges crafters to emulate designers who partner with industry as a way to find success. American Craft asked him to elaborate in the interview – a few samples from the interview: 
You’ve said “the crafts are a threatened field,” suggesting that purely handmade work can’t compete with more scalable, cost-efficient work. What is threatening craft now? The big weakness is a failing economic studio model. Overheads rise constantly, but each maker has only two hands and can’t make more work to bring in more money. There is an output ceiling. This threat is self-imposed, coming from adherence to a medieval concept of craft and refusal to employ low-key industrial techniques to produce more inventory. Another threat: Craft galleries are withering and in some cases closing. Then, of course, there is the damage to the brand of craft done when institutions such as the flagship American Craft Museum [predecessor to the Museum of Arts and Design], drop the term craft and seek to join the fine arts world.

As you’ve suggested, for a number of years craftspeople aimed to be accepted in the fine art world, with limited success. Your view is that, in general, the design world is a more promising avenue for craftspeople. Why? Most crafters are not fine artists, even when they use fine art as their muse. The ones who have crossed over are about .0001 of the craft community. It’s a tiny handful: Ken Price, Josiah McElheny, Betty Woodman. The odds are hardly encouraging. On the other hand, designers and crafters do exactly the same thing; they make vases, jewelry, furniture, mugs, hats, fire irons. It’s exactly the same class of objects. Both are designed. The difference is the means of production: Crafters work by hand, while designers employ industry. Designers have learned to have it all – some unique works, some limited works, and some mass-produced works. Crafters can do the same. And the market is gigantic and growing.

What advice would you offer today’s aspiring craftsperson?

Decide what you want to be – be it fine artist, designer, or for that matter, crafter. And live there. If you believe you are, say, a sculptor and not a crafter, then the day you leave college, take the strengths of your craft education and head to a sculpture community and make your home there. Don’t remain in the relatively protected world of the crafts and whine that you are a misunderstood artist trapped in the craft world. Leave the nest, and learn to fly. 

Click here to jump to the full online version of the article – or look for in the Oct/Nov hard copy magazine at the shops. That American Craft issue also has a great review of the Smithsonian’s 40 Under 40 Craft Futures exhibit.

Garth Clark at lecture on Ai Weiwei at University of Sunderland, March 2012

Garth Clark is one of the leading experts on design and craft. The blog has posted previous lectures that Garth has had on the changing nature of craft. 

While at the University of Sunderland, the WGS Fulbright directors were able to attend Garth Clark’s lecture on Ai Weiwei Ceramics. The lecture was most interesting and gave great insight into Ai Weiwei’s work with clay.

American Craft Council Interviews Chris Shea

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ACC interview with Chris Shea is online – click HERE.

Perry Price – the American Craft Council‘s new Director of Education interviewed master metal artist Chris Shea for the ACC’s American Craft Week. 
The “5 Question” format gives a too-brief glimpse into Chris’ thought process, but includes his thoughts of the DC area and the Washington Glass School:

The Renwick Gallery has been a special source of inspiration and encouragement for me as have the members of the James Renwick Alliance, the support organization for the museum. The Washington Glass School, created by Tim Tate, Michael Janis, and Erwin Timmers is a second creative home for me, and for many other people, too. It’s a kind of energy bank where I go for a spark of comradeship, collaboration, competition – and to find that special luminescence that glass can bring to the darker, heavier tones of forged metalwork. (ok, emphasis is mine, but still, phwoar!)

Chris recently had some of his forged steel furniture acquired by the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery – click here to read about his process. Congrats (again) Chris!

Click HERE for the American Craft article.

The American Craft Council (ACC) is a national, nonprofit educational organization founded in 1943 with a mission to promote understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft. The ACC celebrates the remarkable achievements of the many gifted artists today who are working with a variety of materials.

Running Around the ACC

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Tommie Rush at booth #2104

Tim Tate & I ran through the American Craft Council show at Baltimore’s Convention Center – looking at the cool work and catching up with some old friends who are exhibiting at the huge show. Unfortunately, we were not able to stay too long, and we also were there on a wholesale market day – where the artists showing on those days are marketing to retail buyers – many of the booths were not open as a result. The ACC opens for the public on Thursday February 25, 2010.

The Glass artists have a strong showing – and some (tho not all) are:


Penland artist-in-residence Devin Burgess sculptural glass is beautiful & sublime.

Tim Tate and Devin Burgess at the ACC.Tommie Rush’s booth is filled with vibrant color – her “Happy Pills” in the foreground.
Kenny Pieper’s newest works show how his incredible detailed and intricate canework can feel spontaneous .
Tim Tate explains theory on how to market glass to Urban Glass artist Jamie Harris.
Jaimie Harris’ Infusion Panels – the result of experiments he pursued at a recent residency at the Corning Museum of Glass. These one-of-a-kind panels begin as solid sculptures and are then kiln-cast into flat blocks, carved and polished.

ACC Baltimore Opens Feb 25!

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More than 700 of the country’s leading craft artists will gather in Baltimore’s convention center for The American Craft Council Show – the largest juried, indoor craft show in the nation. The highest quality of handmade jewelry, furniture, clothing, glass, and more, will be available for purchase at the Baltimore Convention Center, February 25-28, 2010.

Be sure to see some of our not-to-miss glass favorites like:

And many more fantastic glass artists – Also mixed media, jewelry, demos and presentations – for more info: American Craft Council Tommie Rush

LOCATION
Baltimore Convention Center

One West Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

RETAIL DATES AND SHOW HOURS
Thursday, February 25 (10 am – 6 pm)
Friday, February 26 (10 am – 9 pm)
Saturday, February 27 (10 am – 6 pm)
Sunday, February 28 (10 am – 5 pm)

For information on the Wholesale dates, please click here.

ADMISSION – SAVE UP TO $5 BY PURCHASING YOUR TICKETS ONLINE!
Purchase, print and bring right to the door!
Buy Tickets Online
ON-SITE ADMISSION $15 per person $25 for a two-day pass $30 for a three-day pass SPECIAL FRIDAY EVENING ADMISSION: $6 after 6pm.