Videos

Craft in America

A three part series, each 60 minutes, produced in 2007, by Craft in America, Inc.

This series shows many of America 's finest craft artists at work.

A. Part 1. MEMORY, 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 America's most prominent craft artists today against the larger historical context of craft itself.

The MEMORY artists are: Gary Knox Bennett, known for his chairs and for combining conventional woods and unusual materials; Pat Courtney Gold, a basket maker influenced by her ancestors, the Wasco Indians; Mary Jackson makes sweetgrass baskets that come out of a tradition that has been passed down to her from her West African ancestors; Tom Joyce creates architectural blacksmithing pieces like gates as well as lighting fixtures; Sam Maloof, a furniture maker, known for his signature rocker. More biographical information for these artists can be found at: (http://www.pbs.org/craftinamerica/artists_memory.ht ml#m1).

B. Part 2. 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 looks at the processes through which natural materials become finished works of craft, and what deeper messages may be contained therein.

The artists are: Jan Yager, using urban flora that grow through the cracks in the pavement to embellish her brooches, earrings and necklaces; Kit Carson, jewelry artist, incorporates the romanticism of the 1950s American West in his creations; David Gurney is a painter and a potter; George Nakashima employed some of the world's finest craftsmen in his woodworking shop; Richard Notkin, ceramic artist whose work is a vehicle for political commentary. More biographical information for Part 2 can be found at: (http://www.pbs.org/craftinamerica/artists_landscape .html#l5)

C. Part 3. COMMUNITY - Throughout time, craft work has been a community activity. This hour focuses 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 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.

The artists in Part 3 are: Jamex de la Torre is a sculptor who primarily works in glass with his brother, glass artist, Einar de la Torre. Their work is based on their Mexican-American bi-cultural experiences. Sarah Jaeger, creates functional porcelain pottery, often thrown and altered, and glazed using wax resists, creating layers of color; Ken Loeber is a jeweler; Dona Look is a basket maker; Crossroads Quilters is a group of women who create quilts, celebrating the traditional quilting heritage of their community; Denise Wallace, a jewelry artist known for her elaborate belts which depict people, animals, symbols and folk tales of her native Alaskan Aleut culture. More biographical information for Part 3 can be found at: ( http://www.pbs.org/craftinamerica/artists_community .html#c3)

Rights: We have public performance and educational rights for this video series. This video series can be shown in almost every venue, but no entry fee can be charged.