Craft in America

Arts and Music Series / 16 Seasons

Craft in America explores the vitality, history and significance of the craft movement in the United States and its impact on our nation's rich cultural heritage. Capturing the beauty, creativity and originality of craftsmanship, the film highlights artists and explores the inter-relationship of what they do, how they do it and why they have chosen a life of creating art.

53m 27s

Ruth Teller weaves with color

2m 33s

Ruth Teller, mother of Navajo weavers Barbara Teller Ornelas and Lynda Teller Pete, weaves with color. Archival courtesy of Barbara Teller Ornelas and Lynda Teller Pete. TEACHERS episode PBS premiere: September 15, 2016

Recycling malasada oil for glass blowing at Punahou School

2m 7s

Recycling malasada oil for glass blowing at Punahou School. Archival courtesy of Punahou School. TEACHERS episode PBS Premiere: September 15, 2016 (*check local listings)

CELEBRATION episode preview

30s

Discover the role craft plays in our winter holiday traditions, rituals, and festivities. CELEBRATION features lion dancers & float builders for San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade, ceramic artists in Michigan for the holidays at Pewabic (Detroit) and Motawi Tileworks (Ann Arbor), Kwanzaa celebrations with Chicago & Oakland artists, and Christmas card making in Tacoma with Yoshiko Yamamoto.

CELEBRATION episode preview 2 min

2m 14s

Discover the role craft plays in our winter holiday traditions, rituals, and festivities. CELEBRATION features lion dancers & float builders for San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade, ceramic artists in Michigan for the holidays at Pewabic (Detroit) and Motawi Tileworks (Ann Arbor), Kwanzaa celebrations with Chicago & Oakland artists, and Christmas card making in Tacoma with Yoshiko Yamamoto.

Motawi Tileworks

6m 32s

Designer and owner Nawal Motawi established Motawi Tileworks after learning her craft at Pewabic. Today, Motawi Tileworks designs and fabricates her colorful signature raised-line tiles in a state-of-the-art production facility. In this segment, Motawi Tileworks collaborates with Yoshiko Yamamoto to create a special holiday tile. Segment from CELEBRATION episode

Pewabic pottery

10m 16s

Pewabic has been a beacon for artists since 1905, producing museum quality ceramics in Detroit for over 100 years. Founded by innovative ceramist Mary Chase Perry Stratton, this non-profit pottery and education center celebrates artists of all ages and skill levels. Segment from the CELEBRATION episode

Printmaker Yoshiko Yamamoto

9m 32s

Yoshiko Yamamoto's love of Japanese ukiyo-e informs her blockprint and letterpress art. Letterpress printing is a relief process, the oldest form of printing. Inspired by the European Arts and Crafts movement founded by William Morris which favored craft production over industrial manufacture and emphasized strong line-driven designs sourced from nature. Segment from the CELEBRATION episode

Kwanzaa

7m 7s

Kwanzaa is an African American tradition begun in 1966 celebrating family, community and culture. Based on African harvest festivals and observed from December 26 to January 1, it offers 7 days of self-affirmation and thoughtful reflection for African-American families culminating in feasting and gift-giving. Segment from the CELEBRATION episode

Chinese New Year Parade

14m 41s

The Chinese New Year festival in San Francisco has grown to be the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia. East West Floats creates over 20 floats for the parade, estimated to draw more than a million spectators. As these floats glide through the nighttime San Francisco streets in a tribute to the important history of Chinese Americans and a celebration that connects us all.

Chinese New Year Lion Dance

5m 23s

San Francisco's Chinese New Year festival has grown to be the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia. Artists Corey Chan and Jeff Lee carry on the tradition of the lion dance and lion-making, which comes together in an explosion of light, color and fireworks as the parade's finale, the astonishing dragon, glides through the nighttime streets of San Francisco.

Corey Chan on Chinese New Year symbolism

2m 22s

Corey Chan talks about symbolism of various objects in the Chinese New Year parade and lion and dragon dances. Bonus video from the CELEBRATION episode. PBS premiere December 11, 2015. (check local listings)

Annette Brown on dolls made for Kwanzaa

2m 5s

Doll maker and soft sculptor Annette F. Brown talks about doll making, a tradition in her family for 30 years, and celebrating Kwanzaa through handmade gifts and family history. Bonus video from the CELEBRATION episode. PBS premiere December 11, 2015. (check local listings)

Malik Seneferu dresses Kwanzaa table

4m 57s

Artist Malik Seneferu dresses a table for Kwanzaa, teaching us the meaning and intention behind the placement of objects. Bonus video from the CELEBRATION episode. PBS premiere December 2015. (check local listings.)

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