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

Carlomagno Pedro Martínez sculpts and assembles a figure

8m 39s

Ceramic artist Carlomagno Pedro Martínez sculpts and assembles a skeleton figure holding a chicken out of barro negro (black clay). NEIGHBORS episode PBS premiere: Friday, September 29, 2017

Enrique Ramirez Castellanos on the plants used to make paper

4m 11s

Enrique Ramirez Castellanos, paper maker at Taller Arte Papel, on the plants used to make paper at Taller Arte Papel, located in San Agustín Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico. BORDERS episode PBS premiere September 29, 2017 (check local listings)

NEIGHBORS preview (1 min)

1m

NEIGHBORS explores connections between Mexico and the United States through craft. Featuring ceramic artist Gerardo Monterrubio; ceramic artists Carlomagno Pedro Martínez and Magdalena Pedro Martínez; glass artist Jaime Guerrero; silver designers William Spratling, Miguel Angel Ortiz Miranda, Carmen Tapia, Cristina Romo, and Eduardo Herrera; muralist Judy Baca and SPARC.

NEIGHBORS episode preview

30s

NEIGHBORS explores connections between Mexico and the United States through craft. Featuring ceramic artist Gerardo Monterrubio; ceramic artists Carlomagno Pedro Martínez and Magdalena Pedro Martínez; glass artist Jaime Guerrero; silver designers William Spratling, Miguel Angel Ortiz Miranda, Carmen Tapia, Cristina Romo, and Eduardo Herrera; muralist Judy Baca and SPARC.

BORDERS episode preview (1 min)

1m

BORDERS explores connections between Mexico and the United States through craft. Featuring master altar-maker Ofelia Esparza, Self Help Graphics & Art, and the Day of the Dead celebration; master weaver J. Isaac Vásquez Garcia and family; weaver Jim Bassler and potter Veralee Bassler and the colorful Guelaguetza parade; and artist Kiff Slemmons and maestro Francisco Toledo at Taller Arte Papel

BORDERS episode preview

30s

BORDERS explores connections between Mexico and the United States through craft. Featuring master altar-maker Ofelia Esparza, Self Help Graphics & Art, and the Day of the Dead celebration; master weaver J. Isaac Vásquez Garcia and family; weaver Jim Bassler and potter Veralee Bassler and the colorful Guelaguetza parade; and artist Kiff Slemmons and maestro Francisco Toledo at Taller Arte Papel

Woodcarver Michelle Holzapfel

12m 22s

Self-taught woodturner and carver Michelle Holzapfel creates vases, bowls, boxes, and still life sculpture from local hardwoods like burls, unmanageable crotches, gnarled branches, center rotten trunks that are left behind in the forest after logging operations have ceased. Segment from the NATURE episode

Tlingit glass artist Preston Singletary

11m 55s

Preston Singletary’s glass work incorporates many layering and etching techniques he invented, creating stunning glass forms embellished with Tlingit imagery. His practice and work continue to evolve, connecting his personal cultural perspective to modern art movements. Segment from the NATURE episode

NATURE episode preview

29s

Artists explore the beauty and wonder of the natural world. Featuring sculptor Patrick Dougherty, artist Mary Merkel-Hess, woodcarver Michelle Holzapfel, glass artist Preston Singletary, book artist Catherine Alice Michaelis. PBS Premiere: April 21, 2017 (*check local listings).

NATURE episode preview 1 min

1m

Artists explore the beauty and wonder of the natural world. Featuring sculptor Patrick Dougherty, artist Mary Merkel-Hess, woodcarver Michelle Holzapfel, glass artist Preston Singletary, book artist Catherine Alice Michaelis. PBS Premiere: April 21, 2017 (*check local listings).

Mary Merkel-Hess on the prairie garden as inspiration

1m 48s

Fiber artist Mary Merkel-Hess on the prairie garden as inspiration and her daily practice of drawing. NATURE episode PBS premiere: Friday, April 21, 2017 (*check local listings)

Mary Merkel-Hess on drawing with paper

1m 32s

Fiber artist Mary Merkel-Hess on drawing with paper and how she created a piece for Oaknoll Retirement Residence. NATURE episode PBS premiere: Friday, April 21, 2017 (*check local listings)

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