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

Woodworker and furniture maker Wendy Maruyama

8m 36s

Woodworker and furniture maker Wendy Maruyama delves into matters of ethnicity, gender and world issues in her work. Born an American of Japanese heritage, Maruyama satisfied her artistic passions by becoming an important furniture maker in a field dominated by men and in the process, overcame challenges related to her deafness and disability. Segment from the IDENTITY episode

Chemehuevi artist Cara Romero

9m 38s

Cara Romero, a contemporary photographer and member of the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe of the Chemehuevi Reservation (a branch of the Southern Paiute) of the Mojave Desert, CA is a passionate spokesperson for indigenous cultural and environmental issues. Her complex and nuanced images combine traditional iconography with a contemporary perspective, bringing past, present and future into consideration.

Cochiti Pueblo potter Diego Romero

12m 5s

Diego Romero is a potter living and working in Santa Fe, NM and a member of the Cochiti Pueblo tribe. He makes art that transcends his Native American heritage by combining traditional materials, techniques and forms of ancient Mimbres, Anasazi and Greek pottery with comic book inspired imagery, to talk about contemporary issues. Segment from the IDENTITY episode

Navajo quilter Susan Hudson

9m 19s

Navajo/Diné artist Susan Hudson's pictorial quilts honor her ancestors and the proud history of the Navajo people using a crossover style inspired by Ledger art. Recounting history through her ledger quilts has made Hudson an activist storyteller, chronicling the hardships endured by her ancestors. Segment from the QUILTS episode

Quilter Michael A. Cummings

10m 49s

Quilter Michael A. Cummings is inspired by jazz. Working in the narrative tradition, Cummings and his sewing machine tell stories of the African American experience across historical, cultural, philosophical and mythical realms. Segment from the QUILTS episode

Quilts for Kids

1m 58s

Quilters of the Quilts for Kids Lincoln, Nebraska chapter make quilts for kids. Quilts for Kids is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming fabrics into patchwork quilts to comfort children facing serious illness, trauma, abuse and natural disasters. Bonus video from QUILTS.

Robert Miller on Diego Romero

5m 12s

Robert Miller on Cochiti Pueblo potter Diego Romero. They discuss Diego's influences: Mimbres pottery and their college professors, Ralph Bacerra and Adrian Saxe. Bonus video from the IDENTITY episode

Explore the International Quilt Museum collection

7m 2s

Carolyn Ducey, Curator of Collections at the International Quilt Museum on a few quilts in their collection. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, the International Quilt Museum's mission to build a global collection and audience that celebrate the cultural and artistic significance of quilts. The museum has the world’s largest publicly held quilt collection.

QUILTS episode preview

2m 5s

Learn about contemporary quilters from diverse traditions as we celebrate the important role quilts have played in our country's story. Featuring Susan Hudson, Victoria Findlay Wolfe, Michael A. Cummings, Judith Content, the International Quilt Museum, and special guest Ken Burns.

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