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

Vasquez family of weavers

10m 44s

The Vasquez family is one of the oldest weaving families in Teotitlán del Valle, México, who pioneered the renaissance of using pre-Hispanic natural dyes on pure wool. They perform all steps by hand, taking the raw material wool to finished rug carding, spinning, dyeing and weaving. Their design are drawn from both modern and ancient Zapotec sources. Segment from the BORDERS episode

Judy Baca on her murals at RFK Community Schools

2m 58s

Artist and muralist Judy Baca on the Robert F. Kennedy Community School murals titled "Tiny Ripples of Hope" and "Seeing through Others Eyes." Bonus video from NEIGHBORS episode PBS premiere September 29, 2017 (check local listings) Archival courtesy of UCLA.

Carlos Rogel on Judy Baca's "Migration of the Golden People"

1m 54s

Carlos Rogel, Project Manager at Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC), on Judy Baca's mural, "Migration of the Golden People." Bonus video from NEIGHBORS episode PBS premiere September 29, 2017 (check local listings)

David Alfaro Siqueiros' mural "América Tropical"

5m 3s

John M. Valadez and Barbara Carrasco on David Alfaro Siqueiros' mural "América Tropical." Located at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument in downtown Los Angeles, "América Tropical" is the only mural by Siqueiros in the United states still in its original location. Bonus video from NEIGHBORS episode PBS premiere: Friday, September 29, 2017 (check local listings)

Día de los Muertos altars at Grand Park

2m 57s

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) altars at Grand Park in Los Angeles by Celina Jacques, Consuelo Flores, Joan Zamora, and Javier Guillen. BORDERS episode PBS premiere September 29, 2017

Gerardo Monterrubio on his work inspired by his grandparents

3m 12s

Ceramic artist Gerardo Monterrubio on his work inspired by his grandparents, "El Corrido de Don Gustavo Martinez" and "La Ranchera de Doña Marcelina de Martinez." NEIGHBORS episode PBS premiere: Friday, September 29, 2017

Judy Baca on "La Memoria de Nuestra Tierra: California 1996"

1m 14s

Artist and muralist Judy Baca on "La Memoria de Nuestra Tierra: California 1996," her mural located on the University of Southern California campus about the history of Latinos in Los Angeles. NEIGHBORS episode PBS premiere: Friday, September 29, 2017

Veralee Bassler & her students celebrate Oaxacan culture

3m 22s

Veralee Bassler and her former students celebrate the Oaxacan culture in Los Angeles. Berenice Castellanos and José Alberto Jarquín talk about Veralee as their high school teacher. BORDERS episode PBS premiere September 29, 2017

Craig Johnson & Armando Espinosa Prieto on altars

1m 40s

Craig Johnson & Armando Espinosa Prieto, friends of the Vasquez family, on the Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) altar at the Vasquez home. BORDERS episode PBS premiere September 29, 2017

Rosanna Esparza Ahrens & Denise Esparza on Day of the Dead

2m 53s

Rosanna Esparza Ahrens and Denise Esparza (Ofelia Esparza's daughters) on Diá de los Muertos altars displayed in Tonalli Studio in East Los Angeles, CA. BORDERS episode PBS premiere September 29, 2017

Isaac Vásquez and Jeronimo Vásquez on their family's weaving

2m 22s

J. Isaac Vásquez García and Jeronimo Vásquez on their family's weaving traditions. Bonus video from BORDERS episode PBS premiere September 29, 2017 (check local listings)

Alberto Miguel Angel Mendez Aguilar on printing

1m 57s

Alberto Miguel Angel Mendez Aguilar, printmaker at Taller Arte Papel, shows us how he prints Francisco Toledo's designs. Taller Arte Papel is located in San Agustin Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico. BORDERS episode PBS premiere September 29, 2017

Heidy Clara Enriquez Lara creates the Serpent bracelet

1m 54s

Heidy Clara Enriquez Lara, artisan at Taller Arte Papel, shows us how to create the "Serpent bracelet." Taller Arte Papel is located in San Agustin Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico. BORDERS episode PBS premiere September 29, 2017

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