Craft in America

Arts and Music Series / 15 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

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

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

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