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

Jim Bassler on being an artist in CA in the 60s

3m 16s

Jim Bassler, weaver and professor, talks about being an artist in California during the 60s. With his wife Veralee they made the decision to move to Oaxaca to begin a program which introduced U.S. students to the culture on Southern Mexico. The ethnic textiles that inspired him during his travels became the foundation for his work. ORIGINS episode PBS premiere: October 7, 2009.

Native Alaskan Aleut jeweler Denise Wallace

8m 58s

Denise Wallace is a jewelry artist of Native Alaskan Aleut descent, who worked with her husband, Samuel Wallace (1936-2010). She maintains and modifies a walrus-ivory carving tradition. Wallace is most well known for her elaborate belts which depict people, animals, symbols, and folk tales of her native culture.

Wasco basket maker Pat Courtney Gold

7m 42s

Pat Courtney Gold's baskets are based on the baskets of her Wasco ancestors using the full turn twine technique but she experiments with different materials and designs, with similar patterns and motifs. The materials she uses include cattail leaves, tule, dogbane fiber, cedar bark, tree roots as well as chenille, dyed wool, and other textured materials. Segment from the MEMORY episode

Mississippi Cultural Crossroads quilters

9m 32s

Mississippi Cultural Crossroads is an arts agency in Port Gibson, Mississippi, involved in documenting the culture of the community. It provides art programs, and is where MCC Quilters display and sell their hand made quilts. MCC Quilters is a group of women who create quilts, celebrating the traditional quilting heritage of their community, while creating educational and economic opportunities.

Basket maker Mary Jackson

5m 22s

Mary Jackson makes sweetgrass baskets that have been passed down to her from her ancestors. Originating in West Africa, this kind of basket making is an identifying cultural practice for people who were cut off from their own history, and has been a part of Charleston and Mt. Pleasant communities. Jackson uses sweetgrass, palmetto, pine needles and bulrush in her work.

Patricia Crosby of Mississippi Cultural Crossroads

5m 11s

Patricia Crosby talks about the forming of Mississippi Cultural Crossroads, a local arts agency for Port Gibson and Claiborne County where women come together to quilt. Mississippi Cultural Crossroads is featured in the Community episode of Craft in America.

Basket weaver Pat Courtney Gold

1m 51s

Native American basket weaver and natural fiber artist Pat Courtney Gold explains her basket designs which represent her heritage and her cultures memory. Pat Courtney Gold is featured in the Memory episode of Craft in America.

Ceramic artist David Gurney

1m 45s

Ceramic artist David Gurney throws a small cup, takes inspiration from Mexican culture, his garden, and his Central Coast California home. David Gurney is featured in the Landscape episode of Craft in America.

Glass artists Einar & Jamex de la Torre

7m 11s

Watch the de la Torre brothers use teamwork to make a glass sculpture at Pilchuck Glass School with instructor Amy Rueffert and her students. Pilchuck Glass School is featured in the Community episode of Craft in America.

Gerhardt Knodel of Cranbrook Academy

3m 2s

Gerhardt Knodel, fiber artist and Director of Cranbrook Academy (1995-2007), speaks about the future of craft and its significance in our history. Gerhardt Knodel is featured in the Memory episode of Craft in America.

Matt Kelleher and Shoko Teruyama

2m 18s

Matt Kelleher and Shoko Teruyama both resident artists at Penland School of Crafts speak about their time at the school and their work. Penland School of Crafts is featured in the Community episode of Craft in America.

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