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

HOLIDAY episode preview

30s

HOLIDAY embraces familiar and new winter celebrations as part of our American experience with the handmade. Featuring ceramic artist Susan Garson, Garcia Art Glass, paper artist Kathleen Trenchard, ceramic artist Veronica Castillo, National Gingerbread House Competition at Grove Park Inn, Biltmore House, woodcarver Harley Refsal, John C. Campbell Folk School.

Garcia Art Glass holiday ornaments

4m 22s

Garcia Art Glass was founded by Gini Garcia in 1998 and is now a family-run hot glass design and fabrication studio that specializes in one-of-a-kind blown glass lighting and sculpture. Master Glassblowers Gerardo Muñoz and Dora Garcia coax molten glass into cheerful ornaments. Segment from the HOLIDAY episode

Menorah maker Susan Garson

9m 45s

Ceramic artist Susan Garson utilizes hand building along with her skills as a painter to create functional objects in clay. Garson demonstrates how to build your own menorah to celebrate the Jewish holiday Hanukkah. Segment from the HOLIDAY episode.

National Gingerbread Competition

7m 15s

Each year, contestants from across the country bring their unique architectural gingerbread masterpieces to The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC, where competition is at the highest level and everyone is a winner at the National Gingerbread House Competition. Segment from the HOLIDAY episode

Christmas at the Biltmore House

5m 53s

The Biltmore House, built in 1895, is a magnificent estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and is the largest privately owned home in the United States. At Christmas, the grand home is adorned with decorations and mementos that hint at timeless holidays of a glorious bygone age to memorialize the first Christmas in 1895 when the newly built house was first opened to the Vanderbilt family and friends.

Papel Picado artist Kathleen Trenchard

4m 47s

Kathleen Trenchard has researched and worked in traditional Mexican papel picado (punched paper) ever since the early ‘90s when she was introduced to the technique in Huixcolotla, Mexico. Her work explores contemporary designs, applications and materials suitable for cut work using hammer and chisel. Segment from the HOLIDAY episode

Ceramic tree of life artist Veronica Castillo

5m 37s

Veronica Castillo is a ceramic artist who crafts exquisitely detailed, brightly colored folk art objects using centuries-old methods and symbols. Segment from the HOLIDAY episode

Isabel & Enrique Sanchez make tamales

3m 52s

Isabel and Enrique Sánchez have been active in the Chicano pride movement which started in San Antonio in the late 1960s. They continue to pass on family traditions and culture to their children and grandchildren. Every Christmas, they hand make tamales with their family to celebrate Navidad. Segment from the HOLIDAY episode

Wood figure carver Harley Refsal

7m 18s

Harley Refsal is an internationally recognized figure carver, specializing in Scandinavian flat-plane wood carving. Refsal teaches a Scandinavian wood carving class at the John C. Campbell Folk School. Segment from the HOLIDAY episode

Albert Paley "Encore" installation

38s

Watch a time lapse clip of Albert Paley's "Encore" sculpture being installed on Park Avenue. Thirteen monumental sculptures will be on view on Park Avenue in New York City from June 17 - November 8, 2013.

Albert Paley designs forged hardware and chandeliers

2m 27s

Sculptor Albert Paley designs forged hardware and chandeliers for a private home. From fabricating art jewelry, to forging iron gates, to the creation of large-scale sculptures commissioned for public and private spaces worldwide, Albert Paley is now ranked among the most successful and prolific sculptors in America.

Albert Paley paints "The Promise"

3m 36s

Albert Paley paints "The Promise", commissioned for the Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital at Maple Grove Enterprises. From fabricating art jewelry, to forging iron gates, to the creation of large-scale sculptures commissioned for public and private spaces worldwide, Albert Paley is now ranked among the most successful and prolific sculptors in America.

FORGE episode preview

30s

FORGE: Exceptional artists forging metal magically transformed by fire. Featuring silversmith Chloe Darke, Old Newbury Crafters, artist Tom Pullin, Corcoran College of Art + Design, sculptor Albert Paley.

CROSSROADS episode preview

30s

Watch a preview of the CROSSROADS episode. Explores the intersection of craft, culture, and technology. Featured artists include Tanya Aguiñiga, Lia Cook, Clary Illian, Warren MacKenzie, and Jeff Oestreich.

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