KAPLAN FOUNDATION SUPPORT

JAMES RENWICK ALLIANCE RECEIVES GRANT FROM THE ​Jerome A. and Deena L. Kaplan Family Foundation

For the first time, the James Renwick Alliance Distinguished Artist Series will have a home online thanks to funding from the Jerome A. and Deena L. Kaplan Family Foundation.

Prior to Deena's passing in May 2019, Deena and Jerry Kaplan were one of very few to be acknowledged with the JRA One-Of-A-Kind Award in 2014 "selected for their dedication and service to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Renwick Gallery, the wood art community and the Washington, D.C., area art and craft community including the James Renwick Alliance."

Today, we are pleased to honor her legacy and family with the Deena L. Kaplan Digital Craft Artist Lectures, as a meaningful way to continue their legacy and efforts in the field of American Craft and education. As a part of this grant, the James Renwick Alliance received funds to record all future Distinguished Artist Series lectures, digitize past participants, and hire a dedicated 2020 intern. 

​"Our goal in filming the DAS is that it will not only meaningfully affect the interns, but that others around the country can be impacted by the filmed lectures without being physically present at the events. Can a young female artist watching a lecture on blacksmith Elizabeth Brim be inspired to consider a male-dominated medium or inspire her to think differently about her femininity? Can a video about Tim Harding, an introverted fiber artist with minimal speaking engagements, help a young scholar trace the history of reverse applique quilting techniques to contemporary art? We believe it can" - Jaimianne Jacobin, JRA Director

selected highlights

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Online archive of distinguished artist series participants

The Distinguished Artist Series began in 1992 and has featured almost 130 nationally acclaimed craft artists and for the first time ever, all past participating artist have been archived on our website. 

SEE ALL PAST DAS ARTISTS

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RECORDED ARTIST LECTURES

Moving forward, all Distinguished Artist Series lectures will be available online for free. Below is 2020 Distinguished Artist, Tom Loeser speaking about his expert furniture making.
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See all 2020 DAS videos