New Mexico Treasures, including Santa Fe, Abiquiu, and Albuquerque. Tour private collections, spend time with studio artists, visit a number of established galleries, and trace the life of prolific artist Georgia O'Keeffe. Enjoy some of the finest cuisine New Mexico offers.

Questions about this trip can be sent to info@jra.org

Included: transportation to all planned events, some meals, all museum entry fees
Not included: transportation to and from New Mexico and during free times​, some meals, lodging
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ARTIST STUDIOS
Artist visits include: 
- The contemporary Cochiti Pueblo ceramic artist Diego Romero
- Blown glass artist Flo Perkins who creates botanical works
- Paper and mixed media artists Gail and Zachara Reike
- Intricate wearable beadwork artist, Claire Kahn
and more!

COLLECTORS HOMES
These days, collections often run to investment portfolios or trophy-hunting accumulations of this season’s must-have objects. However, we will be visiting the homes of at least three dedicated arts supporters, who are connoisseurs, in the old fashioned, admirable sense of the word. 

LOCAL CULTURE
At the Nambe Pueblo, we will visit the home of a well-known potter. Time on our own allows us to explore the Museum of International Folk Art, Spanish Colonial Museum, Museum of Indian Arts and Culture or The Wheelwright Museum. We spend time at the home and studio of Georgia O'Keeffe and see the landscapes that inspired her famous paintings. 
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UNIQUE CULINARY EXPERIENCES
Experience award-winning restaurants that are the cornerstone of the culinary landscape in Santa Fe and learn about the architectural background of some of these striking spaces.
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​​Learn all Houston has to offer with its cultural institutions, public art and more. Visit the premier Houston Center for Contemporary Craft and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; tour local artist studios; and have exclusive access to the region's top private craft collections.

Questions about this trip can be sent to info@jra.org

Not included: transportation to and from Houston, lodging, some meals

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft
Meet Executive Director, Perry Price, and enjoy a guided tour of the May exhibition and 4 resident artist studios, followed by High Tea hosted by HCCC.

Collectors Tours
The Houston Center for Craft will be arranging 3 or 4 exclusive private collectors' homes.

The Silos & Sawyer Yards, Arts District Houston
Arts District Houston is a state-recognized cultural district in Houston with one of the highest concentrations of working artists in the United States. We will be visiting the craft artists' studios. 

Glassell School of Art
New gallery and building across from HMFA. Studio and gallery tours.

Museum of Fine Art, Houston
Wander through a private guided tour of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, created especially for the JRA. The MFAH is home to some of the country's most revered craft collections including the Helen Drutt English jewelry collection and the collection of past JRA president Mel and Lee Eagle. 

Asian Center
Tour and lunch at one of the best buildings in the city. 

Foelber Gallery Jurying and Farewell Dinner
Foelber Gallery is the only ceramic gallery in Houston. We are jurying an exhibit of Texas ceramists for the JRA visit. They will also have the opportunity to vote for two artist and the prize will be a solo show at the gallery. Foelber has a back yard and will be having an outdoor dinner for the JRA and a tour of the school and firing area.
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TERMS & CONDITIONS

CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS
All cancellations must be made in writing to the James Renwick Alliance at admin@jra.org. Refunds, less a cancellation fee and the non-refundable JRA contribution, are made if your notification is received at least one month in advance. No refunds will be made after this date except in the case of a medical emergency.

RESPONSIBILITY
Neither the James Renwick Alliance or any of the participating partners accepts liability for any expenses incurred by tour participants in preparing for the tour. We require that all participants be in good health. If you have a medical condition needing special medical attention, you must report it when filling out your application form by sending an email to admin@jra.org. We retain the right to refuse any applicant whose health, in our sole judgment, would negatively affect their full participation in the trip. Regardless of your health condition, we strongly recommend that if your current insurance does not cover medical costs while you are traveling, you insure yourself for the costs of medical care including, but not limited to: medical evacuation, baggage damage or loss, accident, and sickness. While we take every precaution, neither the participating partners, nor the James Renwick Alliance shall be responsible or liable for any loss, death, injury, illness or damage to or loss of property suffered or incurred by any person in connection with this trip.

​Artist studios, galleries and collectors' homes fill this trip to Durham and Raleigh, NC. Visits include the home and studio of ceramic artist Eric Serritella, a get-together with artist Patrick Dougherty from the Renwick Gallery's WONDER exhibition, also visit private collections and take a downtown gallery tour.

Questions about this trip can be sent to info@jra.org

Included: Lunch on Thursday-Saturday, dinner on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday
​Not included: Lodging, transportation to and from Durham, breakfast, dinner on Friday
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Wednesday, February 16
Arrive in Raleigh/Durham at 21cMuseum Hotel
6:30pm: Welcome Dinner

Thursday, February 17
9:00am: Private tour of 21c Museum Hotel collection
10:30am: Collectors Steve Burke and Randy Campbell will welcome you to their home, with its collection of about 1200 miniature American folk art buildings, featured in the N.Y. Times and a recent documentary. 
11:15am: Walk to downtown galleries (6 minutes) Hillsborough Gallery of Arts and Eno Gallery
12:30pm: Collector Barbara Wells will welcome you into her home, and offer lunch, followed by a tour of her collection.
2:30pm: Francine and Benson Pilloff will welcome you to see their private collection
4:00pm: Arrive at home and studio of Pat Scull, a clay sculptor and painter
5:00pm: Visit the home and studio of JRA Distinguished Artist Eric Serritella to see his work is trompe l’oeil sculpture. After showing us his studio and work, he will host our group for dinner.

Friday, February 18 
9:45am: Visit Barbara McFadyen’s jewelry studio
10:15am: Studio visit and demonstration with Theresa Arico 
11:15am: Tour the Frank Gallery in Chapel Hill, with lunch nearby.
2:00pm:  Visit Sarah B. Duke Gardens to see Patrick Dougherty installing his newest sculpture
3:30pm: Cedar Creek Gallery, a superb all-media craft gallery
6:00pm: Dinner on your own, with suggestions offered

Saturday, February 19
9:15am: Board the bus
10:00am:  JRA member Barbara Lee Smith and Joyce Watkins King will take you through their exhibit of recent works at the Meymandi Concert Hall, Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts
11:15am: Artspace, where we will have a slide presentation of Bryant Holsenbeck's environmental installations and other artwork. This will be followed by a catered lunch. Then we will tour Artspace's craft show including JRA member Sharron Parker's work and have free time to see other exhibits and studios.
2:15pm: We will see the mixed media glass studio and home of Madonna Phillips
3:30pm: View the permanent craft collection and changing exhibits of the Gregg Museum of Art & Design
6:00pm: Farewell Dinner

Sunday, February 20
Return Travel Day
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**ITINERARY MAY CHANGE**
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​Join the JRA in an Arts & Architecture tour of Annapolis to see three distinct collectors' homes, two artist visit, and lunch. Each collection features very different architectural styles and collections. Guests will experience the modern collection and architecture of Kitty and Tom Stoner, the award-winning minimalist farmhouse of Marilyn Lyons and the international eclectic collection of Janet and Bill Pearson set in a traditional home on 150 acres.

Questions about this trip can be sent to info@jra.org
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Included: transportation to and from Annapolis, lunch

​Join JRACraft in collaboration with Sandy Spring Museum for a conversation with 4 featured artists from their current exhibition Inspired by Malcolm: A Passion for Shino.

This national juried exhibit features the work of forty-seven artists from all over the nation and illustrates the depth, range, and variations possible with Shino glazes. Inspired by Malcolm: A Passion for Shino honors the memory of Malcolm Davis, a man who influenced and inspired so many to listen to and follow their heart’s desires. After serving as a minister for twenty years, Davis’s life changed when he took his first ceramics class in 1973. Within a few years, he left his career as a campus minister to pursue pottery full-time. Davis established his own mountaintop studio in West Virginia in 1985, where he experimented with a Japanese-style glaze called Shino. He perfected his own Shino technique, which allowed him to create pottery unlike any other. His glaze, now known as “Malcolm Davis Shino,” is found in studios all over the world. The glaze is prized for carbon-trapping, which creates extensive black areas and black dots in contrast to the more typical white, red, and orange colors of other Shino glazes.

During the Coffee & Conversation, we will speak with Robin Ziek, ceramic artist and organizer of the exhibition, and 4 featured artists including Maureen Mills (NH), ​Janel Jacobson (MN), Lee Love (MN), and Andrew Sartorius (NY). 

JRACraft is excited to host its first in person tour of the year to Asheville, North Carolina. Join us for an exciting few days of gallery visits, studio tours, private collections and more. 

Questions about this trip can be sent to info@jra.org
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Included: Dinner on Thursday and Friday night, Brunch on Thursday and Friday, admission to all visits
​Not Included: Lodging, transportation and an optional blow your own glass opportunity on Friday.

Wednesday, July 21
7:00pm (Optional) Meet and greet cocktails at Renaissance Hotel

Thursday, July 22
10am Momentum Gallery Talk with Artists and Brunch
12pm Visit to the Center for Craft newly renovated building
2pm Asheville Art Museum with Director Pam Myers and Assistant Curator Whitney Richardson
3:30pm Studio visit with Andrew Hayes, Thomas Campbell, and Laura Wood
5pm Private collection of Merrily Orsini
7pm Dinner 

Friday, July 23
10am Brunch and artist talk/tour at Blue Spiral Gallery
​12pm Explore lower Broadway neighborhood
1:30pm North Carolina Center for Glass (opt to blow your own glass - $75 per person)
​2:30pm Explore River Arts District
5pm Private of collection Steve Keeble
7pm Dinner 

Saturday, July 24
10am Penland School of Craft Gallery and resident artist visit
11:30am Visit the Penland Barn Studios

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***ITINERARY MAY CHANGE***
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Join JRACraft for a conversation with the new Executive Director of the Creative Crafts Council, Deborah Winn.  This conversation will include an in-depth dive into their 33rd biennial, currently on view at The Mansion at Strathmore in Rockville, MD.  This 33rd Biennial Exhibition features 160 artworks from 105 artists who are members of sponsoring guilds or who  artists live, work or attend school  in Virginia, Maryland or DC.  The artworks were selected from among 478 entries by a panel of three outstanding regional fine crafts artists.
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The Creative Crafts Council is an umbrella organization of fine craft guilds in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.  The CCC sponsors a juried biennial exhibition that is open to any artist residing in these areas, to all members of any sponsoring guild regardless of residence, and to any High School or College level students attending school in these areas. Our sponsoring Guilds and the contacts are listed below.
 
The first Biennial Exhibition in 1954 and the next five were held in the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of Natural History.  Since then, the Exhibition has been held at museums and galleries throughout the region, and since 1988 it has been held at the Strathmore Mansion in North Bethesda, Maryland.