Blog Posts

DEBORA MOORE

9/26/2023

DISTINGUISHED ARTIST SERIES
WITH DEBORA MOORE
ONLINE ARTIST TALK AND IN-PERSON EXHIBITION VISIT
SEPTEMBER 26 & 30, 2023

ARTIST TALK & EXHIBITION VISIT (In person only)
Saturday, September 30 | 10am - 12pm
$50 JRACraft and Hillwood members | $60 non-members
Hosted at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens

Meet the artist at the stunning Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens in Washington, DC. Here, she will give insights into her process with a presentation and a Q&A session followed by a visit with Hillwood's Director of Horticulture to discuss Debora's floral investigation and give a look into Hillwood's extensive orchid collection. Also, tour Hillwood's latest exhibition, "Glass: Art. Beauty. Design", with the museum's Chief Curator where we will view the artist's work and other contemporary glass artists on display. Tickets for this event are on sale now!

ARTIST TALK (Online only)
Tuesday, September 26 | 1pm - 2pm ET
Free and open to the public | Hosted on Zoom
Learn about Moore's career and influences in this online program hosted in partnership with American University Katzen Arts Center.

Debora Moore is well known for her imagined glass orchids and organic forms. By combining new techniques with traditional glassblowing skills, and an attention to detail, Moore is able to achieve a unique depth of color and exquisitely crafted forms. In 2007 The Corning Museum of Glass awarded Moore their Rakow Commission and in 2020, she was featured in the "Renwick Invitational: Forces Of Nature" at the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery. Currently, Moore has work on display at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens in "Glass: Art. Beauty. Design.

- registration below -

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNER:

THE ARTIST TALK & EXHIBITION VISIT IS HOSTED IN COLLABORATION WITH: HILLWOOD ESTATE, MUSEUM & GARDENS
4155 LINNEAN AVE NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20008

Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens is the former residence of businesswoman, socialite, philanthropist and collector Marjorie Merriweather Post known for its large decorative arts collection that focuses heavily on the House of Romanov, including Fabergé eggs. Other highlights are 18th- and 19th-century French art and one of the country's finest orchid collections. "Glass: Art. Beauty. Design." is currently on view through January 2024 and features historic glass work from their collection alongside contemporary artists Karen LaMonte, Tim Tate, Joyce J. Scott, Beth Lipman, Fred Wilson, and Debora Moore.

Hillwood Members receive JRACraft member pricing. Please select 'Hillwood Member' from the dropdown member.

distinguished artist series registration

the distinguished artist series

four craft artists COMING TO WASHINGTON, DC

Four times a year, the James Renwick Alliance for Craft brings notable American craft artists from around the country to Washington, DC in partnership with other organizations for the Distinguished Artist Series. Each artist gives a public virtual talk followed later in the week by an artist demonstration.

LEARN MORE

COFFEE & CONVERSATION

8/24/2023

COFFEE & CRAFT CONVERSATION:
CHANGING CLIMATE / CHANGING PRACTICE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 24 | 1PM - 2PM EASTERN
free online event

Erica Warren, editor of the Craft Quarterly and instructor of A History of Craft in the United States, moderates this compelling conversation about "Changing Climate / Changing Practice." Enjoy this unique opportunity to learn from three distinctive speakers who will share their experiences of and perspectives on the ways in which climate change is shaping contemporary craft..

This Coffee & Conversation is Inspired by our most recent issue of the Craft Quarterly with the same theme. The issue shares the work of artists, organizers and curators with practices that examine, interrogate, and/or redress the harmful impacts of humankind on the environment.

read the latest craft quarterly

meet the speakers

kelly church

Kelly Church is an Ottawa/Pottawatomi black ash basket maker, fiber artist, educator, activist and culture keeper. A member of the Gun Lake Band in Michigan and a Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Ojibwe descendent, she comes from an unbroken line of black ash basket makers and from the largest black ash weaving family in the Great Lakes region.

Mae Colburn

Mae Colburn is a weaver, archivist, and educator. Mae studied art and textile history and has taught at Parsons School of Design. Currently, Mae works as an archivist and studio manager for tapestry artist Helena Hernmarck, and is also the founder of Common Loom.

ruby lopez harper

Ruby Lopez Harper is the Executive Director of the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+). As a long-time nonprofit arts advocate, she was formerly the Vice President of Equity and Local Arts Engagement at Americans for the Arts, and currently works on projects with the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums; and is an Adjunct Professor with George Mason University.

NEW: A HISTORY OF CRAFT IN THE US

6/22/2023

A HISTORY OF CRAFT IN THE UNITED STATES
8 week online zoom class
JUNE 22 - AUGUST 10
thursday nights, 7:30pm eST
$170 JRACraft MEmbers | $210 Non-Members

The James Renwick Alliance for Craft is excited to host our first craft history class, in what we hope will be one of many!

Learn about the history of craft in the United States during the late nineteenth and twentieth century. This course will examine some of the many definitions of craft as well as artists, objects, schools, teachers, and theories of making that have shaped craft (and art) history. A variety of artists working across different media, including Anni Albers, Ruth Asawa, Harvey Littleton, Charles Loloma, Joyce Scott, Peter Volkous, Toshiko Takaezu, Lenore Tawney, and more, will be discussed.

In addition to 8 live zoom classes, you will receive extensive resources for further readings and watching if you are interested and there will be an opportunity to share a favorite artist and/or a handmade object from your home in the optional assignments. Can't make a class? No worries, classes will be recorded and available for all class registrants.

TOPICS INCLUDE

What is craft? What is art?
Beauty for all and equality among materials: ceramics, fiber, glass, metal, wood +
Craft and education
Craft as collective and intermedial
Craft as avant garde
Craft and/as resistance
Craft, the home, and the museum
Craft, hierarchy, and power

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR: ERICA WARREN
You may best know Erica Warren as our Craft Quarterly editor but she is also an art consultant, curator, and scholar with over ten years of experience working with collections, in museums, and teaching. From 2016-2022, Erica was a curator at the Art Institute of Chicago, where her exhibitions included Bisa Butler: Portraits, Weaving beyond the Bauhaus, Super/Natural: Textiles of the Andes, Music and Movement: Rhythm in Textile Design, Making Memories: Quilts as Souvenirs, and Modern Velvet: A Sense of Luxury in the Age of Industry. Among her recent publications are the article “Beyond Weaving: Transdisciplinarity and the Bauhaus Weaving Workshop” in Textile: The Journal of Cloth and Culture (2021) and the catalog Bisa Butler: Portraits (2020), which accompanied her exhibition.

SOLD OUT - JOIN THE WAITING LIST

potential for second class

This class was sold out in the first day it was launched. Our instructor has offered to host an additional class if there is enough interest. To be considered for the second class, please add your name to the waiting list.

Photo of Erica Warren. Courtesy the Art Institute of Chicago.

COFFEE & CONVO

5/24/2023

Coffee & Conversation with Aspen Golann and Emma Senft
May 24 at 1pm eST
FREE & Open to the public
hosted on zoom

Join the James Renwick Alliance for Craft and The Furniture Society in a conversation with the 2022 JRACraft Chrysalis Award honorable mentions, Aspen Golann and Emma Senft. See behind the scenes as these artists share their artwork, career and studios.

PRESENTED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE FURNITURE SOCIETY
The Furniture Society's mission is to advance the art of furniture making by inspiring creativity, promoting excellence, and fostering an understanding of this art and its place in society. Their vision is to cultivate a diverse community and conversation around furniture in all its forms.

ASPEN GOLANN
Aspen Golann is an artist and furniture maker specializing in the intersection of traditional practices and contemporary sculpture. She holds a degree in Fine Furniture from The North Bennet Street School in Boston and in 2020 was the recipient of the Mineck Furniture Fellowship. Aspen writes about craft & woodworking and is published in American Craft, Elle, Luxe, Architectural Digest, Fine Woodworking, and American Period Furniture. She has received fellowships from The Windgate Foundation, Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Winterthur Museum, The Center for Furniture Craftsmanship and teaches at venues across the country including Haystack School, Fine Woodworking, Lie-Nielsen Toolworks, San Diego State University, The School of Woodwork, Austin School of Furniture & Design and others. In 2020 Golann founded The Chairmaker’s Toolbox: a project designed to increase equity and access in the field of chairmaking.

EMMA SENFT
Emma Senft holds an MFA in Studio Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2020. She creates furniture and sculpture using wood, textile and decontextualized construction materials. The interaction between our bodies and the built environment inspires her research. Using sculpture and installation, Emma works to use scale and spatial arrangement to prompt the viewer’s awareness of their own body in relation to the work. She is the recipient of grants from Canada Council for the Arts, a Center for Furniture Craftsmanship fellowship and has been a resident at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center. In 2023 she will be an Artist-in-Residence at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul, South Korea.

FULLER CRAFT MUSEUM EVENT

5/17/2023

EXCLUSIVE GET TOGETHER FOR BOSTON-AREA
FRIENDS OF JRACRAFT
WEDNESDAY, MAY 17 | 3:30PM
$110 PER PERSON
IN-PERSON EVENT

The James Renwick Alliance for Craft is excited to invite Boston-area friends of the JRACraft to an exclusive evening event with fellow craft enthusiasts as part of our "South Shore to North Shore" trip.

Join us at 3:30pm for a tour of of the current exhibitions at the Fuller Craft Museum, including Material Mapping: Data-driven Sculpture by Adrien Segal & Norwood Viviano opening May 13, followed by a plated after-hours dinner with the Director, Erin McGough.

Following this event, at 7pm, travel to the home of Chris Rifkin in Hingham for a tour of her stellar craft collection. Chris has one of the most impressive craft collections in the Northeast and is sure delight guests with her extensive knowledge and intriguing stories.

This evening will be part of our "South Shore to North Shore" trip to the Boston region organized by Laura Petrovich Cheney for JRACraft. Charter bus travel to/from Studio Allston Hotel in Boston may be possible. Limited spaces are available on a first come, first served basis. A $110 fee will be applied to cover expenses.

register now!

SOUTH SHORE TO NORTH SHORE

5/17/2023

Boston METRO REGION
MAY 17 - MAY 21, 2023
$1,300 member | $1,350 non-member
in person event

Explore the Boston region from the South shore to the North shore in this exciting JRACraft trip! Experience world class institutions and private guided tours. Visit notable galleries, meet outstanding artists and see one of the top private collections in the country.

Included: 2 dinners, 3 lunches, 1 breakfast, museum admission, ground transportation and organizing fees. Additional breakfasts are included by preferred hotel lodging.
Not included: Airfare/travel to Boston, Hotel lodging, select meals.

TRIP ITINERARY

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17
2:15pm Meet in the hotel lobby for a welcome and bus
3:30pm The Fuller Craft Museum hosts us for a private catered dinner and after hour tour of their exhibitions
7:00pm Visit the stunning private craft collection of Chris Rifkin

THURSDAY, MAY 18
10:00am Join us at the Museum of Fine Art Boston for exclusive access to look at Studio Jewelry from the MFA collection with curator Emily Stoehrer in the Textiles and Fashion Arts study room before visiting the Farago Craft Gallery.
11:30am Lunch at the New American Café.
1:00pm Enjoy a talk from Tess Fredette, Senior Textile. Conservator at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
3:00pm Step into the life of jewelry artist and collector Efharis Alepedis at her private home.
4:00pm Time at the hotel to freshen up
6:00pm Dinner at the home of collector Carol Green

FRIDAY, MAY 19
8:00am Depart for the day
9:00am Breakfast at the Lucy Lacoste Gallery, see an amazing selection of ceramic work and hear a presentation
10:30am Visit the studio of Mariko Kusumoto, who has work in the collection of the Renwick Gallery.
12:00pm Stroll through the De Cordova world-renowned outdoor sculpture garden. Grab lunch at the Twisted Tree Café, open until 3pm.
2:30pm Tour the Metalwerx galleries and studio
4:00pm Visit the studio of glass artist Sidney Hutter, who has work in the collection of the Renwick Gallery.
5:30pm Be inspired by the private glass collection of Howard Cohen

SATURDAY, MAY 20
9:00am Explore the Brickbottom studios. See textiles by George Summers Jr. Enjoy studio visits with Kim Schmahmann, Jessica Straus, Marilyn Pappas, Jerry Lainoff and others. Both Schmahmann and Pappas have work in the collection of the Renwick Gallery.
12:30pm Artist presentations at Mobilia Gallery and lunch with prominent special guests.
2:30pm See the intricate glass flower collection at the Harvard Museum of Natural Science
3:30pm Nearby at the Harvard Ceramics Gallery, Kathy King will provide a tour of the facilities and exhibition.
5:00pm Visit the home and studio of wood artist, cabinet maker, and playground designer, Mitch Ryerson.

SUNDAY, MAY 21
9:00am Travel to the Peabody Essex Museum where we will receive a tour with the curator and will have a presentation specially tailored for our group.
12:30pm Tour the studio of trip organizer, Laura Petrovich-Cheney
1:30pm Enjoy a farewell luncheon at The Corinthian Yacht Club before driving back to Boston along the shore
4:00pm Arrive back to Boston for Departures

AND MOre!

REGISTRATION

By completing this form a I understand and agree to the following:

COVID VACCINATION: I confirm that I have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and agree to follow any safety protocol during the trip as outlined by the James Renwick Alliance for Craft and/or trip hosts.

CANCELATION POLICY: If I have to cancel, I understand I must submit my cancellation in writing to admin@jra.org no less than one month before the trip. I also understand that the donation portion of of my registration fee is non-refundable.

LIABILITY: I understand that 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.

SPRING CRAFT WEEKEND: KALEIDOSCOPE BRUNCH

5/7/2023

Kaleidoscope Brunch
Sunday, May 7 | 11am - 1:00pm Eastern
Ris RESTAURANT, 2275 L St NW, Washington, DC
$195 per person
Free for Spring Craft Weekend Patrons

Enjoy the colorful Kaleidoscope Brunch at the award-winning restaurant, Ris, where we will hear about what's new and on view at the Renwick Gallery from Dr. Lara M. Evans, guest curator of Sharing Honors and Burdens: Renwick Invitational 2023.

Inspired by the idea of Kaleidoscope, we encourage all guests to dress head to toe in one of their favorite colors from the rainbow. Paid Parking available at the The Ritz-Carlton; on-street parking is is also available.

Dr. Lara M. Evans is an artist, scholar, curator, and an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation. She holds a Ph.D. in art history, specializing in contemporary Native American art. In 2012 she became Visiting Faculty at The Institute for American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, NM. During her time at the IAIA, she has held the positions of department chair and Associate Dean of Academics. She has completed several publications, and curated multiple exhibitions at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Art. She writes about contemporary Native American and First Nations art and started her own blog because she believes contemporary artists need critical attention NOW and the timeline for academic publishing takes years. She came to art history and art criticism by being an artist, first, and continues to practice artmaking.

SPRING CRAFT WEEKEND: HONOREE SYMPOSIUM

5/6/2023

HONOREE Symposium
Saturday, May 6 | 10am - 12:30pm Eastern
In-Person and Online
Smithsonian Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium
G Street NW, 8th St. NW, Washington, DC
Free and open to the public

Explore the state of craft at the Smithsonian American Art Museum McEvoy Auditorium, featuring the honorees Roberto Lugo, Kristina Madsen, Carolyn Mazloomi, and William Gudenrath and Amy Schwartz of the Studio of the Corning Glass Museum. Honorees will be given their awards during the "I Spy" Gala.

Attire is casual. Limited on-street parking at meters; several paid parking garages are available in the neighborhood.

JOIN US!

SPRING CRAFT WEEKEND: AN "I SPY" GALA

5/6/2023

On View: An “I Spy” Gala
Saturday, May 6 | 6pm - 9:30pm
Smithsonian American Art Museum Luce Center, 8th St NW & G St NW, Washington, DC
$375 per JRACraft Member for Dinner
$395 per Non-Member for Dinner
$100 per person for After Hours only
Free for Spring Craft Weekend Patrons

Immerse yourself in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, meander through the open storage of the Luce Foundation Center. Enjoy delectable dining, a celebratory awarding of our 2023 honorees, an auction of adventures and an interactive “I Spy” scavenger hunt exploring the stunning artworks that fill the space.

"After hours" guests join us at 8pm for drinks, a buffet of delectable desserts, selfie booth, and exclusive after-hour access to the Smithsonian American Art Museum Luce Center Open Storage for our "I Spy" Scavenger Hunt.

To register on the sign up page, select "Gala" and click the option box underneath to find the option to purchase After Hours Tickets.

Learn more about the auction and submit an online absentee bid below!

Creative cocktail and artful attire. Limited on-street parking at meters; several paid parking garages are available in the neighborhood.

JOIN US!

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DEBORA MOORE

- registration below -

distinguished artist series registration

the distinguished artist series

COFFEE & CONVERSATION

meet the speakers

NEW: A HISTORY OF CRAFT IN THE US

SOLD OUT - JOIN THE WAITING LIST

COFFEE & CONVO

FULLER CRAFT MUSEUM EVENT

SOUTH SHORE TO NORTH SHORE

TRIP ITINERARY

REGISTRATION

SPRING CRAFT WEEKEND: KALEIDOSCOPE BRUNCH

SPRING CRAFT WEEKEND: HONOREE SYMPOSIUM

SPRING CRAFT WEEKEND: AN "I SPY" GALA

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