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MASTERS OF THE MEDIUM

8/1/2021

aNNOUNCING THE 2021 JRACRAFT MASTERS OF THE MEDIUM

The Masters of the Medium is a prestigious Biennial Award that has honored some of the most significant artists in American Craft. Each awardee is recognized for their excellence in craftsmanship, influence in the medium and overall contributions to the field. This coveted honor is celebrated at the JRA Spring Craft Weekend with an Auction, Symposium, Gala and Awards Brunch.

This year, the James Renwick Alliance of Craft has the privilege of announcing five outstanding awardees:

DAVID HARPER CLEMONS - JEWELRY/METAL

David was born in El Paso, Texas and spent much of his life in Austin, Texas. Initially he began his undergraduate career attending Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, pursuing a degree program for Biology Art. He attended the program for two years before returning to Austin to complete his BFA at the University of Texas in Austin, with a primary emphasis in painting. He earned his MFA in Metalsmithing in 2007 from San Diego State University. David taught in the art department at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, Arkansas for 10 years. During 8 of those years he was responsible for creating and heading the Metalsmithing and Jewelry Department. In 2018 he relocated to Penland, North Carolina to dedicate his time to be an independent artist and workshop instructor. Much of his work embraces the craft of Metalsmithing and it’s collected history of techniques and objects. The resulting works rendered in metal, mixed media, and hand made artist books are vehicles to communicate ideas surrounding identity, narrative, and forays into material and process-based work. He has exhibited in numerous exhibitions including: Craft in America: Expanding Traditions, Different Tempers: Jewelry & Blacksmithing, RE/ACTIONS, and has work in the permanent collection of the Arkansas Art Center in Little Rock, National Ornamental Metal Museum. Yale Contemporary Craft Museum, Ollie Trout Collection at the University of Texas in Austin.

ARTIST BIO

Photo courtesy the artist.

SERGEI ISUPOV - CERAMIC

Sergei Isupov is an Estonian-American sculptor internationally known for his highly detailed, narrative works. Isupov explores painterly figure-ground relationships, creating surreal sculptures with a complex artistic vocabulary that combines two- and three-dimensional narratives and animal/human hybrids. He works in ceramic using traditional hand building and sculpting techniques to combine surface and form with narrative painting using stains and clear glaze. Isupov has a long international resume with work included in numerous collections and exhibitions, including the National Gallery of Australia, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (TX), Museum of Arts and Design (NY), Racine Art Museum (WI), Museum of Fine Arts Boston (MA), and the Erie Art Museum (PA), at which he presented selected works in a 20-year career survey Hidden Messages in 2017 and Surreal Promenade in 2019 at the Russian Museum of Art (MN). In addition to be being a working artist Isupov teaches workshops and lectures internationally at conferences, universities, museums and art centers. Important to his career have been the short and long-term artist residences at Archie Bray Foundation (Helena, MT), The International Ceramics Studio (Kecskemét, Hungary), and Guldagergaard International Ceramic Research Center (Skælskør, Denmark).

ARTIST BIO

Photo courtesy Ferrin Contemporary.

WENDY MARUYAMA - WOOD

Furniture maker, artist and educator Wendy Maruyama has been making innovative work for 40 years. While her early work combined ideologies of feminism and traditional craft objects, her newer work moves beyond the boundaries of traditional studio craft and into the realm of social practice. Contemporary bodies of work focuses public attention on wildlife poaching, and commentary as her experience as a Japanese-American. Maruyama is one of the first two women to receive a Masters of Fine Arts in Furniture Design at the Rochester Institute of Technology, NY and has been a professor of woodworking and furniture design for over thirty years, serving as the head of the Furniture Design department at San Diego State University. Her work can be found in the collections of Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Dallas Art Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Museum of Craft and Design, Mint Museum of Art, Fuller Craft Museum, and more.

ARTIST BIO

Wendy Muryama at “The wildLIFE Project” in 2016 at the Penland Gallery.

PRESTON SINGLETARY - GLASS

The art of Preston Singletary has become synonymous with the relationship between European glass blowing traditions and Northwest Native art. His artworks feature themes of transformation, animal spirits and shamanism through elegant blown glass forms and mystical sand carved Tlingit designs. Singletary learned the art of glass blowing by working with artists in the Seattle area including Benjamin Moore and Dante Marioni. As a student and assistant, he initially focused on mastering the techniques of the European tradition. His work took him to Kosta Boda (Sweden) where he studied Scandinavian design and met his future wife. Throughout his 30+ years of glass blowing experience, he has also had opportunities to learn the secrets of the Venetian glass masters by working with Italian legends Lino Tagliapietra, Cecco Ongaro, and Pino Signoretto. In 2010, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from the University of Puget Sound. Recognized internationally, Singletary’s artworks are included in museum collections such as The British Museum (London, UK), The Museum of Fine Arts (Boston, MA), The Seattle Art Museum (Seattle WA), the Corning Museum of Glass (Corning, NY), the Mint Museum of Art and Design (Charlotte, NC), the Heard Museum (Phoenix, AZ), and the Smithsonian Institution (Washington, DC).

artist bio

Photo courtesy the artist.

CONSUELO JIMENEZ UNDERWOOD - FIBER

Consuelo Jimenez Underwood was born in Sacramento, California, the daughter of migrant agricultural workers, a Chicano mother and a father of Huichol Indian descent. Crossing borders and negotiating between three perspectives has always been fundamental to her identity and the basis of her creative process. Consuelo’s work ranges from delicate miniature tapestries to monumental fiber and mixed media installations juxtaposing the natural beauty and ecological destruction along the US/Mexico border. Consuelo has exhibited and lectured nationally and internationally for more than twenty-five years. Her work is part of the permanent collections of museums such as the Smithsonian American Museum of Art, Museum of Art & Design in New York, the National Hispanic Center for the Arts, New Mexico, the Mexican Museum in San Francisco and the Oakland Museum of California. She was awarded the 2017 Master Artist Grant from the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture and was elected to the Council of Fellows of the American Craft Council in 2018. Consuelo received her BA and MA from San Diego State University. She began teaching fiber art at San Jose State University in 1987, where she received her MFA. For more than twenty years, Underwood worked to develop a vibrant fiber program, and inspire young artists to embrace thread.

artist bio

Photo courtesy the artist.

JRA DAY 2021 APPLICATION AVAILABLE

7/20/2021

APPLYING FOR THE 14TH ANNUAL JRA DAY

Online: November 20 to 28, 2021
In person: December 4, 2021 at the Woman's Club of Chevy Chase

We're excited to announce that applications for the 14th annual JRA Day are now being accepted and are due by August 15, 2021.

You may apply for the online show, the in-person show, or both. Applicants are required to submit the application form and contract, a 50-100 word bio, and three photos of representative work by the deadline. Details on the requirements for applying and the terms and conditions of participation are included in the application form.

GET THE APPLICATION HERE >

Margaret Halpin, photo by Greg Staley

JULY CRAFT NEWSLETTER

7/1/2021

JULY 2021 CRAFT NEWSLETTER
CRAFT CONFERENCES & EXHIBITIONS
COMPILED BY JRACRAFT MEMBER, BRENDA ERICKSON

Learn about craft exhibitions happening around the world through the monthly James Renwick Alliance Newsletter or join our mailing list to get regular updates about upcoming events.

***Due to the shutdowns and various restrictions on gathering, the exhibitions listed below are tentative and may be changed without notice. While most of the venues are open; others have closed again for the new outbreak. The timetables for exhibitions are still in a state of flux. If planning to visit, please call ahead to verify the events are still open or require reservations. A small benefit is that many venues have put their shows online and added other objects to their websites which are rarely seen online or in person. As they say, it is best to call ahead.

CONFERENCES & OTHER EVENTS

The Art of Change, Recognition Week, July 12-16
Simone Leigh, 2021 International Artist Honoree
Anderson Ranch, Snowmass Village, CO, www.andersonranch.org

JUNE CRAFT NEWSLETTER

6/1/2021

June 2021 CRAFT NEWSLETTER
CRAFT CONFERENCES & EXHIBITIONS
COMPILED BY JRA MEMBER, BRENDA ERICKSON

Learn about craft exhibitions happening around the world through the monthly James Renwick Alliance Newsletter or join our mailing list to get regular updates about upcoming events.

CONFERENCES & OTHER EVENTS

CanIRON Virtual Conference, June 4-6
Hosted by Manitoba Blacksmiths Guild, www.abana.org

CERF+ AUCTION

5/25/2021

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Christina bothwell
auction benefit for cerf+

Balancing the sublime with the worldly, Christina Bothwell uses glass and mixed media to create sculptures that portray the processes of birth, death, and renewal. Through its delicacy and petite stature, Chinchilla in a Teacup encapsulates the fragile nature of life and glass. Many of the artist’s works feature animals; a reflection of her own life which is filled with a plethora of companion pets. Yet for Bothwell, chinchillas are more akin to magic than an earthly creature, making them “similar to glass art in a way - beautiful, delicate, easily broken, but sublime.”

Bothwell herself is no stranger to the fleeting and unpredictable nature of life. On August 8, 2018, a massive fire destroyed Bothwell's art studio, a converted barn in Pennsylvania. Four days later, a flood raged through the area, causing further destruction. A significant number of her works along with equipment, materials and personal objects, were destroyed in addition to the studio itself. Since the structure was insured only as a residence, and not as a commercial property, Bothwell and her husband did not receive compensation for the value of the studio and its contents. It was at this point that CERF+ stepped in to help Bothwell and her husband, artist Robert Bender, by providing a grant to help them rebuild, and begin again.

about the auction

All proceeds from this auction support of CERF+, the Artists Safety Net. CERF+ is the leading nonprofit organization focused on safeguarding artists' livelihoods nationwide. They focus on readiness, relief and resilience for studio artists in all craft disciplines by providing a safety net to support strong and sustainable careers. CERF+’s core services are education programs, advocacy, network building and emergency relief. The auction is organized by Caroline Kipp, Curator of Contemporary Art at The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum in collaboration with the James Renwick Alliance for Craft.

BID NOW

christina bothwell

CHRISTINA BOTHWELL FEATURED
IN DISTINGUISHED ARTIST SERIES

Glass artist, Christina Bothwell was recently featured as the final presenting artist in the James Renwick Alliance for Craft 2021 Distinguished Artist Series. Audience members were able to see her work in her Pennsylvania based studio as well as learn more about her inspirations and ask the artist about her creative process.

about christina bothwell

Christina Bothwell studied painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, before teaching herself how to work with ceramics, and then cast glass. She has had eleven solo exhibitions of her work since 2006, most recently at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, in Indiana. Her sculptures are in the public collections of the Cincinnati Museum of Art, Ohio, the Glasmuseet Ebeltoft, Museum of Contemporary Glass, Denmark, SMOG (Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Glass Art), China, the Tutsek-Stiftung Foundation, Germany, the Fuller Craft Museum, Massachusetts, the Smithsonian Museum of Art’s Archives of American Art, and several other major museums.

Christina Bothwell, American, b. 1960
Chinchilla in a Teacup, 2021
Cast glass, ceramic, hand painted detail (oil paints)
Completed 4/20/21
Dimensions: 3.75 in. H x 3.875 in. W x 3 in. D
Retail: $1,000
Starting Bid: $250

BID NOW

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JRACRAFT TRAVEL

5/24/2021

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upcoming trips, craft resources map, and more

After over a year of social distancing, JRACraft is excited to share upcoming craft focused trips and resource guides for independent travel.

Recently, we have partnered with Craft in America to feature the craft resources map, on the JRA website. This map features a list of schools, museums, craft organizations and and galleries arranged nationwide by location.

Additionally, we have begun creating trip guides. These will be published for our future trips, but to get us started we have a few available for our favorite craft cities.

Explore these newly announced trips and resources and stay tuned for the next issue of the Craft Quarterly magazine, dedicated to travel.

UPCOMING TRIPS

Asheville, NC excursion
July 21-24, 2021
$350 per person

Explore all Asheville has to offer. Meet with local artists over brunch, view private collections, and visit galleries and organizations such as the Asheville Art Museum, Blue Spiral Gallery and the Asheville Center for Glass. Explore the River Arts District and more, all with your guide, artist and JRACraft Board member, Tim Tate.

annapolis arts and architecture tour
SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 | 10AM - 8PM
$110 MEMBERS | $150 NON-MEMBERS
REGISTRATION FULL

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.

LEARN MORE

RALEIGH/DURHAM CRAFT STUDY TOUR
FEBRUARY 16 - 20, 2022
$1,250 MEMBER | $1,350 NON-MEMBERS

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.

houston craft trip
MAY 4-7, 2022 | HOUSTON, TX
$1,350 MEMBER | $1,450 NON-MEMBER

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.

SANTA FE, ABIQUIU, AND ALBUQUERQUE
JUNE 3 - 10, 2022
$1,975 CAUCUS MEMBERS ONLY

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'Keefe. Enjoy some of the finest cuisine New Mexico offers.

craft resources map & TrIP GUIDES

We are excited to announce that this Craft Resource Map, produced and maintained by Craft in America will have a permanent home on our website, along with our new trip guides.

See the new travel page

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COMMUNITY CRAFT CALENDAR

5/19/2021

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COMMUNITY CRAFT CALENDAR INCLUDED ON AMERICAN CRAFT COUNCIL WEBSITE

ABOUT THE CALENDAR

The James Renwick Alliance for Craft (JRACraft) Community Craft Calendar is quickly emerging as the leading national resource for craft events in the United States. As part of mission to fostering education and public appreciation of American Craft, we are working towards making a national resource of craft events, known as our Community Craft Calendar. This calendar is made up of user generated content which is maintained by JRACraft. Currently, you can find our Community Craft Calendar on our website, as well as the websites of the American Craft Council, Creative Crafts Council, and District Clay.

get involved

1.	To share a craft related event, go to the JRA Community Craft Calendar and click, "Submit Event." Your event will be reviewed and then posted to the Calendar.

2.	To learn more about how to include the JRA Community Craft Calendar on your organization's website, contact info@jra.org

COMMUNITY CRAFT CALENDAR

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MAY CRAFT NEWSLETTER

5/5/2021

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MAY 2021 CRAFT NEWSLETTER
CRAFT CONFERENCES & EXHIBITIONS
COMPILED BY JRA MEMBER, BRENDA ERICKSON

Learn about craft exhibitions happening around the world through the monthly James Renwick Alliance Newsletter or join our mailing list to get regular updates about upcoming events.

*** Due to the shutdowns and various restrictions on gathering, the exhibitions listed below are tentative and may be changed without notice. If planning to visit, please call ahead to verify the events are still open. A small benefit is that many venues have put their shows online and added other objects to their websites which are rarely seen online or in person.

CONFERENCE & OTHER EVENTS

Maine Pottery Tour, May 1-2
Sponsored by the Maine Craft Association, www.mainepotterytour.org

Transition Conference (virtual), May 5-8
Presented by the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG)
Hosted by the Metal Museum, www.metalmuseum.org

29th Annual St Croix Valley Pottery Tour, May 7-9
Sponsored by Minnesota Potters of Upper St. Croix River, www.minnesotapotters.org

Urban Glass Virtual Gala &amp; Auction, May 12
Urban Glass, Brooklyn, NY, www.urbanglass.org

Glass Art Society Virtual 2021 Conference, May 20-22
Sponsored by the Glass Art Society, www.glassart.org

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KATE KRETZ

4/26/2021

Kate Kretz
featured in distinguished artist series

Locally based artist, Kate Kretz, was recently featured in the James Renwick Alliance for Craft's Distinguished Artist Series hosted in partnership with the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center. One audience member noted, "Kate Kretz is an extremely skilled and articulate artist. Her reference to her upbring and the moral imperative that influences her highly refined art demonstrates such a powerful conviction."

About kate kretz

Kate Kretz intends her mixed media work to be "beautiful, exquisitely-crafted gut punch." She takes an unblinking look at difficult topics, and renders her response with stitchery, painting, or woodburning. Whichever medium will have the most potency. With each stitch or mark, she increases the power of her "incantation" to counteract the negative and to create a thoughtful, healing object. Kretz has used human hair to embroider unsettling pieces which examine motherhood, sexuality, and aging. Her recent pieces using deconstructed Make America Great Again (MAGA) hats caused her work to be banned from Facebook and Instagram, an ironic outcome to her artistic fight against hate speech. Kretz's unsparing examination of important subjects is a deeply aesthetic and intellectual experience.

She studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and earned her MFA from the University of Georgia. She has participated in numerous group and solo shows, and has received wide media attention for her unusual and powerful body of work.

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MASTERS OF THE MEDIUM

JRA DAY 2021 APPLICATION AVAILABLE

JULY CRAFT NEWSLETTER

CONFERENCES & OTHER EVENTS

JUNE CRAFT NEWSLETTER

CONFERENCES & OTHER EVENTS

CERF+ AUCTION

christina bothwell

JRACRAFT TRAVEL

UPCOMING TRIPS

craft resources map & TrIP GUIDES

COMMUNITY CRAFT CALENDAR

COMMUNITY CRAFT CALENDAR INCLUDED ON AMERICAN CRAFT COUNCIL WEBSITE

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COMMUNITY CRAFT CALENDAR

MAY CRAFT NEWSLETTER

CONFERENCE & OTHER EVENTS

KATE KRETZ

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CONFERENCES & OTHER EVENTS

christina bothwell

UPCOMING TRIPS

craft resources map & TrIP GUIDES

​COMMUNITY CRAFT CALENDAR INCLUDED ON AMERICAN CRAFT COUNCIL WEBSITE ​

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COMMUNITY CRAFT CALENDAR

​CONFERENCE & OTHER EVENTS

who we are

WHAT WE DO

JOIN US

COMMUNITY CRAFT CALENDAR INCLUDED ON AMERICAN CRAFT COUNCIL WEBSITE

CONFERENCE & OTHER EVENTS