Crafts Across the Country

The American Craft Council’s 34th annual flagship show at the Baltimore Convention Center this February featured the newest jewelry, clothing, furniture and home décor by 700 of the country’s leading craft artists, such as last year's winner Ani Kasten, who created Bottle Still Life. Beyond shopping opportunities, there were also new networking events on wholesale days and live demonstrations during the retail portion of the show. Other attractions included a new Lawn & Garden section and an expanded AltCraft section on retail days.

More than 225 of the nation’s most respected artists displayed their wares at the American Craft Council Show in Atlanta, Mar. 12-14, as the largest indoor craft show in the Southeast returned to the Cobb Galleria Centre. For the first time in that show, AltCraft artists shared the stage with veteran exhibitors. A benefit preview was presented in partnership with the Museum of Design Atlanta.

Nearly 250 local and national artists put the spotlight on a vibrant craft community when the American Craft Council Show takes place at the St. Paul RiverCentre, Apr. 16-18, an event even more significant this year since the Council will move to Minneapolis in July.

Save the dates for the San Francisco Show: Aug. 13-15.

The board and staff of the American Craft Council are preparing for the Council’s relocation from New York City to Minneapolis this summer. “Minneapolis, with its rich craft traditions and energetic artist communities, provides tremendous opportunities for the Council to enhance its contributions to art and craft communities at a national and local level,” notes board chair Leilani Lattin Duke.

The second in a series of “Making, Meaning and the Marketplace” symposiums funded through the Windgate Charitable Trust will take place at the University of Minnesota on Apr. 16, to coincide with the Council’s St. Paul Show. Rob Forbes, the founder of Design Within Reach, will give a lecture. E-mail education@craftcouncil.org.

The final symposium, “Artonomics: New Tools for Artists and Designers,” will be at the Rhode Island School of Design, Apr. 29-30. John Maeda, RISD’s president, will be the keynoter, and a panel discussion moderated by Julie Lasky, editor of the online magazine Change Observer and former editor in chief of I.D., will look at new tool models to help articulate marketplace opportunities and disseminate ideas.