This Month in American Craft Council History: August 2012

Each month we take an expedition through the ACC archives to uncover interesting, little known, yet culturally significant, events that took place over the course of the organization’s 70-year history. Here are some ACC history highlights that occurred in the month of August: 

August 26-29, 1961

The fourth national conference of the American Craftsmen’s Council (known today as the American Craft Council) was held at the University of Washington in Seattle. The theme of the session was "Creative Research in the Crafts." Out of this conference came a publication of the proceedings, containing the papers presented as well as photographs from the gathering. Many enlightened talks came out of the conference, including: “The Value of Research for the Artist” by Robert Mallary, “A Potters Experience with Glass” by Harvey Littleton, “Experimental Weaving for the Architect” by Hella Skowronski, and “Design and Human Need” by Ruth Penington. In a review of the conference published in the ACC Outlook newsletter in October 1961, then ACC President David R. Campbell drew particular attention to ceramist Paul Soldner’s talk, entitled “Paradoxes of the Creative Potter,” in which he outlined obstacles and contradictions that craft artists of the time were facing. More than 50 years later, many of the concerns Soldner highlights, including struggles with identity and the challenges of placing meaning and value on one's work, continue to impact makers today.  

August 24-29, 1966

Organized by the Northeast Regional Assembly of the Council, the first ACC craft fair, “Confrontation,” was held at Stowe, Vermont, in the Ski House at the foot of Mt. Mansfield. More than 175 craftsmen, 80 of whom arranged sales displays of their work, were in attendance during the six-day event. In keeping with the "confrontation" theme, a jury of exhibiting craftsmen (elected by participants themselves) visited each display and juried the work in front of the maker. Highlights of the fair included an education forum, auction, square dance, and an ox roast, in which a 673-pound steer, aptly named Red, was hand-turned and basted with barrels of barbecue sauce for 15 hours on a legendary sized spit. Amusingly enough, the ox was raised locally by the Trapp family (of "The Sound of Music" fame).

This original craft fair at Mt. Mansfield, considered a booming success by the Council, led to hundreds of other fairs and shows hosted by the ACC in numerous locations over the years. Today, shows in Baltimore, Atlanta, St. Paul, and San Francisco attract hundreds of exhibitors and legions of craft enthusiasts to partake in the same spirit of exposition.

August 4, 1978

The Council’s property at 29 West 53rd Street in New York City, home to the Museum of Contemporary Crafts (MCC), was sold to its neighbor, the Museum of Modern Art. The MCC subsequently changed its name to the American Craft Museum and relocated to the Council headquarters at 44 West 53rd Street, before moving in 1986 to 40 West 53rd Street. Today, the museum exists independent from the Council as the Museum of Arts and Design, located at 2 Columbus Circle since 2008.

The MoMA and the MCC were always convivial neighbors due to the strong connection in the 1950s between innovative, affordable design and appreciation for the handmade. When the MCC opened at 29 West 53rd Street in 1956, Rene d’Harnoncourt, then director of the MoMA, had this to say in Craft Horizons, March/April 1956: “The Museum of Modern Art has always believed that craftsmanship in its broadest sense is as essential today as it was in the past and have included the crafts in our manifold program whenever this was possible. We heartily welcome the Museum of Contemporary Crafts because we believe that there is need for an institution devoted entirely to bringing the finest examples of modern craftsmanship to the public’s attention and serving as a focus of inspiration for both public and craftsman.”

August 15, 1979

Craft luminary and ACC founder Aileen Osborn Webb, age 87, died at her home in Garrison, NY. A little known fact about Webb came to light after her death: She was a poet.  A posthumous book of her poetry, titled Guide Me Oh, My Heart Towards Nature’s Peace, Aileen Osborn Webb 1892-1979, was published in 1980. Here is one of the poems included in the work: 

Oh My Heart

Rarely, rarely does one’s soul expanding
Become attuned to the message of the woods
March swiftly, shout gladly, oh, my heart.

To feel this understanding seems pure magic
A sudden current flowing from the woods to you
Stand firmly, be ready, oh, my heart.

Against dark clouds of Autumn sway high branches
Leaves, work done, float to the waiting earth below
Go gaily, be happy, oh, my heart.

For now there comes the brilliant revelation
Acceptance of the age-old basic laws
Breathe softly, step gently, oh, my heart.

The leaf, our life, from spring’s bud to late November
Fulfills the deepest laws of Nature’s will
Pray sweetly, sing purely, oh, my heart.

Know living joys and the ease of floating downwards
To form with countless others to assure new life in spring
Be happy, go well, oh, my heart.  

“This Month in ACC History" takes a look at events from the American Craft Council's 70-year history that shaped not only the organization, but also the contemporary craft movement in America.