Mingei International Museum presented the landmark, nationally touring exhibition, _CRAFT IN AMERICA — Expanding Traditions,_ at its Balboa Park museum from October 20, 2007 through January 27, 2008.
Exploring the vitality, history and significance of the handmade in the United States and demonstrating its impact on our nation’s cultural heritage, _CRAFT IN AMERICA_ was a 200-year historical survey that featured nearly 200 works. The touring exhibition included objects from Mingei International’s own collection, and, while in San Diego, was augmented with selected objects from the Museum’s substantial collection of contemporary American craft.
Beginning with the Industrial Revolution, the exhibition explored the many cultures and movements that have contributed to the development and refinement of American crafts during the last two centuries — furniture, ceramics, fiber and textiles, basketry, glass, wood, jewelry and metal. On view were objects by traditional craft makers, designer craftsmen of the Arts & Crafts Movement, the artists of the WPA programs, post World-War II studio craft pioneers and contemporary studio craft artists.
The exhibition’s companion book, Craft in America: Celebrating Two Centuries of Artists and Objects by exhibition curator Jo Lauria and writer Steve Fenton, included a prologue by President Jimmy Carter. Playing in the gallery during the exhibition was the three-part PBS, Peabody Award-winning television series _CRAFT IN AMERICA — Memory, Landscape, Community._
The multifaceted project was conceived more than 10 years ago by potter Carol Sauvion, connoisseur and owner of Freehand Gallery in Los Angeles. _CRAFT IN AMERICA: Expanding Traditions_ was organized by Craft in America, Inc., Los Angeles, chief curator Jo Lauria; and Curatorial Assistance Traveling Exhibitions (CATE), Pasadena, California. This exhibition tour was supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius. In San Diego the exhibition was funded by a generous grant from the late Charmaine and Maurice Kaplan. KPBS was Mingei International’s media partner for this exhibition.
In conjunction with _CRAFT IN AMERICA_ an artists’ panel, moderated by exhibition curator Jo Lauria was held on Sunday, November 4. A weekend with Pat Courtney Gold, Wasco basket weaver, concluded the exhibition with a lecture on January 26 and a basket weaving demonstration on January 27.