I’m from California so I’m always trying to keep tabs on what’s happening on the Pacific side of the country. Coming up this Saturday is a great event in Los Angeles. Faythe Levine, the artist responsible (along with co-author Cortney Heimerl) for the soon to be released book, ‘Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY Art, Craft & Design,’ will be hosting a silent auction to benefit the completion of Faythe’s film of the same name. I’ve had the good fortune to spend time with both Faythe and Cortney and can tell you that this is absolutely a worthwhile cause. Plus, there looks to be some amazing work to bid on. So if you’re in LA, by all means go out and support ‘Handmade Nation’ and score yourself some great art.
[Images Above: (Top) Xander Marro, Guatevision, Silkscreen (Bottom) Sarah Neuberger, No. 507 Tree Dweller, Mixed media]
If you’re not in Los Angeles but happen to be in, say, Philadelphia in the next few weeks I highly recommend checking out Décor/Decorum, a show at the Center for Emerging Visual Artists’ Bebe Benoliel Gallery on Thursday, July 31st. Artist Jed Morfit has been creating interesting work for years but his new work looks to be some of his best. You can see Jed’s work first hand as well as the work of photographer Joelle Jensen from the 31st until August 21st at the CEVA. If you are in New York, don’t forget that Philadelphia is only a very pleasant hour and a half train ride. Check it out! [Image above: Jed Morfit, Out Of The Frying Pan Into The Fire (detail) 2008, Plaster plates, mixed media, 36 x 24 x 6.5 inches]
[Images above: (Top) Jed Morfit, New Temptation (detail), 2008, Plaster plates, mixed media, Dimensions variable (Bottom) Jed Morfit, The Price Of Doing Business (detail), 2008, Plaster mounted on wall, Dimensions variable]
[Images above: (Top) Joelle Jensen, High School Portrait (Bottom) Joelle Jensen, Young Mother]
And if you happen to be in, say, San Francisco on August 15th, come to the American Craft Show at Fort Mason Center and then swing by what should be a great night of conversation at the panel discussion ‘The Politics of Craft and Design.’ Our new August/September issue takes a look at the timely topic of politics in craft and we asked several leaders in their various fields to join us to celebrate the release of the issue and to discuss their take on the political ramifications, if any, of the hand-made. I’ll be moderating the panel featuring Tina Barseghian, editor of Craft Magazine, furniture maker Garry Knox Bennett, Rob Forbes, Director of Studio Forbes, Robin Petravic, co-owner of Heath Ceramics, Edie Kahula Pereira of Artecnica and artist Stephanie Syjuco. For more information or to rsvp (by August 11th) contact Anne Henry at ahenry@craftcouncil.org. Come say hello and enjoy some great food and drink. Hope to see you there! [Image above: American Craft, August/September 2008, Craft & Politics]
