HandMade in America Events Feb. 13-17!
We want to share three HIA
events with you!
There is a big week ahead for February 13th-17th and we want to invite all to come join us at the HandMade in America Gallery Monday for HIA’s Craft Lab series, Wednesday for HIA’s Textile Study Group, and Friday for the Opening Reception of In Our Own Words: Language as Craft.
*Also don’t miss out on the 25th National Grove Park Inn Arts & Craft Conference and the Arts & Craft Heritage Week February 12-18th. Mayor Terry Bellamy recently signed an official proclamation designating the week of February 12th-18th as Arts & Crafts Heritage Week. Follow the link above to find the schedule of Arts & Craft Heritage Week.
Monday Feb 13 Craft lab 6-8pm @ HandMade in America Gallery
- How to Tell Your Story.
Telling stories is how we identify, learn, and share our history. If your goal is to educate, persuade, or simply connect in a meaningful way with a particular audience, storytelling is the single most powerful communication tool available to you and can be your best selling tool.
Come learn how to tell your story as a craft maker. Executive Director Gwynne Rukenbrod will teach you the importance of learning how to tell your unique story and hone your skills at story telling. Gwynne will talk about the three steps in a good story and group exercises will lead you through each step of YOUR story.
Wednesday Feb 15 Textile Study Group 5:30-7 pm
Tencel, Bamboo, Rayon, Modal…What are they really?
Led by Karen Donde
Manufactured, regenerated fibers come from natural plant sources, but are extruded as filaments in manufacturing. This presentation will focus on the content of these yarns, how they are processed, and the performance properties of each. It will include samples of the yarns and products woven with them.
Karen Donde weaves garments, accessories, and home textiles for sale and teaches a variety of weaving classes and workshops at Sutherland Handweaving Studio in the Cotton Mill Studios in Asheville’s River Arts District. All are welcome.
Friday Feb.17th 5:30-8pm @ HandMade in America Gallery .
-In Our Own Words: Language as Craft Opening Reception
Artists describe finished works with carefully selected language, but can craft depict language when words are chosen before the act of physical expression? Inspiration was found by a community of local WNC artists, by asking just that. February 13 through May 4, 2012, HandMade in America presents a collection with distinctly different artistic process. In Our Own Words: Language as Craft features eleven local craft artists that share the results of this creative experiment.
Personally-resonant words chosen by each artist as the impetus for making the object. “We find not the phrasing to describe our work, but rather the craft to depict our language”, says one of the artists. From fine furniture and woven sculpture to exquisitely created wall pieces, In Our Own Words is a playful exhibit with visual, verbiage and vital messages.
Artists featured in this exhibition are: Fatie Atkinson, Caryl Brt, Hayley Davison, Melissa Engler, Carla and Greg Filippelli, Wayne Fowler, Susan Link, Journel Thomas, Jenna Weston, and Jamie Womack. Opening Reception will be Friday February 17 from 5:30–8 pm at the HandMade in America Gallery at 125 South Lexington Avenue, Suite 101, beside Storm Restaurant on Hilliard Avenue.
Here is a sneak peek of some words and definitions that inspired a few of the exhibit’s pieces
"Inspiration"by Fatie Atkinson and Wayne Fowler
Inspiration: [in-spuh-rey-shuh
n] stimulation to do creative work: stimulation for the human mind to creative thought or to the making of art.
"Unfettered" by Caryl Brt
Unfettered: [uhn-fet-er] to release from fetters. to free from restraint; liberate.
"Disclosure" by Melissa and Yvonne Engle
Disclosure: [dih-skloh-zher] To make known; reveal or uncover: allow to be seen; lay open to view: open up or unfold.
"Fire" by Susan Link
Fire: [fahyuhr] 1. kindle, ignite 2. stir,enliven (the imagination)
Talk to the artists and get their explanations and perspectives at the Opening Reception Friday February 17th, 5:30-8pm. See you soon!
In Our Own Words: Language as Craft
Unique Inspiration for Craft
HandMade in America Presents a Display of Verbal Expression through Craft
In Our Own Words: Language as Craft Exhibition
February 13- May 4, 2012
Artists describe their finished works with carefully selected language, but can craft depict our language when the words to describe it are chosen before the act of physical expression? Inspiration was found, by a community of local WNC artists, by asking just that. HandMade in America is excited to present a collection with a distinctly different artistic process. In Our Own Words: Language as Craft features eleven local craft artists that will each share the results of this creative experiment at Handmade in America February 13 through May 4, 2012.
In a reversal of the usual process of making an object and then explaining it in words, a personally-resonant word was first chosen by each artist as the impetus for the making of an object. “We find not the phrasing to describe our work, but rather the craft to depict our language”, says one of the artists. From fine furniture and woven sculpture to exquisitely created wall pieces, In Our Own Words is a playful exhibit with visual, verbiage and vital messages.
Opening Reception will be held Friday February 17 from 5:30 – 8 pm at HandMade in America offices at 125 South Lexington Avenue, Suite 101, beside Storm Restaurant. Please plan to join us as we continue to support craft artists living in WNC.
Here is a sneak peek of some words and definitions that inspired a few of the exhibit’s pieces
"Inspiration"by Fatie Atkinson and Wayne Fowler
Inspiration: [in-spuh-rey-shuhn] stimulation to do creative work: stimulation for the human mind to creative thought or to the making of art.
"Unfettered" by Caryl Brt
Unfettered: [uhn-fet-er] to release from fetters. to free from restraint; liberate.
"Disclosure" by Melissa and Yvonne Engle
Disclosure: [dih-skloh-zher] To make known; reveal or uncover: allow to be seen; lay open to view: open up or unfold.
"Fire" by Susan Link
Fire: [fahyuhr] 1. kindle, ignite 2. stir,enliven (the imagination)
—————————————–
Talk to the artists and get their explanations and perspectives at the Opening Reception Friday February 17th, 5:30-8pm. See you soon!
Good Bye Jamie
Dear Friends,
I have enjoyed working with HandMade in America and on the Blog for
the past six months. I have had a blast interviewing artists, going on
tours of local facilities and learning about craft in Western North
Carolina and on a national level. It is with great sadness (and
excitement) to let our readers know that this will be my last post as
a HandMade in America employee. I will be moving to Denver, Colorado
to pursue an internship with an organization that specializes in
technical assistance for main streets and downtown business districts
in the state. It will be a fantastic adventure and I will be posting
updates on our road trip at www.jamiecarpenter.net/blog
Janelle Wienke will be taking over for communications at HandMade. She
has volunteered at our offices for a few months now and is excited to
join our team!
I wish all of our readers well and hope you all have a fantastic year!
Jamie
There are less than a week left of our online fundraiser and we need your support! We have added two new perks for your donations in the final stretch of our fundraiser.
For a donation of $75 we will send a HandMade for the Holidays sticker, poster AND an ornament from our HandMade Tree!
Ready to make your home a HandMade home?
For a donation of $150 you will receive a Craft, Architecture and Design gift set that includes the Tool Kit, Architectural Element Source Book and Hand Crafted Home Furnishings & Design Elements.
Don’t forget about our other fantastic perks!
HandMade in America needs your support for our Online Fundraiser. Your support will allow HandMade in America to continue to provide services for craft artists through classes, online promotion, information and advocacy. It will allow HandMade in America to continue to build markets and opportunities to grow the craft economy in Western North Carolina and provide a model for areas in the nation that want to grow the impact of craft on their economies.
Interview with Anna Raddatz of AshevilleCrafts.com
Anna is a fairly new face in the Asheville area, she’s been in town for a year now and currently works as the Development and Communications Associate at Mountain Bizworks. When I saw hat she had started web site, Asheville Crafts, I was immediately interested in her story. Anna has already posted information about HandMade in America with an interview of Gwynne that can be found here.
To learn Anna’s background and what her website’s plans are, I had my own interview:
Where are you from? What type of education have you received?
I grew up in Spokane, WA; went to college in Ohio; then spent 9 years in New York City. I got an English degree from Oberlin College. But every few months I get an itch to learn something new. In the past few years I’ve taken classes in pottery, woodcarving, sculpture, digital photography, bass guitar, and interior design. My dream is to go to Penland!
I grew up in a crafty household with parents who encouraged any and all creative projects. We lived out in the woods so my sisters and I were always running around making weird things out of sticks and pinecones, or heading out to the garage to try a paper mache project. My mom taught me how to sew, crochet, embroider, and work with clay; and my dad taught me the basics of photography.
When I moved to New York in 2000, I found craft was a great way to meet and connect with people – a way to whittle down 8 million people into an approachable (and really friendly!) handful. Some of the first people I met there were Callie Janoff, who co-founded the Church of Craft, and Tsia Carson, whose design firm, Flat, produced the initial GetCrafty website and later created Supernaturale . Back then, the indie craft movement was just getting started, and it couldn’t have been better timing for me. In a stressful place like NYC, it was great to come home to a sewing machine and my own little creative project.
Over the years, I’ve struggled a lot with questions of, “what should I do with my life? what is my calling?” I still don’t quite know yet, but I do know that the one constant in my life has always been craft.
My boyfriend (now husband!) and I were starting to realize that we were looking for more than the city could offer (i.e. more than we could afford there). We wanted a garden and a real home and time and space for hobbies and projects. But I was nervous about leaving NYC, so, in collaboration with a friend who had just left NYC, I started a website (lifeafternewyork.com) for former and questioning New Yorkers. (When in doubt, start a blog!)
In order to ease the transition a bit, Justin and I decided to try out several cities around the country to help us decide where to move. We got rid of most of our stuff, put the rest in storage, bought a car, and took off! We spent 4 months in Austin, TX, then planned to spend 3-4 months in Asheville… but, once we got here, immediately realized that we had found our new home. It’s hard to argue with mountains, craft, barbecue, and beer! Luckily, I found a job at Mountain BizWorks, which sealed the deal. We’ve been here about a year and a half now, and feel so lucky to call Asheville home.
I work in development and communications. Mountain BizWorks is going through a really interesting time right now, developing services for larger small businesses, including larger loans and high-level consulting. But it still offers great courses and coaching in business planning, marketing, and financial management – all of which can be useful for crafters who want to make money with their work. I’m always amazed at just how many local businesses have been helped by Mountain BizWorks.
I would love for AshevilleCrafts to be the go-to place for both locals and tourists to learn about what’s new in the Asheville craft community. As a relative newcomer myself, it’s taken a while to piece together all the bits of the Asheville craft puzzle – what are the events, businesses, organizations, and makers that make this such a thriving handmade community? It just seemed like the missing piece was an Asheville-specific site that brings it all together in one place – and that isn’t beholden to a specific philosophy (i.e. traditional, studio, indie, etc.), medium (e.g. fiber, glass, wood), or neighborhood (e.g. River Arts District).
On the personal side, AshevilleCrafts combines three things I love – craft, writing, and photography – into one project. It motivates me to explore my new hometown, and enables me to support craft artists even when I can’t afford to support them with purchases.
Oooh, that’s a tough one… I think it would have to be something cozy, like a quilt from Chomp or this great asymmetrical jacket from Sew Moe.
—–
Needless to say, at HandMade in America we are thrilled to see a newcomer to the WNC/Asheville Craft Scene- Please take a few moments to visit AshevilleCrafts today!
What do we do? Craft Labs
HandMade has consistently offered business training to craft artists since our inception. In one six-month period in 2011, for example, we presented a progressive curriculum of 17 educational programs, attended by 147 artists. Topics in the series included “How to Get Your Work Seen (by galleries and collectors),” “Writing an Artist’s Statement,” “Pricing Your Work,” and “Why Buy HandMade.” In designing these programs, we keep abreast of current tools and trends—social media and Internet marketing, for example—and shifts in current market conditions that can give attendees a competitive edge in their businesses.
If you would like to help support HandMade programs, please visit our fundraiser on Indiegogo.
What do we do? Appalachian Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)
HandMade’s Appalachian Women Entrepreneurs program serves women who are creatively fashioning their livelihoods through small, craft-related businesses in rural areas of Western North Carolina. HandMade has organized women’s business networks in communities throughout the area to connect these entrepreneurs with each other and with resources and markets. These networks provide access to business support services, from business plan development to joint marketing projects, that the women might not be able to locate, afford, or access individually.
What do we do? Craft, Architecture, and Design
WNC hosts more than 200 second-home and retirement communities, offering consideration potential for craft artists to capitalize on this trend. Through a variety of increasingly sophisticated projects, HandMade helps craft entrepreneurs expand their business to include custom work for the building trades. Simultaneously, we work with construction, design, and property sales professionals to raise their awareness of the craft resources available to them and their clients, and to facilitate their access to craft artists. Some highlights of HandMade’s recent CAD projects include:
- With The HandMade House at the Ramble, a unique partnership between HandMade and Biltmore Farms, we created a showplace residence that demonstrated the value of integrating the ideas of builders and artists. More than 100 craft artists from Western North Carolina worked with architects, designers, landscapers, and construction crews to create a model that can be easily replicated.
- Our Toolkit for Integrating Custom Craft into Building Projects serves as a “how to” manual for effective collaborations between artists and professionals in the building trades.
- Two HandMade publications, Handcrafted Architectural Elements and Handcrafted Home Furnishings and Design Elements, serve as resource manuals for architects, interior designers, and homeowners, offering ideas for utilizing fine craft of the region in their building and renovation projects.
- The Western North Carolina Craft, Architecture & Design Expo invited the public to join artists, builders, and designers to learn about successful collaborations between craft artists, homeowners, and industry professionals. More than 1100 visitors attended the workshops and exhibits of this two-day event, which emphasized craftsmanship and design for both high-end and mid-range home markets.
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If you would like to help support HandMade programs, please visit our fundraiser on Indiegogo.
Help us Promote our fundraiser and you may win an I Buy Handmade for the Holidays Sticker!
Hello friends and readers! We hope you’re having a happy December! Here at HandMade we’ve been busy promoting our year end fundraiser at www.indiegogo.com/handmadeinamerica and we need your help!
We’re giving away some of our “I buy handmade for the holidays” stickers for your help in promotion. Visit our web site or Rafflecopter to start promoting! You will receive entries for each promotion you do, and ten winners will receive a sticker at the end of this week!
What you can do to help:
Get 2 entries for answering a question: What handmade gifts have you bought this holiday?
Get 2 entries for “Liking” HandMade in America on Facebook
Get 1 entry for following @handmadeamerica on Twitter
Get 3 entries for tweeting about our fundraiser
Get 2 entries for visiting www.indiegogo.com/handmadeinamerica and contributing or even sharing our fundraiser with your friends!
Get 2 entries for watching and rating our youtube vide0
What do we do at HandMade? Small Town Revitalization
This month we’re going to make special posts about each of the current programs at HandMade in America:
- Small Town Revitalization
- Craft, Architecture and Design
- Appalachian Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)
- Leadership and Entrepreneurship Training Program
- The HandMade Institute
- Cultural Asset Advocacy
Small Town Revitalization:
One of our oldest and most dynamic initiatives, our Small towns Revitalization program applies grassroots, volunteer-led methods to rejuvenating the physical and civic infrastructure of Western North Carolina’s smaller communities.
- Small towns use their key cultural assets and traditions as the basis for projects that draw visitors, attract artists as residents, and create sustainable businesses and new jobs.
- Our ongoing Small Town Conversations cover topics such as Building a Cultural Heritage Attraction in Your Small Town, and Renovating Big Buildings in Small Towns.
- Currently, we work with 13 small towns in 10 counties throughout WNC to connect them with funders and resources that support their revitalization projects.
- Between 1996 and 2010. HandMade’s Small Town Revitalization program leveraged $10 million of public funds into $43 million of private investment, for a total investment of $53 million, resulting in a net gain of nearly 300 new businesses and over 600 new jobs.
The HandMade Small Town Program continues to serve Western North Carolina through it’s innovative process. If you would like to help support HandMade programs, please visit our fundraiser on Indiegogo.
