Hand to Hand: Potter and Gulf War Veteran Ehren Tool Talks About the Power of the Cup

 

Join Berkeley-based artist Ehren Tool at the Craft in America Center on Saturday, January 11 at 5:00 pm as he describes the evolution of his work, which is heavily influenced by the time he served as a Marine in the 1991 Gulf War. After returning home, Tool attended art school and eventually settled on the cup as his preferred mode of expression. His work addresses the atrocities that he witnessed on the battlefield, allowing him to communicate his unspeakable truths: since 2001, he has given away more than 14,000 of his cups, each of which graphically depicts his stance on the effects of combat on soldiers and civilians.  

 

 

"The images on the cups are often graphic and hard to look at. You may be for or against a particular war but I think it is too easy for us to look away. I think we as a country and as humans should look at what is actually going on."  - Ehren Tool

As if the gorgeous work on display wasn't enough enticement to visit, Craft in America is all dressed up for the holidays! The window features papel picado hand-cut by Kathleen Trenchard; you can see her at work in our newest episode, Holiday, which premieres tomorrow, December 20. We also have beautiful menorahs made by another Holiday artist, Susan Garson, in the window, and Hidde van Dyum's intricate watercolor curio cabinent-cum-assemblages inside.

Jim Bassler: Contemporary Voices and Ancient Threads

Fans of Craft in America will recognize Jim Bassler from the episode entitled Origins, in which he talks about the rich heritage and tradition of fiber art, and how his travel to and study of those traditions has informed his modern work.
 
On January 12th, 2014 at 2:00 pm, in UCLA's Fowler Museum, guest curator Elena Phipps will join Jim as well as photographer John Cohen in a discussion of Andean weaving tradition that inspires their creative processes. This fascinating talk is planned in conjunction with The Peruvian Four-Selvaged Cloth: Ancient Threads/New Directions, which is on display now through mid-February.

More details about both the talk and exhibition are available on the Fowler's website.

Holiday Prints This Weekend

Our first session for holiday printmaking is sold out, so reserve your spot in the second session today!

Join artist Christina Carroll at the Craft in America Center on Sunday, December 8, for a workshop on using monotype prints to create unique holiday cards for your friends and family. Participants will explore the spirit and imagery of the winter season through the spontaneous, painterly printmaking technique of monotype. Discover new approaches to line, shape, form, color and texture using water-miscible oil paints, fine printmaking papers, mark-making tools and a hand-cranked etching press. This will be a loose and experimental workshop, so no experience is needed. Bring a smock or old shirt to wear. Paper, envelopes, printing supplies provided. 

There is a $30 materials fee for participants.