The Center for Craft, Creativity and Design (CCCD) has launched ENEWS to keep you current with all our programs, exhibits and events. ENEWS will be sent out monthly with most news linking to more lengthy information found on our website www.craftcreativitydesign.org. Announcements cards will still be mailed for upcoming exhibits and talks. If you are on our mailing list to receive an announcement card for exhibits and would prefer to receive the information through ENEWS, please let us know and it will save us a stamp!

Elizabeth Brim Penland, NC
Curtis Buchanan Jonesborough, TN
Hunt Clark Sparta, TN
Cristina Cordova Penland, NC
Sam Corso Baton Rouge, LA
Susie Ganch Richmond, VA
Hoss Haley Asheville, NC
Mark Hewitt Pittsboro, NC
Richard Jolley Knoxville, TN
Janice Kluge Birmingham, AL
Ellen Kochansky Pickens, SC

Stoney Lamar Saluda, NC
Dale Lewis Oneonta, AL
Mark Lindquist Quincy, FL
Gwendolyn Magee Jackson, MS
Patricia Mink Johnson City, TN
Gary Noffke Farmington, GA
Richard Prisco Savannah, GA
Joel Queen Cherokee, NC
Ché Rhodes Louisville, KY
Michael Sherrill Hendersonville, NC
Jery B. Taylor Walterboro, SC

This exhibition features 22 accomplished contemporary object makers living in the Southeast - from Virginia to Florida - working in ceramic, fiber, glass, metal, and wood. The exhibit developed from is a six-part documentary series (of the same name) illuminating the creative process through an intimate view of these working artists told largely through their own words. The film was conceived and produced by David Hutto, Vice President for Technology at Blue Ridge Community College, and videographer Chanse Simpson.

The exhibition complements the documentary, showcasing significant works by these artists and are representative of the diverse creative traditions and cultural heritage in this region.

Upcoming Event:
CCCD will host a reception in their gallery on Friday, February 20, 2009, 5-7pm, giving the public an opportunity to meet some of the artists who attend.

The Inspired Design: Jacquard & Entrepreneurial Design international conference hosted by CCCD was held in Hendersonville, North Carolina in the first full week of January, 2009. Components of this conference that made it an exceptional event include:

The Speakers: 18 speakers half from the U.S., and the remaining from the U.K., Canada, Sweden, and Australia; included both seasoned professionals and new rising stars.

The Program: presentations in five growth areas of textile design: 1) Smart Textiles; 2) Performance and Interactive Textiles; 3) Textiles for Boutique Clothing; 4) Interior Design Textiles; and 5) Corporate and Public Art Textile Commissions. Following presentations by speakers, a break-out session was held with each speaker individually for interaction with the audience - very highly appreciated in evaluations.

The Audience: The 160 attending the conference represented 9 countries and 23 states, with half the audience students currently enrolled in university textile programs, adding to the high energy felt in the conference hall.

The Location: Blue Ridge Conference Hall at Blue Ridge Community College, which opened less than six months ago, provided excellent sound and sight lines for the general sessions, and break-out sessions only steps away.

Hendersonville, North Carolina, a town of little over 10,000 is the location of The Center for Craft, Creativity and Design, and The Oriole Mill, the only mill in the U.S. designed for textile designers and artists to have access to industrial Jacquard looms. The optional tours of The Oriole Mill following the sessions each day were full to overflowing.

The Support Staff: CCCD has a staff of three, Director Dian Magie, Assistant Director Katie Lee and Administrative Assistant Terri Gibson - much too small to host such a conference without the great support from: Catharine Ellis, textile artist, teacher and CCCD board chair; The Oriole Mill owner Stephen Michelson, director Bethanne Knudson and their staff who worked overtime to tour conference attendees; 12 Student Assistants from throughout the U.S. and Canada; North Carolina Faculty Hosts: Jane Nichols, Western Carolina University; Lynn Caldwell, UNC Asheville; Jeana Klein, Appalachian State University; Vita Plume, North Carolina State University; and Amy Putansu, Haywood community college and artist/shuttle drivers, Kent Stewart, Micah Sherrill, and Tim Maddox.

The Sponsor: AdvantageWest, the Economic Development Group for Western North Carolina, sponsored the conference as a major project in their support of Creative Industries for the region.

All of these elements came together, to provide an experience found in these notes received following the conference:

"For us [speakers] the experience was not only a privilege, but very much a pleasure. ...I feel that the academic spirit, the collaboration of dialogue and creative thought, along with fostering relationships is not only stimulating and exciting, but so needed for the future growth of our industry." Anna Zaharakos, speaker.

"It seems to be agreed that the Inspired Design Conference was a great success! I heard it said (more than once) it was the best they'd ever attended. Congratulations! ...I've made rich contacts and become re-inspired for teaching, for my studio work, and even broader issues as well." Amy Putansu, Faculty Host

"...It was an invaluable experience for me as a student on the verge of graduation. Where I once felt fear, entering into a collapsing industry, I now feel incredibly inspired and excited for the future. I was introduced to so many possibilities that I didn't even know existed, and for that I am truly grateful. Thank you so much." Melody Korn, student attendee, Kansas City Art Institute.

"I loved the opportunity to network with so many people in love with the art of weaving as I am. The most unexpected (and valued) experience from this weekend was being introduced to Louis Lemieux Berube [Montreal] Pauline Verbeek-Cowart, and other innovators, whose work and techniques I have studied throughout school and who until now have simply been names in a book. Having student assistants was also a wonderful opportunity for me to network with and make connections with what is now a new group of friends." Jeana Eason, NC State student assistant.

The conference held in the depths of winter, spilled into restaurants and shops in Hendersonville and Asheville to provide an economic boost in the slowest time of the year. Coverage of the conference, exhibit and The Oriole Mill will appear in a two-page article in the February issue of American Craft, and the next issue of Fiberarts and Surface Design magazines in the U.S. and internationally will appear in Craft Australia, the European Textile Network Journal and Italian Jacquard Magazine.

The Craft Industry has a $206,533,599 direct economic impact for the 25 western counties of North Carolina, reports the just-released research by DESS Business Research, LLC, authors Dr. James E. Stoddard, Dr. Dinesh S. Davé, and Dr. Michael R. Evans. To see the full 2008 research report and a summary of previous studies go to: www.craftcreativitydesign.org/pdf/2008EconomicImpact.pdf

The Mission of the Craft Research Fund Project & Graduate Research Grants is to encourage, expand and support research in United States Craft (contemporary and decorative arts) for professional scholars and graduate students.

This is the fourth year of this national grant program with the selection process moved from spring to fall to help administrators who also work with panel selection of the Windgate Fellowships in the spring. A description of the 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008 Graduate Research Grants can be found on the CCCD website.

SPOTLIGHTS highlight the accomplishments of Craft Research Fund grant recipients.

VICKI HALPER & DIANE DOUGLAS, 2006 Project Grant Recipients
Editors of Choosing Craft: The Artist's Viewpoint

"The CCCD was essential to the publication of Choosing Craft. The idea for the book was hatched at an invigorating CCCD retreat in 2003, where Diane and I conceived it as a companion reader to the first textbook in the history of American crafts, then under discussion. Because neither of us is in academia, where time and salary can be applied towards research, we needed to raise money before embarking on the project. The CCCD provided vital funds (along with the Windgate Foundation, NEA, and Smithsonian Institution). In particular, we used the CCCD grant to manage and pay for rights and reproductions of photographs and texts, an arduous and costly business, and for the creation of an index. We are endlessly grateful for the intellectual stimulation and the economic support of the CCCD!"

Choosing Craft explores the history and practice of American craft through the words of influential artists whose lives, work, and ideas have shaped the field. Editors Vicki Halper and Diane Douglas construct an anecdotal narrative that examines the post-World War II development of modern craft, which came of age alongside modernist painting and sculpture and was greatly influenced by them as well as by traditional and industrial practices.

The anthology is organized according to four activities that ground a professional life in craft--inspiration, training, economics, and philosophy. Halper and Douglas mined a wide variety of sources for their material, including artists' published writings, letters, journal entries, exhibition statements, lecture notes, and oral histories. The detailed record they amassed reveals craft's dynamic relationships with painting, sculpture, design, industry, folk and ethnic traditions, hobby craft, and political and social movements. Collectively, these reflections form a social history of craft.

Choosing Craft ultimately offers artists' writings and recollections as vital and vivid data that deserve widespread study as a primary resource for those interested in the American art form.

Guidelines and applications are now available online at www.craftcreativitydesign.org for the 2009 Craft Research Fund, awarding PROJECT GRANTS of up to $15,000 for research in United States craft by academics, independent scholars, and curators and GRADUATE RESEARCH GRANTS of up to $10,000 to graduate students currently enrolled in a graduate program in an accredited college or university for research related to a thesis or dissertation on United States craft. This is a national award program in its fourth year, administered by the Center for Craft, Creativity and Design.

Deadline for the 2009 grants in both categories is July 1, 2009, with announcement of awards mid-September for research beginning October 1, 2009 to be completed within 18 months.

This is the fourth year Center for Craft, Creativity and Design has administered the Windgate Museum Internship Award program, providing four museums $5000 each for paid internships. The goal of the program is to expand the number of future curators with experience and expertise on studio craft artists and their work. BFA, MA, and MFA students should send a letter of interest together with their vitae to the museum. The museum will select the interns. Recipients of previous Windgate Museum Internships are not eligible.

Oakland Museum of California
The Oakland Museum of California, in conjunction with the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, is planning a retrospective exhibition and publication on the work of Modernist jeweler Margaret De Patta. We seek an intern to assist with the research, including working with original archival materials, compiling a catalogue raisonné of De Patta's work, and conducting primary interviews with some of De Patta's contemporaries. Graduate study in art history or a related field is strongly preferred. Knowledge of jewelry is a plus.

Application deadline: March 13, 2009, include a cover letter and resumé to:
Julie Muñiz, Curator of Decorative Arts and Craft
Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak Street
Oakland, CA 94607
FAX: 510-238-6925

The American Craft Council
The American Craft Council is a national nonprofit educational membership organization whose aim is to promote the understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft. It sponsors regional juried craft expos, the American Craft Magazine and website, educational forums and conferences. We seek an intern to assist ACC Director of Education in planning the 2009 ACC national conference: Building Bridges: Creating a New Craft Culture to be held October 15-17, 2009 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Primary responsibilities include general administrative work, assisting with program logistics, communicating with presenters, writing and editing press releases and general information for the public, online research, data entry, and other duties as assigned.

Candidates must have excellent attention to detail, a good sense of humor, the ability to work in a fast paced environment, knowledge of Microsoft Office and Excel. Applicants must be able to meet deadlines, work independently, and be creative. B.A. in art history, decorative arts, arts management, museum education or a related academic field required; graduate study is strongly preferred.

Application deadline: March 10, 2009. Email curriculum vita and cover letter to:
Monica Hampton, Director of Education, American Craft Council
mhampton@craftcouncil.org

Philadelphia Museum of Art
In 2013 the Philadelphia Museum of Art will mount an exhibition focusing on the impact of World War II on the emergence of the American studio craft movement in the 20th century. To prepare for this event the Museum is offering an internship for applicants interested in working with the Associate Curator of American Modern and Contemporary Crafts and Decorative Arts. The intern will help research, create, and fill the files for this upcoming exhibition. To ensure a well-rounded experience, the intern will also work on other collection and acquisition projects as assigned. Field trips may involve visits to studios, museums, and galleries. The internship will be 10 to 12 weeks long beginning in June 2009 with a regular 5-day workweek, although alternate schedules can be arranged. Applicants should hold a B.A. or MA/MFA in decorative art, art history, or a related academic field. Graduate study is strongly preferred. Study of the 20th century a plus. Candidates should have excellent attention to detail and organizational skills. We are looking for a team player, someone who can think out of the box. For consideration, applicants should submit the following: a letter describing your interest and preparation for this position; Curriculum vitae; and a list of three references.

Application Deadline March 1st, 2009
Please send all applications to:
Human Resources
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Box 7646
Philadelphia, PA 19101-7646
No phone calls please. EOE

UNC-ASHEVILLE CRAFT CAMPUS LECTURE SERIES
"MEET THE MAKER: CONVERSATIONS OF MEANING WITH CRAFTSPEOPLE"

This year-long workshop and lecture series focuses around meaningful conversations with individual craftspeople, artists, and designers in each one of the craft media: metal, clay, wood, glass, fiber, and mixed media. The goal of the series is to link the conversations with the "Makers" to the life of the viewer/user of contemporary craft.

February Speakers:
Gallery Talk with Dan Millspaugh, sculptor and retired UNCA professor on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 12:30 in the S. Tucker Cooke Gallery in Owen Hall

Sylvie Rosenthal, furniture maker working in wood and metal, on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 12:30 in Owen Hall, Room 237

Jen Swearington, textile artist, Thursday, Feb. 26 at 12:30 & 7pm in Owen Hall, Room 237 at 12:30 and Karpen Hall, Laurel Forum at 7pm

Kentucky Craft History and Education Association (KCHEA) is a new craft history organization that plans to take the lead in craft history by gathering, conserving, and presenting the history and on-going impact of crafts in Kentucky. For more information contact Susan Goldstein, info@kchea.org.

CCCD will host a session:
"PAST & FUTURE TEXTILES IN ACADEMIA"
Thursday, Feb. 26th from 5:30-7p.m.

Speakers:
Jeana Klein, Appalachian State University
Vita Plume, North Carolina State University
Pauline Verbeek-Cowart, Kansas City Art Institute

Textile programs in academia have long occupied a complicated terrain. While some university programs focus on textile engineering and apparel science, others house textiles and fibers in their Fine Arts department. Historically, the area has a found simultaneous alignment, albeit often an uneasy one, with industry, craft, decorative and fine arts. As such, the pedagogical strategies of teaching textiles encompasses various traditional approaches to technique and material, as well as experimental strategies that expand the social context and conceptual foundations inherent in the medium. This session will focus on the technological developments specifically in the area of hand-weaving in three different academic institutions: an art institute, an engineering/design oriented university, and a liberal arts college. Panelists will consider the various technological tools and software textile students and artists have available to them today. Through this lens, the talks will examine how introducing students to industrial software and other technological advancements have the potential to impact and expand career opportunities.

The 8th International Conference of the European Academy of Design will take place at The Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland from March 31 - April 3, 2009. The conference theme is Design Connexity.

The Craftsman and the Critic
Defining Usefulness and Beauty in Arts-and-Crafts Era Boston
By Beverly Brandt

When English craftsman, poet, and socialist William Morris advised consumers in the 1880s to "have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful," he prompted a movement for design reform in Britain, Europe, and America. Championing Morris's views, the Society of Arts and Crafts in Boston led the quest for "usefulness and beauty" in the United States. As the oldest, continuously-operating arts and crafts organization in the country, it exerted considerable influence.

Among the Boston reformers were design critics, whose profession became increasingly important in the nineteenth century. Many of them-including a number of prominent women-were also architects, designers, craft workers, educators, and theorists. Their views on design reform were substantive and often controversial.

This richly illustrated book explores the interaction of craft workers and critics as they collaborated to improve the quality of the living and working environment in Boston and across the United States. Beverly K. Brandt examines multiple overlapping topics-the evolution of the profession of design criticism in the nineteenth century; Boston in the "Gilded Age" as a center for reform, epitomized by the Aesthetic and the Arts and Crafts movements; the formative years of the Society of Arts and Crafts (1897-1917); key personalities associated with that organization; the theoretical underpinnings of the Arts and Crafts movement; and a diaspora of Boston reformers who left the city to promote usefulness and beauty across the country and abroad. In an epilogue, she discusses the Arts and Crafts revival which has flourished since the 1970s and contemplates why the search for usefulness and beauty continues to resonate today.

A Theory of Craft: Function and Aesthetic Expression by Howard Risatti. Published by Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2007.

What is craft? How is it different from fine art or design? Risatti examines these issues by comparing handmade ceramics, glass, metalwork, weaving, and furniture to painting, sculpture, photography, and machine-made design from Bauhaus to the Memphis Group. He describes craft's unique qualities as functionality combined with an ability to express human values that transcend temporal, spatial, and social boundaries. Craft must articulate a role for itself in contemporary society, says Risatti; otherwise it will be absorbed by fine art or design and its singular approach to understanding the world will be lost.

Makers: 20th Century American Studio Craft (working title) At the first "Think-Tank" convened by CCCD in 2002, of craft faculty, museum director and curators, scholars and critics, the initiative ranked as most important to the advancement of the field was a history of American Craft in the twentieth Century. The journey toward making this a reality can be tracked on www.craftcreativitydesign.org/research/history.php. 20th Century American Studio Craft by Janet Koplos and Bruce Metcalf is with the publisher, the University of North Carolina Press. Long awaited, the book, researched and written under the auspices of CCCD, will include 500+ images and also serve as an undergraduate text. It will be released in 2009. The University of North Carolina Press is making craft history and criticism a focus of the Press.

The Journal of Modern Craft, edited by Glenn Adamson, Victoria & Albert Museum, UK; Edward S. Cooke, Jr. Yale University, USA; Tanya Harrod, Royal College of Art, UK, is the first peer-reviewed academic journal to provide an interdisciplinary and international forum in its subject area. It address all forms of making that self-consciously set themselves apart from mass production - whether in the making of designed objects, artworks, buildings or other artefacts. Published three times a year in March, July and November. To place an order/subscription visit www.bergpublishers.com and download order forms or email custerserv@turpin-distribution.com.

The Center for Craft, Creativity and Design is an inter-institutional Center of the University of North Carolina.

The mission of the regional UNC Center is to support and advance craft, creativity and design in education and research, and, through community collaborations, to demonstrate ways that craft and design provide creative solutions to community issues. The mission of the nonprofit CCCD is to support the mission of the UNC center through funding, programs, and outreach to artists, craft organizations, schools in the community, region and nation.