34 States To Be Represented at the 35th Annual Smithsonian Craft Show
The 35th annual Smithsonian Craft Show will be held April 27–30 at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., with a preview night reception April 26. The show will feature 120 fine-art craft artists representing 34 states. The participants were chosen from more than 1,000 applicants, including many of the most accomplished artisans in the United States.
The exhibitors represent many areas of contemporary design and craft, including basketry, ceramics, furniture, jewelry, glass, leather, paper, wearable art and wood. For a list of the selected artists and images of their work, visit www.smithsoniancraftshow.org.
The show was juried by three highly respected experts in the field of fine art crafts: Carolyn Benesh, co-editor and co-publisher of Ornament magazine; Melissa Post, former curator at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Wash., and the Mint Museum in Charlotte, N.C., and former director of galleries in New York City and Aspen, Colo.; and Rebecca Stevens, consulting curator for contemporary textiles, at The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum in Washington, D.C.
“We are thrilled with the artists selected for the 2017 Craft Show,” said Co-chair Kathy Sommerkamp. “This will be a stunning show highlighting innovative, original and finely crafted work.”
“The show will excite not only longtime craft collectors, but also first-time craft show visitors, those furnishing a home and those searching for unique gifts,” added Co-chair Ethelmary Maddox. “It will offer a rare opportunity to see both superb quality and a wide variety of crafts all under one roof.”
About the Smithsonian Craft Show
In 2017, the Smithsonian Women’s Committee celebrates the 35th anniversary of the Smithsonian Craft Show. Proceeds from the Craft Show are distributed to the Smithsonian’s 28 museums and research centers (including the National Zoo) through an annual competitive grants program. The Smithsonian Women’s Committee has awarded almost $12 million in grants and endowments. For a list of recent grants, visit www.smithsoniancraftshow.org.
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