In August of 1938, Aileen Osborn Webb invited groups with a vested interest in the proiduction of craft objects to a meeting at the Shelburne House in Shelburne, Vermont.  They came from all around the country.  By the end of the three-day meeting, participants had established the first national organization of American craft artists under the name Handcraft Cooperative League of America.

It can be argued that because of this momentous gathering, Vermont served as the birthplace of the modern American craft movement.  Over the ensuing seven decades, Vermont developed into one of the epicenters of the craft revival in America.  Despite this pivotal position, the artistic, social, and economic history of the contemporary craft movement in the Green Mountain State has never before been researched in any depth or presente in a major museum exhibition.

State of Craft, at the Bennington Museum, examines the evolutionof the contemporary studio craft movement in Vermont from the mid-twentieth century to the present day.  The exhibition explores three overarching themes:  Living by "Making", Inspirations, Communities & Connections.  Each theme includes stories of Vermont's diverse craftspeople, and illustrates the multifaceted nature of craft production in the state.

As curators, we are honored to present over 120 pieces by 90 Vermont craftspeople whose collective stories tell the history of Vermont's Craft Movement.

 

Jamie Franklin                                     Anne Majusiak
Curator of Collections                            Guest Curator
Bennington Museum                              State of Craft Exhibition

 

 

The talented craft artists whose works are on view in the State of Craft Exhibiton -
Cick on their name to link to their websites and learn more about the artist and their craft.

Jackie Abrams, Brattleboro  Textiles (basketry)
Jacob Albee, Burlington  Metal
Mary Angus, Readsboro Glass
Rich Arentzen and Tove Ohlander, Burlington Glass
Betty Atwood, Florence  Textiles (weaving)
Bruce Beeken and Jeff Parsons, Shelburne  Wood
Lucy Bergamini, West Pawlet Glass
Harry and Wendy Besett, Hardwick  Glass
Brother Thomas Bezanson (1929-2007)  From Weston Priory  Ceramics
Michael Boylen, Marlboro Glass
Susan Bradford, Bradford  Textiles (wearables)
Judith Bryant, Lincoln  Ceramics
Peter Bramhall, Bridgewater Corners, Glass
Jeanne Brink, Tremont   Textiles (basketry)
Steven Bronstein,  Marshfield  Metal
Douglas Brooks, Vergennes  Wood
Ray Bub, Pownal Ceramics
Bob Burch, Putney  Glass
Caitlin Burch, Putney  Glass
Timothy Clark, Waltham  Wood
Robert Compton, Bristol   Ceramics
Debora Coombs, Coombs Criddle Associates
Carol Crawford, Bakersfield  Textiles (weaving)
Judy Dales, Greensboro Textiles (quilting)
Judi and Fred Danforth, Middlebury Metal
Jaclyn Davidson, Middlebury Metal
Alisa Dworsky, Montpelier  Textiles (crocheted sculptural installations)
Michael Egan,  Garnville Glass
Celie Fago, Bethel  Metal (Precious Metal Clay)
Robert Gasperetti, Mount Tabor Wood
David Gil  (1922-2002) Ceramics
Betty Gilson    Ceramics
Alan Goldfarb,  Glass
Timothy Grannis, Burlington  Metal
Bob Green, Conway, MA  Ceramics
Rob Greene, Marshfield  Metal
Garrett Hack, Thetford  Wood
Molly Hatch, Florence  Ceramics
Steve Holman, Dorset  Wood
David Holzapfel, Marlboro  Wood
Michelle Holzapfel, Marlboro  Wood
Delsie Hoyt, Fairlee  Textiles (braided rugs)
David Hurwitz, Randolph  Wood
Jennifer Kahn,  Bethel Metal (Precious Metal Clay)
Karen Kamenetzky, Brattleboro Textiles (quilting)
Karen Karnes, Ceramics
Jim Kelso, Worcester  Metal
Peter Krusch, Cambridge  Metal
William LaBerge, Dorset  Wood
Georgia Landau, Montpelier  Ceramics
K. William LeQuier, Readsboro Glass
Andrew Marks, Cornwall   Wood
Mario Messina, Lyndonville  Wood
Johannes Michelsen, Manchester Center  Wood
Robin Mix, Tunbridge   Glass
Michael Mode (and Lynn Yarrington), New Haven  Wood
Joan Morris and Michèle Ratté, Hartford and Saxtons River  Textiles (surface design)
Dan Mosheim, Dorset  Wood
Daniel Omondi, Brattleboro Wood 
Amy Oxford, Cornwall  Textiles (hooked rugs)
Aysha Peltz (and Todd Wahlstrom),  Whitingham Ceramics
Charlotte Potok, (1930-2008)   Ceramics
Joshua Primmer, Bennington  Ceramics
Judith Reilly, Brandon Textiles (quilting)
Trenny Robb and Bob Michaud, Sutton  Metal
JoAnne Russo, Saxtons River  Textiles (basketry)
David Sawyer, East Calais  Wood
George Scatchard, Underhill  Ceramics
Deidre Scherer, Williamsville  Textiles (thread on layered fabric)
Nicholas Seidner, Middletown Springs  Ceramics
Charles Shackleton, Bridgewater Wood
Joseph Skinger (1911-1967)  Metal
Alan Stirt, Enosburg Falls  Wood
Johnny Swing, Brookline  Metal
Ikuzi Teraki and Jeanne Bisson, Washington  Ceramics
Miranda Thomas, Bridgewater Ceramics
Todd Wahlstrom (and Aysha Peltz), Whitingham  Ceramics
Florence Walbridge, (deceased)  Bennington   Textiles (weaving)
Peter Wendland, Monkton   Metal
Nancy Wickham, (deceased) Woodstock   Ceramics
Malcolm Wright, Marlboro Ceramics
Lynn Yarrington (and Michael Mode), New Haven  Textiles(weaving/wearables)
Patricia Yoder, Tinmouth   Textiles (hooked rugs)
Bhakti Ziek, Randolph  Textiles (weaving)