Craft Capital Auction & Raffle
In celebration of our fifth year anniversary, CraftNOW has invited select artists to submit works responding to the theme of Philadelphia as a Craft Capital. This exhibition will debut as part of the auction and raffle during the annual fundraising event hosted at The Deacon – Click here to purchase your tickets!
Below is a special preview of the works donated to benefit CraftNOW with quotes and information from the artists.
William Alburger
“The wood I used to create this mirror was one hour north of the Nation’s Capital during the signing of the Declaration of Independence.”
BDDW and Tyler Hays
“Moving to Philly totally changed my business. There are a lot of the hardworking art students, tons of talent because the kids can afford studios.”
Lynne Berman
“I love the feel of the clay passing through my fingers. My work, mostly thrown on the wheel, focuses on the geometric simplicity of city buildings.”
Anna Boothe
“With Philadelphia the City of Brotherly Love, my piece Pearl Essence speaks to the inherent strength of the citizens and artists as the city’s capital.”
Carol Cole
“There is no distinction between craft media and fine art here in Philadelphia, everything is fine and well-crafted, regardless of the medium.”
Edgewood Made
“Experimentation with digital technology and historical construction in other Philadelphia-based companies inspired our current production.”
Maria Eife
“These forms are inspired by structures in both the natural and built worlds found in Philadelphia, where the grid and the garden weave together.”
FordForlano
“The best show in the country is also our hometown favorite show.” – regarding the Philadelphia Museum of Art Contemporary Craft Show
Bob Ingram
“Philly Sweets walks the streets kicking her heels high and proud, always preferring the hang at the corner of 5th and Race where Whitman’s factory stood.”
Carol Klein
“This work fuses the long traditions of textiles and ceramics in Philadelphia into one object.”
Jack Larimore
“Individuality is at the heart of the making process and is the essence that people respond to and identify with when they experience the object.”
Mi-Kyoung Lee
“It is such an honor to be a part of the Philadelphia craft community. I believe the community connection is our most important strength.”
Roberta Massuch
“The cityscape of Philadelphia has been a major influence in my work over the last five years, and this is evident in forms and surfaces I craft.”
Rod McCormick
“My piece uses imagery derived from architecture to symbolize cultural capital and Philadelphia, which is part of our urban craft experience.”
Nancy Middlebrook
“William Penn’s grid layout of the city captured my imagination. In 1682 the rectilinear design was revolutionary.”
Claudia Mills
“I use an age-old technique to create contemporary rugs for today’s living and working spaces in a modern palette.”
Don Miller and Chris Storb
“This project is modeled after the Rittenhouse Orrery, which presents a complex picture of our city in a moment of revolutionary development and the confluence of craft and technology.”
Warren Muller
Sculptor and light artist, Muller’s style is hard to miss and if you keep an eye out about town you will notice pieces at Philly institutions all over.
K Riley
“The beauty and botanical forms of our area has always been an inspiration. Not only are we a Craft Capital but we are also the Garden Capital.”
Brad Smith
“Furniture making has a long history in Philadelphia and I am proud to be part of that history.”
Rudolf Staffel
Donated by craft scholar Helen Drutt, this Staffel is from his iconic Light Gatherer series. Staffel taught at Tyler School of Art for 38 years.
Stacey Lee Webber
In 2011 Webber moved to Philadelphia to pursue being a full time artist. The Embroidered Bill Series continues Webber’s questioning the value of labor.
John Wind
“This vintage modern piece begins with an Avon Perfume bottle modeled after Betsy Ross and marketed in 1976 as a Bicentennial collectible.”
Isaiah Zagar
The Mosaic Visionary Art of Isaiah Zagar can be found on more than 200 public surfaces throughout the city of Philadelphia.