Artful Traveler: Profiling Rising Craft Stars

Possibilities: Rising Stars of Contemporary Craft in North Carolina, on view at the Mint Museum of Craft and Design in Charlotte through Nov. 30, 2008 highlights six of North Carolina's most prominent craft artists working in wood, metal, clay, glass and mixed media: Vivian Beer (Penland) Devin Burgess (Penland), Cristina Córdova (Penland) Anne Lemanski (Penland), Brent Skidmore (Asheville) and Jerilyn Virden (Bakersville). Each has an association with the historic Penland School of Crafts in the North Carolina mountains. Skidmore was an instructor there, and the others have been (or currently are) Penland resident artists.

Challenging, expanding and redefining the term "craft," they represent the vitality, diversity and complexity of work being done by a new generation of North Carolina artists, and their recognition extends across and beyond our state. Currently, Vivian Beer's work can be found at the Wexler Gallery in Philadelphia, and Devin Burgess is part of the 32nd annual Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show on Nov. 13-16, 2008. The Hodges Taylor Gallery in Charlotte features the work of both Beer and Cristina Córdova. Anne Lemanski's work is on view at the Asheville Art Museum.

"North Carolina is fortunate to have institutions such as Penland that incubate and develop exemplary craft talent, and organizations such as the Mint Museum of Craft and Design where this work can be brought to public view in installations that capture the exquisite beauty and intelligence of the forms," said Jeff Pettus, Visual Arts Director, N.C. Arts Council.  "Possibilities is the latest and one of the most memorable examples of the partnership that the Mint and Penland have forged to highlight some of the most exciting work being done in craft today by artists living in our own state."

In the Artful Traveler video above, the artists reflect on their work and how they view themselves in the context of North Carolina craft. In addition, Penland School of Crafts' Robin Dreyer introduces the historic school and discusses its significance to North Carolina and to the world. The artists give extended descriptions of their work on display at the Mint here.

Visit the Mint Museum of Craft and Design in Charlotte to view Possibilities: Rising Stars of Contemporary Craft now through Nov. 30,2008. Or visit personal artist Web sites for Vivian Beer, Devin Burgess, Cristina Córdova, Anne Lemanski, Brent Skidmore and Jerilyn Virden.