I’m a little late to the game. I’ve only recently become aware of the documentary series Craft In America, which aired on PBS with the episode “Memory” in 2009. Better late than never, right? Luckily, all the episodes are archived and free to watch online!

Through interviews with a 90-year-old woodworker, a southern basket maker, a Native American weaver, a soft-spoken blacksmith from Santa Fe, and a rebellious furniture maker slash sculptor, this first episode painted a colorful and varied picture of American craft traditions.

Admittedly, I was initially disappointed with the show’s focus on conventional forms of studio craft and established craftspeople who’d garnered a notable amount of success in the fine art world. As one whose appreciation for craft developed more recently, amid the indie craft revolution and more commercial DIY movement, I had difficulty at first connecting with these craftspeople’s stories. Fortunately, I quickly recognized the depth of knowledge and insight these expert artisans could offer to younger craftsters and that the craft practices I engage in and value today have deep-rooted, rich, and lively histories.

{ natural fiber basket by Pat Courtney Gold }  { Pat Courtney Gold harvest cattails }

“Memory” presented beautiful but accessible work to aspire to and absorbing personal narratives to inspire. The weaver, Pat Courtney Gold, holding steadfastly to both her heritage and her individuality, created exquisite baskets that blended traditional Wasco designs with her own aesthetic experimentations. Handcrafted objects, she explained, “tell their own stories, have their own lives.”

{ blacksmith Tom Joyce in his studio; image credit: Bear Brandt }

Tom Joyce, the blacksmith, tenderly shared his handicraft—tools and hardware as well as substantial public sculpture made from recycled materials, including a baptismal fountain commissioned by a local church that was forged from salvaged metals donated by the community. The glimpse into this intense, impressive metalcraft was remarkable; the discussion of the “inherited history” of each piece was powerful.

{ Ghost Chair #3 by Garry Knox Bennett }  { Garry Knox Bennett in his loft by Joe Samberg }

The candid sculptor/furniture-maker, Garry Knox Bennett, whose work is best described as delightfully irreverent (nonfunctioning chairs and ornately carved, traditional-style tables in garishly bright, clashing colors) was a downright hoot. While explaining how his career began with selling handmade roach clips, he proclaimed, “God bless the hippies—they loved anything ugly.”

In addition to these entertaining stories and inspiring insights, the first episode of Craft in America provided an essential context for contemporary craft. Through “Memory”, I realized that today’s craftspeople must have an awareness of the past—of our country’s craft traditions—to fully appreciate the present state of American craft and to actualize its best possible future. I’m excited to see what the next episode holds!