Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
1661 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC
Selected by national competition, the exhibition represents the best of American production crafts—those made in at least 10 of the same design. The Renwick purchased the first edition of each design and will provide, upon request, the craftsman's address.
Both traditional and contemporary designs are included in the 133 useful objects of metal, clay, glass, fiber, wood and other materials made by 126 craftsmen throughout the country. In size, they range from handcarved cattle bone crochet hooks to a 15-foot birchbark canoe; other objects selected include metal Easter egg boxes, hand puppets, a Revere lantern made of sheet brass, jewelry, a glass and plexiglass table, salt dough Christmas ornaments, a spinning wheel, ceramic tea cups, and woven baskets. Because of space limitations, 11 objects—including an Amish buggy, and a free balloon envelope and carriage—are represented by large color photographs.
With the aid of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the show will tour for three years to towns with a population of under 50,000.
