On view through December 9
New methods and technologies blend with traditional handmade techniques as we celebrate Philadelphia’s talented community of artists/makers whose work pushes the boundaries of conventional craft mediums. Rooted in CraftNOW's mission and presented as part of their citywide effort to elevate Philadelphia's historically rich legacy in the fields of craft-based design, production, and manufacturing, Conventional Departures emphasizes the city's ongoing role as an incubator for arts based in wood, clay, fiber, metal, glass, and beyond.
With makers exploring a broad range of materials in their practices to create functional, decorative, and wearable objects, the exhibition provides space for emerging and mid-career artists working locally and thinking innovatively about how their creative efforts inform the evolution of contemporary craft. As pioneers working to expand our understanding of commodity production and consumption, the participants force us to think objectively about our existing relationships to and understanding of how we shape raw materials—both new and recycled—into uniquely diverse items that become our cultural currency.
Artists in the exhibition: Amber Cowan, Hilary Hertzler, Kate Leibrand, Nick Lenker, Andrea Marquis, Victoria Ahmadizadeh Melendez, and John Souter.
Image: Andrea Marquis, courtesy of the artist and Todd Merrill Studio, New York.
