A celebration of American crafts

Sunset, May, 1987

A celebration of American crafts

A significant celebration of Americancrafts took place in New York City last October when an impressive exhibit called "Craft Today: Poetry of the Physical' opened new quarters for the American Craft Museum. This month, the same show begins a tour of three Western states. It opens at the Denver Art Museum on May 16, and will later travel to Laguna Beach and then Phoenix.

The exhibition features works by 286 artistsfrom 36 states and contains more than 300 pieces. It represents outstanding contemporary accomplishments in clay, fiber, glass, wood, and metal.

To emphasize the craftsmen's intent, theshow groups the works into four categories: "The Object as Statement,' with two-dimensional and purely sculptural pieces; "The Object Made for Use,' with furniture, flatware, and functional interior accessories; "The Object as Vessel,' with ceramic bowls, metal vases, woven containers; and "The Object for Personal Adornment,' with jewelry and clothing.

Denver. The Denver Art Museum visitlasts until July 5. The museum is at 100 W. 14th Avenue Parkway; hours are 10 to 5 Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 5 Sundays. Admission is $3 for adults, $1.50 for students and seniors, and free for children under 5. Call (303) 575-2793 for more information.

Laguna Beach and Phoenix. The LagunaArt Museum's turn is August 6 to October 4; call (714) 494-6531 for details. Finally, the show goes to the Phoenix Art Museum November 7 to January 10, 1988; call (602) 257-1880.

With the inaugural show on the road,New York visitors to the American Craft Museum will see three smaller exhibits at the 40 W. 53rd Street location: a history of woven fabric, contemporary glass, and selections from the permanent collection. Museum hours are 10 to 8 Tuesdays and 10 to 5 Wednesdays through Sundays. Admission is $3.50 for adults, $1.50 for students and seniors.

Photo: Inaugural exhibit that showed in American Craft Museum'snew three-level display area in New York now tours the West

Photo: Pontiac Curtain--a multipanel woven andprinted hanging--is by Gerhardt Knodel

Photo: Undulating strands of wire blownby imaginary wind animate whimsical Weathervane (left) by sculptor Jonathan Bonner. Exotic hardwood Scent Bottles by Stephen Paulsen are delicately turned, intricately inlaid