JAMES RENWICK ALLIANCE FOR CRAFT

JRACRAFT DAY 2025

12/6/2025

THE 18th Annual JRACraft Day 2025
SATURDAY, December 6, 2025 | 10AM - 5PM
woman's club of chevy chase, md
Application now available – deadline July 15, 2025

Applications for the 18th Annual JRACraft Day are now being accepted! We invite craft artists to submit an application to participate in this one-day, in-person showcase for artists in the craft media.

The in-person show will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at the Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase, in Chevy Chase, Maryland; admission is free. Last year most artists sold individual works at prices ranging from below $25 to as much as $600, and we expect a similar group of buyers this year.

JRACraft Day is open to all craft artists who are members of JRACraft. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are not a JRACraft member, you may apply for the show, but participants must hold a paid membership in the organization within a month of acceptance in the event and on JRACraft Day.

Further details can be found on the application form. For questions, please contact event organizers at [email protected].

APPLY TO JRACRAFT DAY!

STUDIO VISIT MEMBER MEET-UP

10/5/2025

MEMBER MEET-UP
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5TH, 2025 | 10AM-12:30PM
JUDITH GOODMAN AND ELAINE ROBINSON STUDIO VISITS
Silver Spring and CHEVY CHASE, MD

Join JRACraft members for two-part studio visit in Silver Spring and Chevy Chase, MD! At 10am, the first hour-long studio visit will feature Elaine Robnett. After Elaine's studio visit, the member meet-up continues to visit the studio of Judith Goodman from 11:30am-12:30pm. All attendees are invited to join a no-host lunch after the second studio tour. Studio addresses will be shared to registrants after registration is submitted.

Elaine Robnett Moore will showcase her family's legacy of creativity through a tour of her Ancestors Wall as well as her Wall of Beads. She will discuss a few of her featured works and tell the stories behind each piece, answer questions, and offer a live demo of her techniques.

Judith Goodman's studio visit will begin in her home and then proceed to her sculpture studio in the garden behind her home to see both finished work and work in progress. During the studio visit, members will hear about her process and how she uses pieces from her collection of diverse items in her work.

Elaine robnett moore

Elaine Robnett Moore is a fifth-generation artist and award-winning jewelry designer/maker, descended from Alexander Dumas, renowned for her bold, contemporary approach to design. Fusing tradition and storytelling with innovation, she creates bold, elegant pieces using unconventional materials and masterful beadwork. Her work has been exhibited globally—from North America, the Caribbean, and Europe to Africa and Asia. A Fulbright Specialist and author of The Art of Bead Stringing: Artist to Entrepreneur, Elaine is also a master teacher on faculty at Montgomery College’s Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus in Maryland, and a former president of The Bead Society of Greater Washington. Her jewelry celebrates heritage, creativity, and the transformative power of adornment.

JUDITH GOODMAN

After many years as a commercial and fine art photographer, Judith became interested in making sculpture as a way to move her images into three dimensions. From there the natural progression involved finding beauty and intensity in objects beyond their original purpose. The work is emotionally, rather than intellectually, inspired. Much of it has been influenced by recent wars and degradation of the climate. The assemblages are fragmented narratives illustrating the frailty of recollection. They are incongruous: mixing scale, texture, natural and manmade elements that have exceeded their useful life and progressed to another state.

Elaine Robnett Moore

Elaine Robnett Moore, Michelle Obama

Judith Goodman

Judith Goodman's studio

Judith Goodman, Inviting Extinction

ASHEVILLE & PENLAND AUCTION

8/20/2025

ASHEVILLE & PENLAND AUCTION
AUGUST 20 - 24, 2025
$950 MEMBERS| $1150 NONMEMBERS
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED

Join JRACraft for an unforgettable summer journey through the vibrant craft scene of Western North Carolina. This exclusive trip combines the best of Asheville’s art galleries and museums with the festive atmosphere of the Penland School of Craft’s Annual Benefit Auction. Meet celebrated artists, experience private tours, and enjoy lively receptions and group dinners—all while soaking in the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Space is limited, so reserve your spot early.

After the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene on Western North Carolina, the region’s vibrant craft communities and tourist economy continue to recover. Like so many in the craft world, JRACraft was heartbroken to witness the damage and disruption experienced by artists, galleries, and institutions in the area. In response, we created this special trip not only to experience the extraordinary talent concentrated in Asheville and Penland, but also to give back.

Anchored around the renowned Penland Benefit Auction, the trip highlights key institutions and makers across the region. We've also worked to keep costs down on our end, so that more of your travel dollars can directly support the art, artists, and cultural spaces you'll encounter. Whether you're a collector, craft enthusiast, or curious traveler, we invite you to join us in celebrating and sustaining this extraordinary creative community.

Your trip fee includes all scheduled programming, including two group dinners and a weekend pass to the Penland Auction and related festivities. Participants are responsible for travel to/from Asheville, hotel accommodations, breakfasts, lunches, and transportation between towns (noted in blue on the schedule). We’re happy to help coordinate carpools and recommend lodging—see below for more details.

trip itinerary

Wednesday, August 20 – Welcome to Asheville
Begin your journey with an optional full-day visit to the Qualla Boundary, homeland of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Stops include the Museum of the Cherokee People and Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual.

That evening, we will gather with the full group and some special guests for a welcome reception at the Center for Craft in Asheville.

Thursday, August 21 – Galleries and Museums of Asheville
Spend the day exploring Asheville’s dynamic art scene. Begin with a visit to Blue Spiral 1 Gallery, where artists such as Michael Sherrill and Alex Bernstein will share insights into their work. Then, enjoy a private tour of the Asheville Art Museum led by the Director. After lunch on your own, head to Momentum Gallery for conversations with notable artists including Rachel David, Lisa Clague, and the duo Littleton and Vogel.

Conclude the day with a festive group dinner at the celebrated Limones Restaurant.

Friday, August 22 – From Asheville to Penland
Travel to the heart of craft country with stops in Bakersville and Spruce Pine. In the morning, visit Tandem and Micah Galleries, known for showcasing exceptional contemporary work. After lunch, arrive at Penland School of Craft for an afternoon of exhibitions, artist talks, and a pop-up show featuring the Core Fellows.

The day ends with Celebrate the Artists—a festive cocktail reception and silent auction that brings together makers, collectors, and craft lovers.

Saturday, August 23 – A Day at Penland
Spend the day immersed in all that Penland has to offer during their annual Auction weekend. Start your morning with coffee and conversation in the studios of the school’s resident artists. In the afternoon, enjoy craft demonstrations, gallery browsing, and a seated lunch and live auction at a table especially reserved for trip participants.

Close the day with a memorable group dinner at the scenic Inn at Little Switzerland.

Sunday, August 24 – Farewell
Depart at your leisure after a rich weekend filled with art, connection, and inspiration.

download full Trip itinerary with times

travel & lodging

Participants should plan to stay in Asheville on Wednesday and Thursday nights, and near Penland (Spruce Pine, Little Switzerland) on Friday and Saturday. We encourage early hotel booking and have reserved a limited number of rooms at the Blue Ridge Boutique Hotel in Spruce Pine—please contact us for details. If you need help coordinating transportation, we are happy to connect you with other attendees.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS
All cancellations must be made in writing to the James Renwick Alliance at [email protected] on or before June 30, 2025. Refunds, less the cancellation fee of $50 and the non-refundable JRA contribution of $200, are made if your notification is received before this date. No refunds will be made after this date except in the case of a medical emergency.

RESPONSIBILITY
Neither the James Renwick Alliance or any of the participating partners accepts liability for any expenses incurred by tour participants in preparing for the tour. We require that all participants be in good health. If you have a medical condition needing special medical attention, you must report it when filling out your application form by sending an email to [email protected]. We retain the right to refuse any applicant whose health, in our sole judgment, would negatively affect their full participation in the trip. Regardless of your health condition, we strongly recommend that if your current insurance does not cover medical costs while you are traveling, you insure yourself for the costs of medical care including, but not limited to: medical evacuation, baggage damage or loss, accident, and sickness. While we take every precaution, neither the participating partners, nor the James Renwick Alliance shall be responsible or liable for any loss, death, injury, illness or damage to or loss of property suffered or incurred by any person in connection with this trip.

FUNK ART: COUNTERCULTURE IN CERAMICS

7/7/2025

FUNK ART: COUNTERCULTURE IN CERAMICS
4 WEEK ONLINE ZOOM COURSE
JULY 7 - JULY 28
MONDAYS 6:30PM - 7:45pm ET
$109 JRACRAFT MEMBERS | $139 NON-MEMBERS

Wild, weird, and wonderfully subversive—Funk Art upended the art world in the 1960s with irreverent ceramics, lowbrow humor, and countercultural flair. In this four-week online course, curator Garth Johnson traces Funk’s rise amidst the political unrest and cultural upheaval of the Bay Area, its influence on the broader art world and its resurrection in the hands of a bold new generation. Meet the makers, movements, and mischief behind one of the most rule-breaking chapters in American art.

In celebration of the the 20th Anniversary of its foundation grant program in craft scholarship, the Center for Craft is offering free memberships to anyone who signs up for JRACraft classes.

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR: GARTH JOHNSON

Writer, curator, and educator Garth Johnson is the Paul Phillips and Sharon Sullivan Curator of Ceramics at the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, New York. Johnson is a self-described craft activist who explores craft’s influence and relevance in the 21st century. His recent exhibitions at the Everson include Renegades & Reformers: American Art Pottery, Earth Piece: Conceptual and Performative Works in Clay and Key Figures: Representational Ceramics 1932-1972.

register today!

Garth Johnson, photo from www.jasonjacques.com

Gilhooly, David 1943-2013 Everson Museum of Art of Syracuse and Onondaga County, 1990.

thank you to our partner:

CRAFT MUSEUMS IN THE 21ST CENTURY

6/4/2025

CRAFT IN THE MUSEUM
4 WEEK ONLINE ZOOM COURSE
JUNE 4 - JUNE 25
WEDNESDAYs 7PM - 8:30pm ET | 4PM - 5:30PM PT
$109 JRACRAFT MEMBERS | $139 NON-MEMBERS

Explore the dynamic interplay between artists, institutions, and curators in shaping the craft field over the last 25 years in this engaging four-week seminar led by Namita Wiggers. Through in-depth analysis of significant craft exhibitions and institutions, the course invites participants to critically examine the evolving roles of curators and institutions in platforming artists, preserving craft legacies, and fostering public discourse. Designed as a collaborative and generative learning environment, the seminar encourages students to actively participate in discussions that challenge traditional narratives, expand perspectives, and reimagine the future of craft in institutional contexts.

In celebration of the the 20th Anniversary of its foundation grant program in craft scholarship, the Center for Craft is offering free memberships to anyone who signs up for JRACraft classes.

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR: NAMITA GUPTA WIGGERS

Namita Gupta Wiggers is an educator, writer, curator, and artist based in Portland, OR. Wiggers founded and directed the MA in Critical Craft Studies, Warren Wilson College, the first and only low residency program focused on critical craft histories and theory from 2017 - 2023. She was a Paul J. Smith Fields of the Future Fellow at Bard Graduate Center, NYC in the Fall of 2023, and a Senior Fellow, Smithsonian Institution in the Spring of 2024. Her most recent publications are co-editor of the Journal of Modern Craft Special Issue on the MA in Critical Craft Studies (Vol. 17, Issue 1, 2024) and This is not a Retreat, co-edited with Ben Lignel for The MACR Papers. Wiggers serves on the Board of Trustees at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, and began serving as President in the Fall of 2023. She is an editor-at-large for Crafts magazine, and on the Advisory Board of The Journal of Modern Craft.

Wiggers directs and co-founded Critical Craft Forum (since 2008), and served as the Director and Chief Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Craft, Portland OR from 2004 - 2014.

thank you to our partner:

APPALACHIAN CRAFT: THEN AND NOW

6/3/2025

APPALACHIAN CRAFT: THEN AND NOW
6 WEEK ONLINE ZOOM COURSE
JUNE 3 - JULY 8
TUESDAYS 12:30PM - 2pm ET
$149 JRACRAFT MEMBERS | $189 NON-MEMBERS

Discover the true story of craft in Appalachia in this six-week online course led by artist-scholar Michael Hatch. Through guest speakers, oral histories, and enriching presentations, explore the complex ways in which craft has been a part of Appalachian identity, and how makers past and present have defined the region on their own terms. Encompassing Cherokee artists, Black potters, and studio craft pioneers, this is a rich, nuanced look at a vibrant cultural legacy.

Topics will include:

What is Appalachian Craft?
Cherokee craft
Evolution of Asheville as a center for craft, especially from 1995-2025 and beyond
Black Mountain College and Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center
Hurricane Helene and its aftermath

In celebration of the the 20th Anniversary of its foundation grant program in craft scholarship, the Center for Craft is offering free memberships to anyone who signs up for JRACraft classes.

meet your instructor: Mike Hatch

Michael Hatch is a maker and a scholar. He has worked with molten glass for over thirty five years, and has run his studio/gallery Crucible Glassworks in the Asheville area since 1998. He received a BA Sociology & Anthropology from Virginia Commonwealth University where he was first introduced to glassworking. He received an MA in Critical Craft Studies from Warren Wilson College, and has since added independent researcher, curator, adjunct professor, and conference organizer, as well as other accolades to his resume. He has presented his grant-funded research through exhibitions, writing, conference presentations, and sound and video projects. His glass work has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the country. Mike became a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild in 2005 and has served on numerous committees, two terms on the Board of Trustees (with two years as vice-president), and currently manages the organization’s archives when he is not working in his studio.

Michael Hatch

Wade Martin: Wood Carver (SHCG Member) Mountain Figures

thank you to our partner:

HISTORY OF CRAFT IN THE U.S.

6/1/2025

history of craft in the u.s.
6 WEEK ONLINE ZOOM COURSE
JUNE 3 - JULY 8
TUESDAYS 7PM - 8:15PM ET
$109 JRACRAFT MEMBERS | $139 NON-MEMBERS

Explore the rich, multifaceted history of craft in the United States—an ever-evolving story full of complexity and creativity. Lectures will trace themes such as Craft and Tradition, Craft and Activism, Craft in Contemporary Art, and Craft and the Market, following their threads from the past to the present. Class discussions will delve into the tensions, contradictions, and diverse perspectives that shape these histories, sparking fresh insights into the world of craft.

In celebration of the the 20th Anniversary of its foundation grant program in craft scholarship, the Center for Craft is offering free memberships to anyone who signs up for JRACraft classes.

meet your instructor: jennifer scanlan

Jennifer Scanlan is the Executive Director at JRACraft. Prior to joining JRACraft, Jennifer served as the Deputy Director at Craft Alliance in St. Louis, MO, where she made substantial contributions to the organization's growth and outreach efforts. Her career includes pivotal positions such as Curatorial and Exhibitions Director at Oklahoma Contemporary in Oklahoma City, and Associate Curator at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City. Jennifer has also worked internationally as an independent curator and consultant on exhibitions, public art projects, and publications.

She has taught courses in Contemporary Craft and Craft History at Courtauld Institute of Art Summer School in London, England, and at Parsons The New School for Design in New York. She has a BA in art history and Italian from Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York, and an MA in the history of decorative arts, design, and culture from the Bard Graduate Center, New York, New York.

REGISTER NOW!

Jennifer Scanlan. Photograph by Erin Baiano

46th Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival CREATIVITY AND CRISIS: UNFOLDING THE AIDS MEMORIAL QUILT Program on the National Mall in Washington DC on Sunday afternoon, 8 July 2012 by Elvert Barnes Photography

Stained glass window by John Scott Bradstreet, 1906–8

thank you to our partner:

KRIS RUMMAN ARTIST TALK

5/28/2025

2024 CHRYSALIS AWARDEE ARTIST TALK
WEDNESDAY MAY 28 | 7PM ET
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC | HOSTED ON ZOOM

Join us on Zoom on May 28 for an artist talk with JRACraft's 2024 Chrysalis Awardee in Glass, Kris Rumman! Kris is a Palestinian-American glass artist who creates sculpture, performance, and installations that act as temporary fugitives in search of home. Captivated by compositions of architecture, her work maneuvers mirror and reflection to track, surveil, guide, and comply with its viewers.

Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, the birthplace of the Studio Glass Movement, she is currently based in Brooklyn, NY and holds an MFA in Sculpture from the Tyler School of Art and Architecture in Philadelphia, PA, as well as a BFA from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Kris has shown at many venues including Urban Glass and Art Week Miami. She was the recipient of the Saxe Emerging Artist Award from the Glass Arts Society in 2019, and was most recently awarded a residency at Sculpture Space, where she plans to create an immersive public art installation.

MEET THE MAKER MEMBER MEET UP

5/17/2025

MEET THE MAKER MEMBER MEET UP
35th BIENNIAL CREATIVE CRAFTS EXHIBITION
MANSION AT STRATHMORE
10701 ROCKVILLE PIKE, ROCKVILLE, MD
SATURDAY MAY 17 | 11AM - 2 PM ET
IN PERSON

Join us for a Meet the Maker member meet up at the 35th Biennial Creative Crafts Exhibition at the Mansion at Strathmore! Don't miss this opportunity to see the exhibition before it closes on May 24th and meet some of the JRACraft artists whose work is featured in this exhibition. JRACraft's artist members will discuss their process and bring examples of their art to illustrate their process. This event will feature:

Kanika Sircar (fiber)
Kevin Hluch (ceramics)
Dominie Nash (fiber)
Rebecca Ravenal (mixed media, ceramics, mosaic)
Joseph Barnard (wood)
Hillary Steel (textiles)

All work is available for sale and the exhibition is free and open to the public.

The Creative Crafts Council is an umbrella organization of fine craft guilds that sponsors a juried biennial exhibition of regional fine craft artists at the Mansion at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland and supports and promotes craft-making across Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. The first Biennial Exhibition in 1954 and the next five were held in the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of Natural History. Since then, the Exhibition has been held at museums and galleries throughout the region, and since 1988 it has been held at the Strathmore Mansion in North Bethesda, Maryland.