JAMES RENWICK ALLIANCE FOR CRAFT

BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR OF GLENSTONE

11/15/2026

GLENSTONE MUSEUM | POTOMAC, MD
PRICE TBD
RESERVED FOR CAUCUS MEMBERS ONLY

Sunday, November 15, 2026 | 10am-11am

Join fellow Caucus members for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Glenstone with Assistant Curator Yuri Stone! With Glenstone’s limited capacity and coveted timed ticketing, this event will only be open to Caucus members.

YURI STONE

Yuri Stone is Assistant Curator at Glenstone, a modern and contemporary art museum located in Potomac, Maryland. As assistant curator, he works with artists to realize exhibitions, long-term installations, and publications. Most recently, he co-curated Ellsworth Kelly at 100, a career survey of the artist’s work which will travel to internationally venues in the coming year. At Glenstone, he has also curated monographic exhibitions by Doris Salcedo (2022), R.H. Quaytman (2022), Charles Ray (2021-ongoing), and a career survey of work by Jeff Wall (2021). In 2022, he coordinated the installation of Richard Serra’s Four Rounds: Equal Weight, Unequal Measure, a monumental, permanent artwork installed in a custom-designed building made to house the artwork at Glenstone in perpetuity.

REGISTRATION COMING SOON!

Water Court at Glenstone Museum

Glenstone Assistant Curator, Yuri Stone

MOROCCO TRIP

10/4/2026

EXPLORING MoroccAN CRAFTS:
AN INSIDER'S TRIP TO MOROCCO
CAUCUS MEMBERS only
PRICING AND REGISTRATION COMING SOON
for questions, please contact [email protected]

*Tentative Dates: October 4 - 14, 2026*

Captivating craft, hidden histories, and stunning landscapes await you on this ten-day trip to Morocco! Located in North Africa, Morocco embraces the Atlantic and Mediterranean coast and is distinguished by its Berber, Arab and European influences. Moroccan medinas invite you to discover treasures hidden behind high ocher walls. Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the cities of Rabat, Fez and Marrakech, among other sites. Our tour also takes you to the Tangiers homes of top interior decorators, collectors, and authors, which boast some of the best gardens of Morocco. Traveling with Moroccan expert Sofia Barroso, we will have an insider’s view of the country and access to lovely private homes.

trip highlights

three days in tangiers

Your time in Tangiers begins with a welcome dinner at Dar Quetzane, the private home of British collector Gordon Whatson. Enjoy exclusive visits to stunning private residences and gardens, including those of Umberto Pasti, Veere Greeney, and the iconic Villa Mabrouka, once home to Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. Explore the historic Kasbah Museum and its Andalusian Garden, the vibrant Medina and the ‘weaving Souk’ Fondouk Chejra, artisan showrooms like New Tangier and Made in Tangiers, and a curator-guided tour of the American Legation, the only American National Historical Landmark outside of the United States.

three days in fez

Stop over in Rabat on the way to Fez, and enjoy lunch and a visit to the Joana de Vasconcelos exhibition at the Museum Mohammed V, among other landmarks. In Fez, you’ll stay at the Palais Faraj Hotel & Spa for three nights. In Fez, expert Mr. Bouftila will guide you through the golden gates of the Royal Palace, the old Medina with its Medersa Bou Anania, the Nejjarine fountain, the Karaouyin Mosque. Excursions from Fez will take you to UNESCO World Heritage Site Volubilis, a Roman archaeological site, and the imperial city of Meknes with architectural gems and the fabulous Sultan Gardens.

Four days in marrakech

Begin your journey to Marrakech in Casablanca with a tour of its maritime Coast o Corniche and a visit to the magnificent Hassan II Mosque, before heading to your hotel, Les Jardins de la Koutoubiya, for your five-night stay in Marrakech. Here, you’ll witness the architectural wonders of the Saadian Tombs and Badi Palace. Discover Morocco’s rich artistic and cultural heritage through private visits to the Jewelry Museum (Le MAP), Yves Saint Laurent’s Villa Oasis, the Majorelle Gardens, and the MACAAL Museum of African Art. Stroll through the vibrant Jemaa el Fna square, shop at artisan souks including Trésors des Nomades and Beldi Country Club, and unwind in lush gardens and historic villas throughout your unforgettable four days in Marrakech.

PRICING AND REGISTRATION COMING SOON

Beldi Country Club, Marrakech

Fez

Royal Valkyrie, Joana de Vasconcelos, at the Musée Mohammed VI d'Art Moderne et Contemporain

Marrakech Medersa Ben Youssef by Heather Cowper, 2014

Morocco Jardin Majorelle by Yves Saint Laurent

1-54 Marrakech

DR. MICHELLE MILLAR FISHER: READING CRAFT

7/1/2026

ReaDING CRaft: Exploring a discipline through the texts that have shaped it
4 WEEK ONLINE ZOOM COURSE
$109 JRACRAFT MEMBERS | $139 NON-MEMBERS

July 1 - July 29, 2026
Wednesdays 12pm - 1:15pm ET

Every discipline is formed, shaped, and re-formed by the texts that constitute its discourse. Craft history is still a nascent discipline, and the texts that describe its boundaries and centers are both significant and yet still hungry for better company. Each week in this course we will come together to discuss a few key texts — excerpts, essays, and short-form popular writing — that have in their own ways impacted craft history, give us something meaty to discuss, and point towards what might still be needed or what could come next. The course will require active participation from those in attendance and will be shaped much like a friendly, conversational, engaged book club.

meet your instructor, dr. michelle millar fisher

Dr. Michelle Millar Fisher is the Ronald C. and Anita L. Wornick Curator of Contemporary Decorative Arts at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Previously, she worked at The Museum of Modern Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Guggenheim Museum. Her work focuses on the intersections of people, power, and the material world. At the MFA, she is working on “Craft Schools: Where We Make What We Inherit” which took her on a train journey across all 48 contiguous US states. She leads an independent team on a project called “Designing Motherhood: Things That Make and Break Our Births.” She holds an MA and an M.Phil in Art History from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, and received an M.Phil and PhD from The Graduate Center at the City University of New York (CUNY). She publishes widely on art, design, and architecture.

REGISTER TODAY!

MARY MILLS: AMERICAN GLASS

6/9/2026

AMERICAN GLASS: BORN OF NECESSITY, CRAFTED WITH SOUL
4 WEEK ONLINE ZOOM COURSE
$115 JRACRAFT MEMBERS | $145 NON-MEMBERS

June 9 - June 30, 2026
Tuesdays 7pm-8:30PM ET

Discover 250 years of glassmaking in America. Immigrant craftsman and entrepreneurs initially focused production on the necessities—primarily windows and bottles. Regardless, glassblowers found opportunities to “play” in the factory. Using major museum collections, historic photographs, videos, and archaeological collections, this course will examine how the demand for specific skills and opportunities for creativity evolved with changes in technology and design trends. Special emphasis will be placed on the origins of the American Studio Glass movement and the shift from factory to studio.

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR: MARY MILLS

Mary Mills is the Director of Exhibitions and Collections at Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center in Millville, New Jersey, and is curator for the Museum of American Glass. Her recent exhibitions include Transformations: The Wasserstein Collection of Contemporary Glass; Centuries of Tomfoolery: Trick Glasses, Pipes, and Whimsical Delights; and Amber Cowan: Alchemy of Adornment. Mills also serves as historic glass specialist for AECOM Cultural Resources, assisting archaeologists in identifying and interpreting glass artifacts recovered in Philadelphia.

Mills formerly held the position of Education Programs Manager at The Corning Museum of Glass, where she received the Richards Award for Research in American Glass and is now a Fellow. She lectures extensively and has taught American and European glass for graduate programs at the Winterthur Museum, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, and the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Mills holds a master’s degree from the University of Delaware Winterthur Program in Early American Culture. She has served on many nonprofit boards and has been a Trustee of The Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass since 2005.

Register today!

Mary Mills

Judith Schaechter, "Fine Example," 2000; courtesy Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center

Don Friel, Jacob's Ladder, 1998; courtesy Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, Millville, NJ.

COFFEE & CONVERSATION WITH CHRIS MALONE

5/30/2026

COFFEE & CONVERSATION
VIRTUAL STUDIO TOUR WITH CHRIS MALONE
HOSTED ON ZOOM
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Saturday May 30, 2026 | 11am-12pm ET

Join JRACraft for a behind-the-scenes virtual studio tour with DC-based doll artist, Chris Malone. Chris’s work is rooted in traditional African doll making but takes it a step further by utilizing it as a medium to explore spirituality and ancestry. In creating these sculptures, Chris strikes a balance between imaginative play and spiritual practice. Chris will introduce viewers to his work and discuss his influences, creative process, and techniques.

CHris malone

Chris Malone is a self taught visual artist who creates beautiful and imaginative dolls. His work is nationally recognized and has been featured in galleries in New York, New Orleans, and Washington DC, as well as in numerous books and doll magazines, such as “Doll Art Quarterly,” Lark Crafts’ “Masters Polymer Clay, Major Works By Leading Artist, and North Light Books’ “Creative Time and Space.” In addition, his soft sculptures were featured in the 2012 film, “Woman Thou Loosed: On the Seventh Day.” Chris has also become prolific in creating 3D mosaics.

Chris Malone in his studio

Babuka, Chris Malone. Awarded Best in Show, Creative Craft Council Exhibition at the Strathmore Mansion, Rockville

In his studio, Malone works on I Can Only Suggest, the Choices Are Yours. Photo by Steven M. Cummings

INOVA ARTS COLLECTION TOUR

5/1/2026

JOAN HISAOKA HEALING ARTS GALLERY
SCHAR CANCER INSTITUTE | FAIRFAX VA
PRICE TBD
RESERVED FOR CAUCUS MEMBERS ONLY

Friday, May 1, 2026| 11am-12:00pm

Join fellow JRACraft Caucus members for an exclusive tour of the Inova Schar Cancer Institute's Healing Arts Gallery! The Inova SCI's Arts and Healing Program is dedicated to exhibiting fine art that explores the innate connection between healing and creativity through a rotating exhibition schedule and a gallery featuring contemporary artists. The program curates a healing environment to support those affected by cancer through art installations and ongoing exhibitions. Consistent with Inova’s stated goal of providing patient-centered care, the program also includes performing arts events and other workshops, not only for patients and their families but for Inova staff as well.

After the tour, all participants are invited to a "no-host" meal at a restaurant to spend more time together and discuss the tour.

registration coming soon!

SPRING CRAFT WEEKEND BRUNCH

4/26/2026

spring craft weekend: awards brunch
the tower club tysons
800 towers crescent dr suite 1700, vienna, va 22182
$195 | free for patrons

Sunday, April 26 | 11:30am - 2:30pm

Enjoy a delicious brunch with spectacular penthouse views as we present the Master of the Medium and Distinguished Educator awards to this year's honorees.

This final event of the weekend is our moment of recognition, celebrating the contributions of fiber artist Piper Shepard, glass artist KéKé Cribbs, ceramicist and filmmaker Winnie Owens-Hart, Bruce W. Pepich (former curator and founder of the Racine Art Museum), and furniture maker Tom Loeser (former head of UW-Madison’s furniture/wood department). Enjoy the camaraderie of lunching with JRACraft members, guests, and honorees, and hear more about their impact on the craft world.

We also extend our deepest gratitude to JRACraft Caucus Members and Spring Craft Weekend Patrons for making this work possible.

see all spring craft weekend events

learn more about the honorees

registration

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HONOREE SYMPOSIUM

4/25/2026

SPRING CRAFT WEEKEND HONOREE Symposium
SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM
8th and G Streets, NW, Washington DC 20004
Free and open to the public | registration encouraged

Saturday, April 25 | 10am - 12:30pm

Attend the Spring Craft Weekend Symposium, featuring presentations from our Masters of the Medium honorees: fiber artist Piper Shepard, glass artist KeKe Cribbs, ceramicist and filmmaker Winnie Owens-Hart, and Distinguished Educator honorees Bruce W. Pepich of the Racine Art Museum (RAM), and Tom Loeser, the head of the wood/furniture area at UW-Madison from 1991 until 2020. All five honorees will then gather onstage for a roundtable discussion, including questions from the audience.

Casual attire. Limited on-street parking at meters; several paid parking garages are available in the neighborhood. Since the Symposium starts before SAAM opens to the public, you must enter on G Street to access McEvoy Auditorium. A JRACraft staff member or volunteer will be there to greet you.

learn more about the honorees

registration

2025 Spring Craft Weekend honoree symposium featuring Michael Lucero, Xenobia Bailey, Lola Brooks, and Norm Sartorius

spring craft weekend 2026

SPRING CRAFT WEEKEND CELEBRATION

4/25/2026

Spring Craft weekend: celebration
Museum of contemporary art (MOCA) ARLINGTON
arlington, va

Saturday, April 25 | 6pm - 9pm

Bring the magic to our Saturday Celebration, the most festive event of the entire Spring Craft Weekend. Immerse yourself in a magical evening surrounded by collectors, artists, honorees, and enthusiasts.

Stroll through MOCA Arlington’s galleries, where the “Masterful Miniatures” silent auction invites you to bid on delightfully small-scale works by DC area artists, all in support of JRACraft programming. Sip on cocktails and savor hors d’oeuvres, as the magic of craft unfolds before your eyes.

The evening includes a performance from the Georgetown Chimes, one of DC’s premier acapella groups. Join us for a transformative night of craft, community, and celebration!

see all spring craft weekend events

masterful miniatures auction

registration

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BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR OF GLENSTONE

REGISTRATION COMING SOON!

MOROCCO TRIP

trip highlights

DR. MICHELLE MILLAR FISHER: READING CRAFT

MARY MILLS: AMERICAN GLASS

COFFEE & CONVERSATION WITH CHRIS MALONE

INOVA ARTS COLLECTION TOUR

registration coming soon!

SPRING CRAFT WEEKEND BRUNCH

registration

HONOREE SYMPOSIUM

registration

SPRING CRAFT WEEKEND CELEBRATION

registration

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