Blog Posts

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.

register now!

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

brunch registration is now closed

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

If you do not see a "Next" button to advance to the next page of the form, please try opening the form in another browser or use Google Chrome. If you need further assistance, please reach out to [email protected].

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

spring craft weekend 2026

Download Press Release

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!

parking

MOCA Arlington has limited on-site parking, but street parking is available, as well as residential parking on the west and south sides of the grounds.Learn more here: https://mocaarlington.org/about/visit/

see all spring craft weekend events

masterful miniatures auction

registration

HILLARY WATERS FAYLE

3/31/2026

DISTINGUISHED ARTIST SERIES WITH HILLARY WATERS FAYLE
online ARTIST TALK AND in-person DEMONSTRATION

Tuesday, March 31 & Saturday, April 4, 2026

Thank you to Amanda M. Phillips for her generous sponsorship of Hillary Waters Fayle's Distinguished Artist Series.

Thank you to Diane Charnov for her support of this program.

About Hillary Waters Fayle

With a background in fiber/textile design and a deep fascination and respect for nature & the environment, Hillary Waters Fayle brings together materials and processes that express the union of humanity and the physical world, through textile traditions in collaboration with botanical material.

In addition to being an artist, Hillary is an Assistant Professor, directing the fiber program at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she also earned her MFA. She has lectured and taught workshops at Penland School of Craft (NC), Arrowmont School of Art and Craft, the Appalachian Center for Craft (TN), Oak Spring Garden Foundation (VA), Yasar University (Turkey), and Bazart Textiel (France). Her work has been exhibited in Italy, China, Belgium, Turkey, France and the US Embassies to Algeria and Bangladesh and is included in collections at the Burchfield Penney Art Center (NY), Grace Farms Foundation (CT), the Kalmthout Arboretum & Botanical Gardens (Belgium) and the US Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Recent exhibitions were on view at the Lewis Glinter Botanical Gardens, Virginia Quilt Museum, AKG Museum and Turchin Center for Visual Arts. Professional projects and publications include collaborations with Domestika, L'Occitane en Provence and the new York Botanical Garden. A public installation in collaboration with the AKG Museum can be seen year round in Buffalo, NY.

ARTIST TALK (ONLINE ONLY)

Tuesday March 31, 2026 | 2pm-3pm ET
Free and open to the public | Hosted on Zoom

Learn about Hillary Waters Fayle's career and influences in this online program.

DEMONSTRATION (IN PERSON ONLY)

Saturday April 4, 2026 | 10am-12pm
Hosted at Compass Arts Center |10335 Kensington Parkway, Kensington, MD, 20895

Meet Hillary Waters Fayle and watch her demonstrate her techniques!

$25 Members of JRACraft | $35 Non-members

Hillary Waters Fayle

Penland Pop, Hillary Waters Fayle

Thank you to our partner:

new! program sponsorship

This year, we have lowered ticket prices with the introduction of program sponsors. See the ways you can help make excellence in craft accessible to a wider audience, by becoming a Distinguished Artist Series Sponsor!

BECOME A SPONSOR TODAY!

COFFEE & CONVERSATION: JOYCE SCOTT AT MOBILIA GALLERY

3/17/2026

COFFEE & CONVERSATION
mobilia gallery with JOYCE SCOTT
HOSTED ON ZOOM
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Tuesday, March 17, 2026 | 12pm ET

Join JRACraft and Mobilia Gallery for a presentation on the Joyce J. Scott exhibition hosted by Mobilia Gallery, Joyce J. Scott & Friends. Joyce J. Scott, along with Libby and Jo Anne Cooper, co-founders of Mobilia Gallery, will discuss Joyce’s work and impact, as well as the work of her mentees and friends.

Joyce J. Scott and Friends is group exhibition featuring the work of the renowned bead artist, Joyce J. Scott, and twelve artists who have been mentored by Scott and influenced by her work. The exhibit opens during Black History Month (February) with work that embodies Scott’s mission to address, educate, inspire and uplift, reflecting the artist's narrative of what it means to be Black in America. Scott wields her sharp wit and humor to masterfully create bold, sculptural objects, bringing to light and driving home difficult topics such as racism, sexism, patriarchal structures, and the African diaspora.

Joyce J. Scott. War, What is it Good For, Absolutely Nothin’, Say it Again. 2022. Neckpiece. Peyote stitch, glass beads, thread. Featured in the traveling exhibition “Messages” (2022-2025).

CRAFT, CULTURE, & CUISINE: VIETNAM & CAMBODIA

3/5/2026

registration is closed

craft, culture & Cuisine: Vietnam & Cambodia
$7,570 per person double | $9,150 PER PERSON single

Thursday, March 5 - Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Join JRACraft and the Peters Valley Travel Program for a 12-day tour of the rich heritage of Vietnam and Cambodia on a journey that weaves together centuries-old craft traditions with the splendor of iconic sights!

The trip will begin in Hanoi, where bustling streets and tranquil lakes frame visits to laquerware ateliers and traditional embroidery workshops. You will then fly to Hue and Hoi An, where you'll explore imperial cities and lantern-lit towns while meeting artisans specializing in silk weaving, wood carving and handmade paper. The journey will continue south to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) for vibrant markets, elegant French architecture, and a private introduction to Vietnam's thriving contemporary craft scene. The program will end in Siem Reap, gateway to the majectic temples of Angkor Wat, where you'll also encounter Khmer artisans preserving ancient stone carving and silk-making techniques. Throughout the journey, enjoy stays in Vietnam and Cambodia's most exquisite hotels, and savor thoughtfully curated meals in authentic, locally loved restaurants.

A few highlights of the trip include:

A walking tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter, where silver artisans, blacksmiths, mooncake makers and a producer of paper masks continue to work.
Explore Red River Delta, a cradle of Vietnamese civilization and one of the most significant centers of traditional crafts in the country.
A visit to Dao Thuc village for an exclusive water puppets show.
A visit to the walled citadel of Hue with its ornate palaces and royal tombs that reflect the grandeur and grace of the Nguyen Dynasty.
Learn about the making of paper flowers in Thanh Tien, a traditional craft village.
Learn more about the contemporary craft scene in Saigon, which is vibrant, youthful, and deeply rooted in reinterpreting Vietnam's traditional techniques.
In Siem Reap, take a deep dive into Cambodia's golden silk tradition - from mulberry leaf to finished scarf.
Discover Angkor Wat and be immersed in the inspired melding of sacred geometry, architecture, and adornment.

TRIP BROCHURE

FULL ITINERARY

BALTIMORE CAUCUS TRIP - DEADLINE JAN 19

2/20/2026

TWO DAY TRIP TO BALTIMORE
(OPTIONAL SATURDAY EVENING EXTENSION)
OPEN TO CAUCUS MEMBERS
COST $395

Friday, February 20 - Saturday, February 21, 2026

This special access craft study trip kicks off at 2pm on Friday, February 21 at American Craft Made Baltimore, followed by an afternoon at Goya Contemporary with Joyce J. Scott, one of the nation's most acclaimed artists, together with several of the talented makers she mentors. Enjoy time with fellow caucus members over cocktails and dinner at a local favorite spot, then spend Saturday visiting the homes and collections of craft enthusiasts. For participants who choose the optional extension, we will wrap up the weekend together at the American Craft Council awards ceremony, where JRACraft will be presenting an award for Innovation in Craft. Many thanks to (new!) Caucus member David Dao for planning this trip, with assistance from (longtime!) Caucus member Brenda Erickson.

General itinerary below. A detailed itinerary will be provided to all participants.

FRIDAY
10:00 am - 2:00 pm Participants are free to shop at American Craft Made Baltimore (trip fee includes VIP entrance)
2:00 pm Meetup in the ACC VIP lounge, followed by coffee with ACC Executive Director, Andrea Specht
3:00 pm Visit Goya Contemporary Gallery for a talk by Joyce Scott and young artist mentees
4:00 pm Private collection visit
6:00 pm Dinner at the amazing Alma restaurant in Baltimore

SATURDAY
Breakfast on your own; option to return to the Fair 10 - 11:30
11:45 am Bus pick up
12:00 pm lunch at Bunny’s
1:30 pm afternoon collection visit
3:15 pm return to hotel

OPTIONAL EXTENSION in partnership with the American Craft Council VIP group - $35
3:30 pm leave from hotel
4 pm arrive at private collection
5:30 pm return trip to Convention Center
6:30 pm Artist reception and ACC awards ceremony
8:00 pm Reception ends

COST INCLUDES

Entrance to American Craft Made Baltimore
All transportation around Baltimore
Dinner on Friday night and lunch on Saturday

COST DOES NOT INCLUDE

Transportation to and from Baltimore (JRACraft will do our best to make connections for carpools).
Hotel stay. For information about reserving a room through JRACraft, please email: [email protected] or call Jennifer at 917-617-6876

registration:

Artist Joyce J. Scott

American Craft Made Baltimore Show

Goya Contemporary

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INOVA ARTS COLLECTION TOUR

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SPRING CRAFT WEEKEND BRUNCH

brunch registration is now closed

HONOREE SYMPOSIUM

registration

SPRING CRAFT WEEKEND CELEBRATION

registration

HILLARY WATERS FAYLE

COFFEE & CONVERSATION: JOYCE SCOTT AT MOBILIA GALLERY

CRAFT, CULTURE, & CUISINE: VIETNAM & CAMBODIA

registration is closed

BALTIMORE CAUCUS TRIP - DEADLINE JAN 19

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