SPRING CRAFT WEEKEND: SYMPOSIUM

HONOREE Symposium
Saturday, APRIL 26| 10am - 12:30pm | In person
SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM
​8th and G Streets, NW, Washington DC 20004
Free and open to the public

Join us as we celebrate this year’s Master of the Medium award honorees—Four visionary artists who have shaped contemporary craft.  Hear dazzling presentations from each of them as they discuss their careers and creative process. Guiding this experience is JRACraft Board President Rebecca Ravenal, who will lead a roundtable discussion with our honorees followed by an opportunity for 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 will be there to greet you.

HONOREE SPEAKERS

MIchael lucero (ceramics) 

 For 45 years, Michael Lucero has been creating dynamic, surrealist works that comment on the broad history of ceramics while pushing that medium beyond its perceived limitations. With a career that has redefined ceramic art, Lucero continues to inspire and provoke.

xenobia bailey (FIBER)

Xenobia Bailey is a cultural activist and visionary artist renowned for her kaleidoscopic crochet mandalas and hats, which draw inspiration from ancient African aesthetics and the ethos of funk.  Bailey’s practice reclaims erased cultural histories while envisioning a sustainable, nature-inspired future.

norm sartorius (WOOD)

Renowned for his exquisite hand-carved spoons, Norm Sartorius has spent over 30 years transforming the humble wooden spoon into an art form. Working with rare and exceptional woods, he creates sculptural pieces that blend natural forms, abstract designs, and rich textures. Sartorius draws inspiration from spoon-making traditions across the world, as well as the inherent beauty of his materials. Each spoon he creates is a unique dialogue between the artist and the wood, celebrating the interplay of color, form, and texture.

lola brooks (METAL/JEWELRY) 

Lola Brooks is a metalsmith whose work explores the rich symbolism of jewelry as a cultural artifact. With training at Pratt Institute and SUNY New Paltz, where she studied under Jamie Bennett and Myra Mimlitsch-Gray, Brooks combines traditional craft with contemporary innovation. Her pieces challenge conventional notions of value by juxtaposing stainless steel with gold, transforming sentimental motifs into profound artistic statements. ​

Top left to right: Michael Lucero, Xenobia Bailey, Norm Sartorius, Lola Brooks. 

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