Balancing the sublime with the worldly, Christina Bothwell uses glass and mixed media to create sculptures that portray the processes of birth, death, and renewal. Through its delicacy and petite stature, Chinchilla in a Teacup encapsulates the fragile nature of life and glass. Many of the artist’s works feature animals; a reflection of her own life which is filled with a plethora of companion pets. Yet for Bothwell, chinchillas are more akin to magic than an earthly creature, making them “similar to glass art in a way - beautiful, delicate, easily broken, but sublime.”

Bothwell herself is no stranger to the fleeting and unpredictable nature of life. On August 8, 2018, a massive fire destroyed Bothwell's art studio, a converted barn in Pennsylvania. Four days later, a flood raged through the area, causing further destruction. A significant number of her works along with equipment, materials and personal objects, were destroyed in addition to the studio itself. Since the structure was insured only as a residence, and not as a commercial property, Bothwell and her husband did not receive compensation for the value of the studio and its contents. It was at this point that CERF+ stepped in to help Bothwell and her husband, artist Robert Bender, by providing a grant to help them rebuild, and begin again.
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All proceeds from this auction support of CERF+, the Artists Safety Net. CERF+ is the leading nonprofit organization focused on safeguarding artists' livelihoods nationwide. They focus on readiness, relief and resilience for studio artists in all craft disciplines by providing a safety net to support strong and sustainable careers. CERF+’s core services are education programs, advocacy, network building and emergency relief. The auction is organized by Caroline Kipp, Curator of Contemporary Art at The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum in collaboration with the James Renwick Alliance for Craft.

Glass artist, Christina Bothwell was recently featured as the final presenting artist in the James Renwick Alliance for Craft 2021 Distinguished Artist Series. Audience members were able to see her work in her Pennsylvania based studio as well as learn more about her inspirations and ask the artist about her creative process. 
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​​Christina Bothwell studied painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, before teaching herself how to work with ceramics, and then cast glass. She has had eleven solo exhibitions of her work since 2006, most recently at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, in Indiana. Her sculptures are in the public collections of the Cincinnati Museum of Art, Ohio, the Glasmuseet Ebeltoft, Museum of Contemporary Glass, Denmark, SMOG (Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Glass Art), China, the Tutsek-Stiftung Foundation, Germany, the Fuller Craft Museum, Massachusetts, the Smithsonian Museum of Art’s Archives of American Art, and several other major museums.
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​​Christina Bothwell, American, b. 1960
Chinchilla in a Teacup, 2021
Cast glass, ceramic, hand painted detail (oil paints)
Completed 4/20/21
Dimensions: 3.75 in. H x 3.875 in. W x 3 in. D
Retail: $1,000
Starting Bid: $250

After over a year of social distancing, JRACraft is excited to share upcoming craft focused trips and resource guides for independent travel.

Recently, we have partnered with Craft in America to feature the craft resources map, on the JRA website. This map features a list of schools, museums, craft organizations and and galleries arranged nationwide by location. 

Additionally, we have begun creating trip guides. These will be published for our future trips, but to get us started we have a few available for our favorite craft cities.

​Explore these newly announced trips and resources and stay tuned for the next issue of the Craft Quarterly magazine, dedicated to travel.
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Explore all Asheville has to offer. Meet with local artists over brunch, view private collections, and visit galleries and organizations such as the Asheville Art Museum, Blue Spiral Gallery and the Asheville Center for Glass. Explore the River Arts District and more, all with your guide, artist and JRACraft Board member, Tim Tate. 

​Join the JRA in an Arts & Architecture tour of Annapolis to see three distinct collectors' homes, two artist visit, and lunch. Each collection features very different architectural styles and collections. Guests will experience the modern collection and architecture of Kitty and Tom Stoner, the award-winning minimalist farmhouse of Marilyn Lyons and the international eclectic collection of Janet and Bill Pearson set in a traditional home on 150 acres.​

Artist studios, galleries and collectors' homes fill this trip to Durham and Raleigh, NC. Visits include the home and studio of ceramic artist Eric Serritella, a get-together with artist Patrick Dougherty from the Renwick Gallery's WONDER exhibition, also visit private collections and take a downtown gallery tour.

Learn all Houston has to offer with its cultural institutions, public art and more. Visit the premier Houston Center for Contemporary Craft and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; tour local artist studios; and have exclusive access to the region's top private craft collections.

New Mexico Treasures, including Santa Fe, Abiquiu, and Albuquerque. Tour private collections, spend time with studio artists, visit a number of established galleries, and trace the life of prolific artist Georgia O'Keefe. Enjoy some of the finest cuisine New Mexico offers.​

The James Renwick Alliance for Craft (JRACraft) Community Craft Calendar is quickly emerging as the leading national resource for craft events in the United States. As part of mission to fostering education and public appreciation of American Craft, we are working towards making a national resource of craft events, known as our Community Craft Calendar. This calendar is made up of user generated content which is maintained by JRACraft. Currently, you can find our Community Craft Calendar on our website, as well as the websites of the American Craft Council, Creative Crafts Council, and District Clay. 

​Learn about craft exhibitions happening around the world through the monthly James Renwick Alliance Newsletter or join our mailing list to get regular updates about upcoming events. ​
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*** Due to the shutdowns and various restrictions on gathering, the exhibitions listed below are tentative and may be changed without notice. If planning to visit, please call ahead to verify the events are still open. A small benefit is that many venues have put their shows online and added other objects to their websites which are rarely seen online or in person.

Maine Pottery Tour, May 1-2
Sponsored by the Maine Craft Association, www.mainepotterytour.org

Transition Conference (virtual), May 5-8
Presented by the Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG)
Hosted by the Metal Museum, www.metalmuseum.org

29th Annual St Croix Valley Pottery Tour, May 7-9
Sponsored by Minnesota Potters of Upper St. Croix River, www.minnesotapotters.org

Urban Glass Virtual Gala & Auction, May 12
Urban Glass, Brooklyn, NY, www.urbanglass.org

Glass Art Society Virtual 2021 Conference, May 20-22
Sponsored by the Glass Art Society, www.glassart.org