It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of one our most beloved JRACraft members, Giselle Huberman.

Giselle passed away on December 10th after a protracted illness. As board president from 2013 to 2016, her amazing spirit, energy and vision solidified our group as a national force in the craft world. From board meetings in her magnificent home (which we dubbed the clubhouse), to the spectacular trips she led and the amazing fundraising she accomplished for the renovations at the Renwick Gallery, Giselle proved to be one of our most cherished leaders, and she was chosen to receive the JRACraft One-of-a-Kind Award in 2020. Her impact and support among craft artists was unparalleled.

Giselle’s enthusiasm was contagious, making it fun to be on committees and plan programs with her. She and her husband Ben were always willing to host our events in their craft-filled home. From New Years Eve casino parties to artist workshops, her gracious spirit brought people together and strengthened our ties with one another and our common passion for Craft.

Artist member Tim Tate shared some special thoughts about Giselle: “At every SOFA Chicago design fair, Giselle, Ben and I went to a meal together. If any of the artists under her wing were having a bad show that year, Ben and Giselle would make sure to stop by and purchase one of their works. That’s the way they thought: collect local, make a difference, and show amazing
support by creating opportunities for those artists, including many from the Washington Glass School, and not just by purchasing. If she could figure out some way to further one of those artists’ careers, she would make it happen.”

Giselle is survived by her devoted husband Ben, her sons Jon and Martin (the producer of the JRACraft video on our homepage), her grandchildren and her beloved dogs. There will be no service in Florida; members of JRACraft hope to hold a remembrance event in the DC area.

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