FRIDAY TOP 5: CRAFT NEWS MAY 1, 2020

An annual conference goes digital, a new public art series, and more!

1. Have you heard that the Glass Art Society is making its annual conference digital, and will be free and open to the public! The conference will take place from May 21 – May 23. I hope you are as excited about this as we are!
2. Contemporary mosaic artist Jim Bachor has a new public art series, paying homage to COVID-19 essentials and we just had to share. 
3. A few months ago, past JRA Members Sandy and Lou Grotta were featured in the NY Times for their extensive contemporary craft collection and unique contemporary home and last Friday they have done it again with an in-depth Artsy feature. Currently, there is a free pdf of their book featuring the architecture and collection. 
4. If you have been indulging in more reading during these times, consider catching up with the Corning Glass Museum's New Glass Review. All of the past issues are currently free and online! Or may we recommend the multitude of articles on the Art Jewelry Forum? Some of the best writing in the craft field can be found tucked away in their extensive archives of articles.
5. The craft field lost some important people this past week. Paul J. Smith, Director Emeritus at the Museum of Arts and Design has passed away at the age of 88. Art scholar and champion of ceramic artist Warren McKenzie, John Driscoll passed away of COVID-19 complications. Locally, we lost past board member, arts supporter, and philanthropist Carolyn Alper.