Spring Craft Weekend honorees
Every year at our Spring Craft Weekend Fundraiser, JRACraft presents lifetime achievement awards to four to five outstanding individuals who have demonstrated an exceptional contribution and dedication to the American craft field throughout their career. Through the Master of the Medium and Distinguished Educator Award we honor those who have shaped and advanced the craft field into what it is today.
master of the medium award Recognizes artists for excellence of their body of work in the five craft areas of ceramics, fiber, glass, metal and wood. Masters of the Medium must:
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distinguished craft educator award Recognizes educators, curators, writers and organizations for their contribution to craft scholarship. The Distinguished Educators must:
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Both awards are celebrated every year at the JRACraft Spring Craft Weekend Fundraiser with a Symposium, Gala and Awards Brunch.*
Any nomination(s) should identify the individual and provide a short explanation of why this nominee deserves the honor of being recognized, accompanied by published articles about the nominee, credentials, official titles, videos, reviews, and or honors. The nominations will be vetted by an expert selection panel and selected by a vote of JRACraft members.
*In past years, the Master of the Medium and Distinguished Educator Award were presented biannually. This is reflected in our past honoree listings below.
Any nomination(s) should identify the individual and provide a short explanation of why this nominee deserves the honor of being recognized, accompanied by published articles about the nominee, credentials, official titles, videos, reviews, and or honors. The nominations will be vetted by an expert selection panel and selected by a vote of JRACraft members.
*In past years, the Master of the Medium and Distinguished Educator Award were presented biannually. This is reflected in our past honoree listings below.
2024
Beth Lipman, Glass
Marilyn Pappas, Fiber Steven Young Lee, Ceramics Susie Ganch, Distinguished Educator, Metal |
2023
Carolyn Mazloomi, Distinguished Educator, Fiber
Kristina Madsen, Wood Roberto Lugo, Ceramics Bill Gudenrath and Amy Schwartz for The Studio at Corning Museum of Glass, Distinguished Educator |
2022
Anne Wilson, Distinguished Educator,
School of The Art Institute of Chicago Ché Rhodes, Distinguished Educator, University of Louisville Janet Koplos, Distinguished Educator, Award-winning editor and writer |
2021
Sergei Isupov, Ceramics
Consuelo Jemenez Underwood, Fiber Preston Singletary, Glass David Harper Clemons, Metal/Jewelry Wendy Maruyama, Wood/Turned |
2020
Syd Carpenter, Distinguished Educator,
Swarthmore College Warren Seelig, Distinguished Educator, The University of the Arts Sondra Sherman, Distinguished Educator, San Diego State University Craft in America, Distinguished Educator, The award-winning prime-time PBS series |
2019
Therman Statom, Glass
Michael Sherrill, Ceramics Nancy Crow, Fiber Myra Mimlitsch-Gray, Metal/Jewelry Michael Hurwitz, Wood/Turned |
2018
Sonya Clark, Distinguished Educator,
Virginia Commonwealth University John Gill, Distinguished Educator, State University of New York, Alfred Andrea Gill, Distinguished Educator, State University of New York, Alfred Helen Drutt English, Distinguished Educator, Collector, Educator, Dealer Albert LeCoff, Distinguished Educator, Center for Art in Wood |
2017
Chris Gustin, Ceramics
Toots Zynsky, Glass Gerhardt Knodel, Fiber/Baskets Marilyn da Silva, Metal/Jewelry Tommy Simpson, Wood/Turned |
2016
Jamie Bennett, Distinguished Educator,
State University of New York, New Paltz Chunghi Choo, Distinguished Educator, University of Iowa Fab Lab, Distinguished Educator, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts Jean McLaughlin, Distinguished Educator, Director of Penland School of Craft |
2015Masters of the Medium
Richard Shaw, Ceramics Michael James, Fiber/Baskets Karen Lamonte, Glass Maureen Banner, Metal/Jewelry Michael Banner, Metal/Jewelry Silas Kopf, Wood/Turned |
2014Distinguished Educators
Dan Dailey, Massachusetts College of Art and Design Peter Held, Director, Arizona State University Art Museum Ceramics Research Center Glen Kaufman, University of Georgia and Cranbrook Academy of Art Patti Warashina, University of Washington |
2013Masters of the Medium
Adrian Saxe, Ceramics Mary Giles, Fiber/Baskets Paul Stankard, Glass Bruce Metcalf, Metal/Jewelry William Hunter, Wood/Turned |
2012Distinguished Educators
Paulus Berensohn*, Penland School of Crafts Wendy Maruyama, San Diego State University Stephen Rolfe Powell*, Central State University, Kentucky Dr. Judith Schwartz, New York State University |
2011Masters of the Medium
Jun Kaneko, Ceramics Jon Eric Riis, Fiber/Tapestry Lino Tagliapietra, Glass Linda MacNeil, Metal/Jewelry Garry Knox Bennett, Wood/Furniture |
2010Distinguished Educators
Randy Johnston, University of Wisconsin, River Falls Mark Sfirri, Bucks County Community College Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada, Artist, Author, Independent Curator |
2009Masters of the Medium
Warren Mackenzie*, Ceramics Norma Minkowitz, Fiber/Baskets Richard Marquis, Glass: June Schwarcz*, Metal/Jewelry David Ellsworth, Wood/Furniture |
2008
Distinguished Educators
Sharon Church, University of the Arts, Philadelphia Stuart Kestenbaum, Executive director, Haystack Mountain School of Craft Jacquelyn Rice, Rhode Island School of Design |
2007Masters of the Medium
Rudy Autio*, Ceramics Kay Sekimachi, Fiber/Baskets Ginny Ruffner, Glass John Cederquist, Wood/Furniture Joyce Scott, Metal/Jewelry |
2006Distinguished Educators
Don Reitz*, University of Wisconsin, Madison, State University of New York, Alfred, Dover, NJ Cynthia Schira, University of Kansas Lino Tagliapietra, Pilchuck School of Glass and workshop/lecturer |
2005Masters of the Medium
Wayne Higby*, Ceramics Lia Cook, Fiber/Baskets Judy Kensley McKie, Wood/Furniture William Morris, Glass Robert Ebendorf, Metal/Jewelry |
2004Distinguished Educators
William Carlson, University of Illinois William Daley, Temple University, Philadelphia Fred Fenster, University of Wisconsin, Madison |
2003Masters of the Medium
Viola Frey*, Ceramics Bob Stocksdale*, Wood/Furniture Marvin Lipofsky*, Glass Arline Fisch, Metal/Jewelry John McQueen, Fiber/Baskets |
2002Distinguished Educators
Gerhardt Knodel, Executive Director, Cranbrook Academy of Art Rosanne Somerson, Rhode Island School of Design Wayne Higby, State University of New York, Alfred |
2001Masters of the Medium
Ruth Duckworth*, Ceramics Edward Moulthrop*, Wood/Furniture Dan Dailey, Glass William Harper, Metal/Jewelry Jack Lenor Larsen, Fiber/Baskets |
2000Distinguished Educators
Kenneth Ferguson, Kansas City Art Institute Arline Fisch, San Diego State University Harvey Littleton*, University of Wisconsin, Madison |
1999Masters of the Medium
Toshiko Takaezu*, Ceramics Wendell Castle*, Wood/Furniture Dale Chihuly, Glass Mary Lee Hu, Metal/Jewelry Lenore Tawney*, Fiber/Baskets |
1997Masters of the Medium
Peter Voulkos*, Ceramics Sam Maloof*, Wood/Furniture Harvey Littleton*, Glass Albert Paley, Metal/Jewelry Ed Rossbach*, Fiber/Baskets |