USU's Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art Shows 'Craft in America: Teachers'

The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art (NEHMA) at Utah State University will screen the newest “PBS Craft in America” episode, focused on “Teachers” in conjunction with its current exhibition Lighting the Fire: Ceramics Education in the American West, Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 7:30 p.m. in the museum on the USU Logan campus. The event is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served.

“Craft in America,” the Peabody Award winning series, is in its eighth season on PBS. “Teachers” features renowned individuals who are committed to their own artistic visions and are equally committed to sharing their skills and passion for craft with new generations of students and artists of all ages.

“Craft in America: Teachers” takes an inclusive approach to education and craft, emphasizing that it is never too early — or too late — to acquire skills and appreciation for craft. The education covered in the episode starts with kindergarten exploration and discovery; goes through high school and university where the curriculum becomes simultaneously more liberating and challenging; and develops into the curiosity and enthusiasm of lifelong learning.

“These artists/teachers are a special breed,” said Katie Lee Koven, executive director and chief curator for NEHMA. “By day they are found in classrooms and workshops ensuring that their hard earned wisdom and practical skills are passed on. Across the country these craft artists are dedicated to education — inspiring, evaluating, critiquing and praising their students’ achievements.”

The film begins with the artistry of Navajo weavers Barbara Teller Ornelas and her sister, Lynda Teller Pete, both of whom learned the craft of weaving the time honored way — through family. Often this method of teaching begins with observation, when skills are absorbed. This legacy of learning is essential to Navajo weavers.

The film then goes to Honolulu, Hawaii, where artist Mark Mitsuda introduces professional glass-forming techniques to his students at Punahou School. It then travels to Omaha, Nebraska, where Therman Statom, a major figure of the Studio Glass Movement, decided to start programs for underserved inner city students and economically challenged youth.

The last portion of the film focuses on Alfred University, School of Art and Design in Alfred, New York. Here, Mark Mitsuda and so many other artists have honed their craft and earned degrees that allow them to become accredited teachers. The College of Ceramics includes a graduate program where conceptual thinking elevates the approach to clay.

With 16 episodes produced since 2007, “Craft in America” takes viewers on a journey to the artists, origins and techniques of American craft. Each episode contains stories from diverse regions and cultures, blending history with living practice and exploring issues of identity, ritual, philosophy and creative expression. Ancillary projects include extensive websites providing hours of online videos and interactive learning materials, as well as museum exhibitions, and the Random House book Craft in America: Celebrating Two Centuries of Artists and Objects.

NEHMA is located on the USU Logan campus and is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, see the museum’s website.

Contact: Katie Lee-Koven, executive director and chief curator for the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, 435-797-0164, katie.lee.koven@usu.edu