Doug Bucci, Elisabeth Agro, Jessica Jane Julius and Bennett Bean
On Friday, May 11th, approximately 250 attendees gathered at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Perelman building to admire the works of contemporary craft featured in the “Craft Spoken Here” exhibit and mingle over drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
Jessie Hemmons, Yarnbomber
The Craft Show Committee and the Young Friends of the Philadelphia Museum of Art partnered to organize the cocktail reception. Among the notable attendees were contemporary craft artists Doug Bucci, Jessica Jane Julius, and Bennett Bean, all three of whom have works in the exhibit. Jessie Hemmons, who knitted approximately 350 skeins of yarn into brightly colorful swags and blankets and “yarn bombed” the front of the Perelman Building as part of the exhibit, also attended.
Timothy Rub, Elisabeth Agro, Lisa Woolbert (right to left)
Short remarks were given about the exhibition and the event. Timothy Rub, Director and Chief Executive of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, praised the spectacular work of Elisabeth Agro, The Nancy M. McNeil Associate Curator of American Modern and Contemporary Crafts and Decorative Arts, who curated the exhibit. Elisabeth Agro described the creative process, collaborative approach and support for innovation that enabled the exhibit to be planned and executed in less than a year. Finally, Lisa Woolbert, Chair of the 2012 Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, graciously thanked those who were in attendance and invited everyone to the 2012 Craft Show, which will be held at the Convention Center in November.
The “Craft Spoken Here” exhibit itself showcases 40 contemporary works of craft in ceramic, glass, metal, wood, lacquer, paper, and fiber, dating from 1960 to the present. Located in the Exhibition Gallery of the Perelman Building, the exhibit is open until August 12, 2012.
The exhibition is made possible by The Leonard and Norma Klorfine Foundation Fund for Modern and Contemporary Craft. Additional support is provided by the Windgate Charitable Foundation and the Center for American Art at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In-kind support is provided courtesy of Lion Brand Yarn, A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts, Inc., and Calico Corners.
