American Craft Podcast

This is a rebroadcast of a podcast from May 25th, 2022 presented as an encore for anyone who missed it.   “I wonder where is all my relation. Friendship to all and every nation.”  —David Drake   Ancestry and family are profound values in Baralaye's life, but the terms also have a degree of opacity. An understanding of “one’s people” touches on broad ideas of community, history, place, and value that shape a sense of belongin...

Originally published in late April we want to make James' work and interview available to new listeners as well. Enjoy this encore presentation.

 

In fashioning the object, Morel Doucet pays homage to the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, who came from humble beginnings. Morel's piece commemorates Mr. Moïse's legacy and the fragments of his vision for the Haitian people. The butterflies that grace the face of the o...

Originally released in April we think it's worth inviting our new listeners to our conversation with Morel Doucet.

In fashioning the object, Morel Doucet pays homage to the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, who came from humble beginnings. Morel's piece commemorates Mr. Moïse's legacy and the fragments of his vision for the Haitian people. The butterflies that grace the face of the object are symbols of transformat...

The Willys Jeep, very common in Baracoa, Cuba, is something Quintero has represented many times in his work through his sociocultural project titled Transportarte a Baracoa (transport yourself to Baracoa). When Quintero started this project, he wanted to reflect the reality that surrounds those in Cuba. The Willys has been used to carry packages and help with moves. During World War II, it was employed by the military on the Guant...

During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the in-between spaces of immigrant life were made more acute for Bukola Koiki than ever. Searching for the feeling of home during the seemingly endless isolation of that time, she found herself comforted in abstracted forms and shapes of houses. The Pull was made in response to her yearning for Nigeria and beloved family members.

American Craft Podcast than...

“I wonder where is all my relation. Friendship to all and every nation.”  —David Drake   Ancestry and family are profound values in Baralaye's life, but the terms also have a degree of opacity. An understanding of “one’s people” touches on broad ideas of community, history, place, and value that shape a sense of belonging and being. We ultimately belong less to those broad entities than to the specific people and the distinc...

Burn It All Away depicts an idyllic nature scene catching fire under the rays of a burning sun while an anthropomorphized gazing pool smiles in witness to this circumstance. Wet footprints step away from the pool, suggesting the departure of the reflected subject, or perhaps of the reflection itself.... ....The pool smiles because the physical body it was reflecting is free of the pain and confines of a disorder people often...

With his object, James toiled with the notion of creating a tool that embodies sport, escapism, and self-defense; that expresses movement and stillness, a call and response between sporting leisure and creative labor. He attempts to fashion a tool that is multifunctional and dysfunctional at the same time.

See James' object and read both his and the curator's statement here. 

American Craft Podcast thanks our guest, James Maurelle...

In fashioning the object, Morel Doucet pays homage to the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, who came from humble beginnings. Morel's piece commemorates Mr. Moïse's legacy and the fragments of his vision for the Haitian people. The butterflies that grace the face of the object are symbols of transformation and hope. The stark white porcelain head pays homage to Morel's grandfather's cup of coffee he would casually d...