Adorn. As young immigrants, a pair of my ancestors brought only a few belongings with them when they left Norway for the United States in search of a better life 150 years ago. One of those items is a simple wooden bowl painted with Hallingdal-style rosemaling design. I doubt it ever served a functional purpose—it’s still in perfect condition with no wear marks. I imagine that for those young people, having something from their old home to adorn their new one was worth the space it took up in the tiny wooden chest they carried across the ocean.
In craft, the details we add through practices such as embroidery, etching, and carving allow us to carry forward our cultural heritage and to express ourselves. Adornment elevates what we wear, the things we use in our homes, and what we see every day. It changes our lived experience.
In this issue we hope you’ll find inspiration from people who make the world more beautiful and meaningful through adornment. Charles Thompson, whose work appears on the cover, fills his life with words and wood in Massachusetts. Susan Beech of the San Francisco Bay Area collects jewelry that challenges us to think. Sophie de Oliveira Barata designs and, with the help of collaborators, crafts stunning and surprising artificial limbs in the UK. Ben Medansky decided to end his production pottery business in Los Angeles to create ceramic tiles that turn walls into sculptures.
In this issue we also visit western North Carolina, a region rich in craft. It’s been nearly a year since Hurricane Helene devastated this area where many craftspeople make their home. Here we learn how seven artists coped with the disaster and continue the process of recovery together.
Community, connection, stories, and art. The ability to make things with our own hands that add meaning to our lives. These are fundamental to being human and crucial for us to nurture at this time in history. Please support the people who skillfully make not only what you need, but also the things that adorn your spaces and body and bring joy to your world. Their skills and vision need to be supported and celebrated.
As I sit in my living room writing these words, I’m wearing a pair of earrings I recently purchased from an up-and-coming maker at American Craft Fest in Saint Paul. I’m also admiring the wooden bowl carried across the sea by my ancestors and passed down through generations. It adorns a table in the center of the room.
Karen Olson is editor in chief of American Craft.
Pool Wall, 2021, was created in collaboration with global interior designer Kelly Wearstler.
