The Queue
Meet craft's movers and shakers and stay up on trends
A biweekly roundup for and by the craft community, The Queue introduces you to the artists, curators, organizers, and more featured in the current issue of American Craft. We invite these inspiring individuals to share personally about their lives and work as well as what's inspiring them right now.
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The Queue: Michele Quan
Based in New York, Michele Quan creates ceramic art and objects for the home and garden. As a canvas for her love of drawing, painting, text, and color, her work often explores visual symbols of Eastern iconography and ideas of impermanence and interconnection. See what she’s reading and which podcasts are keeping her full of inspiration and energy.
The Queue: Sarita Westrup
Sarita Westrup is a sculptural basketry artist based in North Carolina. While making she reflects on her original home on the Texas-Mexico Borderlands, her Latinx identity, and considers themes like tension, movement, and portals. In this edition of the Queue, Sarita shares what her biggest barriers have been, what her go-to tool for weaving is, and more.
The Queue: Andy Li
Andy Li is a multi–media artist based in Boston whose work ranges from textiles to photography and illustration—all with a focus "on the power of now." In this week’s post, Andy shares about a public art project on view now as well as how he’s nourishing his creative practice during the pandemic.
The Queue: Megumi Inouye
Megumi Inouye is a northern California-based artist and educator who teaches workshops on sustainable gift wrapping and furoshiki wrapping. It’s her artistic vehicle for expressing a thought, an intention, and feelings of gratefulness. She has initiated a sustainability-centered social media challenge you can participate in this Valentine's Day. Learn how to get involved The Queue.
The Queue: Ian Petrie
Ian Petrie is an illustrator and a ceramicist based in Philadelphia. His interest in graphic novels have influenced his practices with clay. In the Queue, Ian lets us know what novel he's currently reading along with what unconventional tool he uses to keep his ceramics from warping before firing.
The Queue: Nneka Jones
Nneka Jones is a Trinidadian artist based in Tampa, Florida. She uses mixed media artwork as a vehicle for social change. In this latest installment of The Queue, she fills us in on her latest inspirations and projects including a recent commission from the Washington Post for a portrait of Vice President-elect, Kamala Harris. Find out how Jones has found power in creating unity during this lockdown.
The Queue: Dyani White Hawk
Up this week is Minneapolis-based artist Dyani White Hawk, who reflects on artistic practice and shares about the influences behind an exciting, ongoing collaboration. Plus, read up on the podcasts, books, and exhibitions inspiring Dyani right now.
The Queue: Alicia Goodwin
In this week’s post, Chicago-based jewelry artist Alicia Goodwin of Lingua Nigra shares how she’s staying connected to her community during the pandemic, exhibitions she’s excited about, what she’s reading, watching, and listening to lately, and more.
The Queue: Jennifer Younger
Our first post in the Gift series of The Queue features Tlingit jewelry artist Jennifer Younger, who is pictured on the cover of the issue. Read Jennifer’s personal reflections on the maker community and learn about the tools of her practice, work she admires, and more.
The Queue: A Letter to Joyce J. Scott
"At the same time that you refuse to look away from difficult subjects, you also refuse to be rendered invisible." In this week's Queue post, Louisiana-based artist Malcolm Peacock shares a letter to ACC's 2020 Gold Medalist, Joyce J. Scott. Malcolm reflects not only on Joyce's mastery of her craft but also on the unwavering focus and call to action in her work.
The Queue: A Parade for Barbara Waldman
This week, former ACC trustee Alex Moses has written a letter in praise of her friend and colleague Barbara Waldman, who is the recipient of our 2020 Aileen Osborn Webb Award for Philanthropy. Alex and Barbara worked together closely on the ACC board of trustees, and Alex imagines a parade special enough to celebrate Barbara's contribution to the craft field.
The Queue: Kent Aldrich
Kent Aldrich is the owner and master printer behind The Nomadic Press in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the creator of the physical American Craft Council Awards presented to our honorees every other year. In this week’s post, Kent shares about the people who influenced his career, the essential tools of his work, and more.
The Queue: Bob Trotman
In this week’s post, 2020 Fellow Bob Trotman shares about the “philosophical commentary” and “physical urgency” he strives to bring to his work. Watch Bob’s interview, learn what the North Carolina wood artist is currently reading and whose work he’d love to have on his walls, and more.
The Queue: Lisa Gralnick
This week, 2020 Fellow Lisa Gralnick shares about the hopes she has for her own work as well as that of her students. Watch a video interview with the Wisconsin-based metalsmith, studio jeweler, and academic, find out what she’s reading and watching, and more.
The Queue: Patricia Malarcher
ACC Honorary Fellow Patricia Malarcher is a textile artist and writer known for her scholarship, research, and advocacy in the craft field. Read what she shares about her professional journey and aspirations in today’s post and watch interviews with Patricia and others for an inspiring start to your week.
The Queue: Katherine Gray
This week, 2020 ACC Fellow Katherine Gray, who is a glass artist and professor of art and design at California State University, San Bernardino, speaks to the influence she hopes to have on students and colleagues and shares about a barrier she’s overcome in her work. See what Katherine recommends for reading and streaming, too.
The Queue: Denise Lebica
Denise Lebica is the director of Fuller Craft Museum, the recipient of ACC's 2020 Award of Distinction. In this week's Queue post, Denise speaks to the power of the handmade to both feed the soul and help us address the difficult, complicated issues we face in society today.
The Queue: Sonya Clark
This week, Massachusetts-based artist, educator, and 2020 ACC Fellow Sonya Clark shares about the legacies that have shaped her work and the ones she hopes to build upon. Plus, learn about her day-to-day inspiration, reading list, and more.
