American Craft magazine celebrates the diversity of American craft and its makers. From the handmade that we use in our homes every day to the fine craft honored in museums, we cover inspiring craft being made today. We also showcase craft organizations making a difference in their communities, thought leadership in the field, and the importance of craft in contemporary American culture.

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From the Editor

Wonder. “We need wonder in order to keep moving and growing—to stay alive in the world,” writes designer and illustrator Marian Bantjes in her book I Wonder. “It gives us meaning and, in fact, makes us human.”

At American Craft we’ve been pondering the word wonder and its many meanings—from experiencing awe and delight to having curiosity and asking questions. The stories in this issue highlight how wonder plays a role in the way humans design, create, and experience craft.

Among profiles of many artists, you’ll find the mind-bending and mesmerizing work of Yuri Kobayashi and Melissa Meier. You’ll discover the magical connection between makers—such as Tracey Beale and Kristy Kún (whose work is on the cover)—and their materials. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look into the studio of stone carver Sebastian Martorana.

Amanda McCavour creates paths for visitors to walk through her embroidered installations, such as Pink Field, Blue Fog, 2016–ongoing, pictured here in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 2018, 14 x 40 x 30 ft. See more of McCavour’s work in the End Note of this issue. Photo by Rebekah Hogan.

Writers in this issue also ask questions and consider history: craft historian Glenn Adamson asks whether craft is part of the new precariat, while Jovencio de la Paz explores an Oregon river and the tradition of the scholar’s stone. Bantjes and two other artists, Chitra Ganesh and Preston Singletary, share stories about objects that inspire wonder and may have you thinking differently about craft.

We hope this issue will be a reminder to enjoy moments of delight and surprise, and that encountering wonderful craft made by imaginative artists leads you to feel more alive.

KAREN OLSON / Editor in Chief

American Craft Council publishes American Craft magazine on a quarterly basis but reserves the right to change the number of issues in an annual term, including discontinuing any format and substituting and/or modifying the manner in which the subscription is distributed.