As a Nigerian-American fiber and paper artist, I seek to celebrate the culture and work ethic of my Yoruba ancestors and spread that knowledge through my art, writing, and teaching. My views on craft are filtered through the lens of a trained designer-turned-craftsperson, and as someone who engages with the world from a space between two very different cultures. So you can imagine how excited I was to receive a scholarship to attend the the American Craft Council’s “Present Tense” conference in Nebraska this year.
 

The educational and intellectual rigor represented among the speakers at the conference was impressive, and unlike many other conferences, “Present Tense” had no concurrent programming, which allowed attendees – a mix of artists, curators, administrators, students, and craft enthusiasts – to participate in all aspects of the conference, from the panels and talks to informal networking. This shared point of reference made it easy to connect and form new friendships, as we could discuss what we had seen and heard together more immediately.

As we came together in conversation, it became clear that the craft world is in a place of exploration and transition. One of the themes that emerged from the panels and speakers was that those who are ready to embrace change and the fluidity of material, concepts, definitions, and technologies will help define the creative world today. Change will come through the persistence of forward-thinking people in the field.

Fiber artist Tanya Aguiñiga is one of those people, and the person I was most looking forward to meeting at the conference. During her session, she helped me see that I need not be deterred by any perceived limitations of my medium. As an artist who creates my sculptures with mainly fiber and textiles, I learned that it is okay to embrace the sometimes strange ambiguity of my final products, to explore all the methods and avenues to achieve the realization of my concepts, and not to be hung up on the idea of absolute mediums. This kind of open-ended and open-minded thinking is what will keep craft alive for me and for the generations after me.

Being inspired in this way was only possible because of the “Present Tense” scholarship I received. I am grateful to ACC and its supporters for giving me the opportunity to come together with so many others who share a passion for craft. I am so pleased to be a part of this amazing community, advancing the dialogue about our field and the future of craft.

And yet, the conference is just one of the many ways ACC works to strengthen the craft field. When you support the Council, you help new ideas grow and flourish, you make it possible for important questions be asked and thoughtfully considered, and you support opportunities for everyone to be included in the conversation.

Please join me in making a gift today to ensure that ACC can continue to provide outreach and educational programming to inspire artists and strengthen the future of craft for all.

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P.S. On behalf of all the artists served by ACC, thank you for considering a gift of support.