Craftsman Gala Review, Your Weekend’s Zoom Classes, and a Virtual Celebration in Pasadena

by Kate Nixon

 

The Virtual Craftsman Gala Breaks a New Record

 

This weekend, supporters of the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms were treated to a variety of virtual events during the first ever online Craftsman Gala. Including live music, crafting sessions, a silent auction, showings of works from the museum’s collections, and the evening’s highlight: the grand opening of the new Education Center, the first-ever virtual Craftsman Gala was a unique and special experience for all involved and necessary to carry out the museum’s most important fundraiser of the year. According to the museum’s executive director Vonda Givens, the virtual day of celebration was a great way to connect with all local and out-of-state supporters. “Though we missed seeing our friends in the Arts and Crafts community in person, our virtual event did feel like the next best thing,” said Vonda. “We were thrilled to have a way to share the grand opening of the new Education Center with our supporters around the country. It was a special night. We are grateful to everyone who joined us from near and far.”

The funds raised from the evening’s events went to the operations budget for the museum. As a result, a new record was set for the Gala reverse auction. “Giving continued through the weekend and by Sunday evening, the Gala’s reverse auction total had set a new record,” said Vonda. “The outpouring of generosity was both incredible and heartwarming. We are so grateful.”

 

Board President Barbara Weiskittel and Catherine Mathis, a member of the museum’s Advisory Council, welcomed virtual attendees into the new Education Center. During the event, this dynamic duo shared highlights from the museum’s online auction. The highly successful auction closed on Sunday evening.

 

The Craftsman: The Life and Work of Gustav Stickley
By Hammer and Hand: A Study of Gustav Stickley’s Career in Metalwork

 

Session 4: “By Hammer and Hand”: A New History of Stickley’s Metal Shop

Saturday, October 31 at 1:00 PM EDT

This weekend, enthusiasts and supporters of the Gustav Stickley legacy can take a look at the Stickley shop’s history with metal wares. Led by Jonathan Clancy, instructor and Director of Collections for the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms, this session features new research about the timeline of the production of metal wares, the workers who made the objects, and the sources that Stickley looked to for design ideas. Using Clancy’s new research, a more complete history of the shop is revealed and attendees can expect to gain a new understanding of the comprehensive Stickley catalog and the lives of the workers who helped create those works.
During the month-long celebration of Gustav Stickley’s legacy and on the heels of the Craftsman Gala virtual celebration weekend, “By Hammer and Hand” continues the study of the contributions Gustav Stickley made to several concentrations of the Arts and Crafts Movement. According to the museum’s Director of Collections Jonathan Clancy, it seemed like the right time to implement his research on Stickley’s metalwork to provide a better understanding of the development of Stickley’s works. “What we have not had, until now, is the opportunity to bring all of this together and give a new history of Stickley’s metal shop,” said Clancy. “It seemed particularly fitting as we end our gala month–a period in which we have invited everyone to Fall for Stickley again–to demonstrate that our understanding of Stickley and his legacy continues to unfold, that the museum remains at the center of scholarship and innovation, and to bring that directly to those who have supported our efforts during this challenging time.
To register for the Saturday class, visit The Stickley Museum’s website.
Between the Covers: The Books of the Ruskin, Roycroft and the Arts and Crafts – this Saturday 11:00am – 12:45pm EST

 

The online classroom on Saturday will also feature two courses from the last week of the virtual conference Ruskin, Roycroft and the Arts and Crafts, a collaboration of The Roycroft Campus, The Ruskin Society of North America, and The Guild of St. George. Purchasing tickets for these classes will also allow you access to digital copies of these classes.

Ruskin Between the Covers: Some First Editions by Robert Knight

October 31, 2020 – 11:00am – 11:45am est

While all, or most of us, have read copiously the writings of John Ruskin, some may not have actually encountered the objects in which Ruskin’s ideas actually appeared, that is, the first editions of Ruskin’s books. This lecture will show the first editions of Ruskin’s books and participants will discuss the books shown, including Salsette and Elephanta (1839), Ruskin’s Newdigate Prize Poem; first editions of all 5 volumes of Modern Painters (1843-1860) with an autograph letter; an interesting association copy of Unto This Last (1862); and an almost complete set of the individual pamphlet issues of Fors Clavigera.

A resident of Ontario, Canada’s Niagara-on-the-Lake, Robert Knight is a graduate from the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, and the University of Toronto, specializing in English Language and Literature. Mr. Knight also taught high school for 25 years and is an avid collector of Ruskin books.

 

Continuing the Tradition – Roycroft Books Today by Dr. Joe Weber

October 31, 2020 – 12:00pm – 12:45pm est

When the Campus re-acquired The Print Shop in 2015, Dr. Joe Weber helped to establish the press room once again. This presentation will discuss the process of creating a functioning, turn-of-the 20th century, printing shop, and a demonstration of some of the books that are being created using similar techniques as the original Roycrofters.

Dr. Weber has been a member of the Roycroft Campus and the Roycrofters-At-Large Association for the past decade as well as a lifelong student and collector of Roycroft books and materials. His special interests have been the philosophy of the Arts and Crafts Movement and the field of printing, especially Roycroft books. He has been engaged in writing Roycroft-related publications, developing the techniques of Roycroft printing and construction, and working on the re-opening of the Roycroft Print Shop.

 

As recently announced, the educational opportunities will continue with the Roycroft History Courses gone virtual starting next month with “Masters of the Arts and Crafts” focusing on William Morris, John Ruskin, Gustav Stickley, and Bert Hubbard.

To register for the courses for this weekend’s courses, please purchase tickets here.

To see the schedule and register for the Roycroft History Courses, please click here to visit the Roycroft History Course page.

 

 

Preservation Pasadena – November 6th – 15th – Registration is open!

 

The Craftsman Weekend will go virtual and it has a new name!

Pasadena Heritage’s Craftsman Weekend is re-imagined with a broader frame and a new name! The city of Pasadena is home to some of the most notable examples of architect-designed properties from Craftsman style to Mid-Century and everything in between. Over the course of 10 days, virtual attendees can explore architectural style and design over five decades and learn the connections and differences that illustrate how architecture changed through time. Join us from the comfort of your own home for this year’s fall education event, Preservation Pasadena: Craftsman to Modern.

Preservation Pasadena will be a virtual, 10-day celebration of preservation and architecture and will include tours, lectures, panel discussions, conversations with artists and collectors and more! Immerse yourself in great architecture as you experience over 15 programs throughout the week of November 6 – 15, 2020.

All events are $12 for members and $15 for non-members unless otherwise noted. An all events package can be purchased for $138 for members and $175 for non-members. Memberships can be purchased here.

 

An example of the wide variety of sessions included during the 10-day event include:

  • Virtual Walking Tour of Prospect Park, Pasadena’s First National Register District
  • Greene & Greene Meet Post-War Modernism
  • Hispanic Influence on Pasadena and California Architecture
  • 200 Years of Black Pioneers in Pasadena and Los Angeles
  • Meet and Greet the Artists and Experts
  • A Century of Stickley at The Gamble House
  • Q & A with director PJ Letofsky, Pasadena’s own Neutra Scholar Barbara Lamprecht, Alan Hess, and Raymond Neutra

To see the whole schedule and register for sessions, please click here to go to the Preservation Pasadena website.

 

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