Summer Sessions For the Curious Collector
by Kate Nixon
During the first week of August, the Arts & Crafts In August online conference will have both live and recorded Zoom Small Group Discussion sessions covering a variety of special interest topics for collectors, makers and researchers. As part of the commitment to serve a growing community of collectors with educational resources, all paid registrants get access to links to live discussion sessions led by professionals, authors, and artisans from all over the country. While a number of Arts & Crafts In August sessions will cover demonstrations for those who want to create their own works and resources for researchers and writers, take a look at the sessions perfect for the collector in your life.
Furniture
Author Michael McCracken returns to our Zoom classroom Monday, August 1st to talk all things Morris Chairs. During “Concerning The Easy Chair,” the topic of Arts and Crafts Era Morris Chairs will be explored, namely the similarities and differences between Morris Chairs from different firms. Both traditional and “Craftsman style” Morris chairs have made their way into many a bungalow as part of an Arts and Crafts collection — Morris Chairs from a variety of Arts & Crafts era firms will be explored including Gustav Stickley’s Craftsman Studios, Charles Limbert, Greene & Greene, and the Roycrofters including their similarities and differences. Author Mike McCracken will co-lead this discussion on the many developments of the Morris chair in “Concerning the Easy Chair: Exploring Arts & Crafts Morris Chairs.” Next, Gustav Stickley enthusiasts won’t want to miss this special presentation by the Stickley Museum taking place in Gustav Stickley’s own kitchen. Executive Director Vonda Givens and Jonathan Clancy, Director of Collections and Preservation, will join us for an exploration of efforts to restore the family kitchen in the Craftsman Farms log house in “A Tour of Stickley’s Kitchen” ; the log house kitchen will be restored from the original floor plan and instructor Jonathan will also explore the work into restoring Stickley’s own kitchen stove! As always, Vonda and Jonathan will be able to answer questions live after the presentation.
Pottery
In the world of art pottery and ceramics, stories about women artists and designers in the Arts and Crafts art pottery world continue to emerge as the works of Adelaide Robineau, Mary Chase Perry, Sarah Tutt, the Saturday Evening Girls, and others make their mark in modern day auctions. The roles of women designing vases and ceramic works have increased awareness of the movement and a discussion about women bucking turn of the century convention, but were women only limited to the role of designers at the turn of the century? The expanded roles women took on in Arts and Crafts era pottery firms are explored in “The Changing Roles of Women in Art Pottery.” Speaking of legacies, well hear the story of a woman and her sisters who brought back the Fulper name in ceramics. The granddaughter of Fulper Pottery owner William Fulper, writer Anne Fulper joins us for a live reading of the compelling story “The Story of Fulper Tile” about how she and her sisters found her grandfather’s glaze recipes in the attic and would continue her grandfather’s ceramic legacy with the creation of the modern company Fulper Tile, the company created by the Fulper sisters using family recipes. Anne recounts the story along with an additional story in an amusing live reading. In addition, a special Seminar from the Archives will be shown from the 2018 National Arts and Crafts Conference; “The Two Robineaus: Partners In Porcelain” by Dr. Martin Eidelberg will explore the lives and works of top art potter and ceramicist Adelaide Alsop Robineau and her husband Samuel E. Robineau.
Metalware
Those who collect art metal won’t want to miss these next sessions; come explore the similarities and differences between the early works of Onondaga Metal Studios to the later reincarnation of Benedict Art Studios metalwork — and how did they compare to the metalworks of Gustav Stickley’s Craftsman Studios? Hammered & Hewn’s Bryan Mead and Stickley Copper’s Ron Ciarmello will be live with Arts and Crafts In August to explore the metalwork from all three firms in “Art Metalwork of the Syracuse School.” Next, the works of enigmatic Karl Kipp and his shop will be explored in this special session from Roycroft historian, author and appraiser Robert Rust. From buttressed vases to hand hammered boxes to lighting, Kipp’s metalworks and a brief overview of the Tookay Shop will take the spotlight as some of the finest Arts & Crafts era metalwork with important copper designs; works that are still relevant with metalwork collectors and the collections of Arts & Crafts enthusiasts even today. Make plans to attend ”Collecting the Tookay Shop” with Robert Rust. A seminar offering will be provided from the mind of Master Artisan Ron Van Ostrand — “The Loving Marks of the Hammer: Appreciating Arts & Crafts Metalware” will show an artisan’s love and respect for the medium of metal and a history of Arts & Crafts metalwork.
Registering for Arts & Crafts In August
In order to register for the 14 live sessions and sessions from the archives to watch during Arts & Crafts In August, click here to visit arts-craftsconference.com and register. Watch the video below to view what the online registrant’s experience will be and how to access both live and recorded sessions on your own schedule.