Ai Weiwei: Dropping the Urn (Ceramic Works 5000 B.C.E. - 2010 C.E.)

Museum of Contemporary Craft

Portland, OR

July 15-October 30, 2010

By Elizabeth Lopeman

Before defacing the first in a series of Neolithic vessels on video at the Museum of Contemporary Craft in Portland, Oregon, Beijing-based artist and activist Ai Weiwei pauses to look into the camera, as if to ask the viewer to bear witness. He then dips the pot into a bucket of pink industrial paint, obscuring its ancient design. It could be said that by altering ancient Chinese artifacts Ai is making a statement, but most often his work comes off more as a question for the spectator—very much in the spirit of Marcel Duchamp, whom Ai counts as an influence. His question might be “Does this action matter?” Or even “What are you going to do about it?” The Chinese government has frequently taken his activism as a challenge and regularly performs conspicuous surveillance on him. Ai, one by one, pulls the earthenware pots from a shelf and submerges them, changing them to blue or yellow, purple or green, with remarkable nonchalance.

The exhibition’s title, “Dropping the Urn,” comes from a triptych of photographs titled ...

The cult illustrator Robert Crumb–“R. Crumb,” as he signs his work–holds a special place in the hearts of baby boomers. What ’60s kid didn’t gaze in awe at his cover art for Big Brother and the Holding Company’s Cheap Thrills album (marveling every time at Janis Joplin’s cleavage), paste a “Keep on Truckin” sticker on a school notebook, or delight in the idea of a naughty comic strip starring a feline rake named Fritz the Cat?

The New York artist Joseph Cavalieri has been reminded of just how powerfully this era-defining art still resonates, as he does a three-month, open-studio residency (through August) at the Museum of Arts and Design, working on a series of stained-glass panels based on Crumb illustrations–such as D&G, a portrait of Crumb’s wife and muse, Aline Kominsky-Crumb. “The reaction from visitors has been pretty wild,” says Cavalieri, 49. “Seeing these images brings back a forgotten time. Parents are somewhat embarrassed, telling their kids how they loved reading these comics.”

Cavalieri has done darkly funny panels featuring characters from The Simpsons, and wanted to explore other cartoon icons. “Mr. Crumb’s characters felt like the perfect next ...

Assistant Managing Editor
American Craft Council - Minneapolis

American Craft magazine is seeking a seasoned editor to serve as assistant managing editor for the bimonthly magazine.

The ideal candidate is:

• An excellent writer and editor, skilled in shaping stories of interest to a broad readership
• Familiar with the whole process of magazine publishing, from story planning to art direction, line editing and proofing
• Experienced with companion websites and interactive tools
• Well-versed in the uses of social media to reach audiences and create communities
• Acquainted with InDesign, Acrobat and Photoshop
• Passionate about the visual arts and a visual thinker
• Innovative and open to new communication approaches
• Collaborative in work style, with excellent people skills
• Resourceful, able to make the most of a small staff and modest budget in a non-profit organization
• Knowledgeable about the broad craft community and its evolving dynamics
• Familiar with AP style

How to apply:

Please send the following information in a single file by Aug. 1 to mmoses@craftcouncil.org:

• Resume
• Cover letter describing your interest in the role as well as ideas for broadening readership for American Craft magazine and americancraftmag.org
• Names of three references, with contact information
• Salary requirements

Relocation reimbursement is not available for this position.

New York, NY (June 24, 2010) - The American Craft Council announced the hiring of Monica Moses as American Craft magazine's new Editor in Chief, effective June 28.

Moses, a Minneapolis resident, has been an independent editor and creative director after serving as the Executive Director of Product Innovation for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. While in that role she helped to launch Vita.mn, a social media-tabloid-events brand for young adults that delivered new readers and advertisers to the company at a time of media contraction. Prior to that, she served as the Star Tribune's Deputy Managing Editor. She directed the paper's 2005 redesign, earning six top awards from the international Society for News Design. Moses also led the evolution of MARQ, an award-winning bimonthly luxury magazine, and was editor of Living Here magazine.

"I am extremely pleased to bring Monica Moses on to fill such an important and defining role with the organization," said Chris Amundsen, Executive Director of the American Craft Council. "With her stellar background in editing, publishing, creative development and electronic communication Monica will provide great direction for the magazine as well as added value to the organization as we reestablish ourselves in Minneapolis this August."

Moses ...

The American Craft Council will be moving soon from our New York City location to our new offices in Minneapolis, MN. As of August 1, 2010 please note that our new address will be:

American Craft Council
1224 Marshall Street NE
Suite 200
Minneapolis, MN 55413

Thank you for bringing this announcement to the attention of your accounting/billing department, for updating your database so we may continue to receive correspondence from you, and for sharing this information with others who will find it of interest.

American Craft Council Library
Please note that in preparation for the American Craft Council's move, the Council Library's last day of operation in New York City will be Wednesday, June 30. If you wish to make an appointment to visit the Council Library on or prior to June 30 please contact David Shuford at dshuford@craftcouncil.org, 212.274.0630 x232.

NYC Spring Street Office
Our offices will be vacated on July 16 but we will continue working through the month of July. Please continue to contact us via our e-mail addresses and phone numbers. We will post our new telephone number when we have it.

Our 800 number will remain operational so please feel free to contact us ...

Director of Development Job Description

Organizational Overview:
A national, nonprofit organization with new headquarters in Minneapolis, MN, the American Craft Council is the advocate, steward and champion of the American craft movement. Founded in 1943, the Council is the preeminent professional service organization, promoting work at the intersection of art and design, synthesizing trends and innovation across all craft media and fostering the dialogue about craft's influence on American identity. Programs include the bimonthly magazine AMERICAN CRAFT, annual juried craft shows presenting artists and their work, a conference on craft, the Aileen Osborn Webb Awards honoring excellence, a specialized library, workshops and seminars.

Position Summary:
Reporting to the Executive Director the director of development is responsible for all aspects of the Council's fundraising program and works closely with the executive director to support trustees' and volunteers' fundraising efforts. Key to success in this position will be maximizing the organization's fundraising efforts with individual and institutional donors in the Council's new home community of Minneapolis/St. Paul and in the national arts community. This is a full-time position based on Minneapolis, MN.

Responsibilities:
• Manages all aspects of the Council's fundraising efforts (major, annual, institutional, public, planned and endowment giving, and special events) including ...

Mingei International Museum
Transformed by Fire
San Diego, CA
Oct. 22, 2009 – July 3, 2010

Blum & Poe
J. B. Blunk
Los Angeles, CA
Mar. 12 – May 15, 2010


A pair of radiant retrospective exhibitions on view this spring in Southern California offer a rare in-depth look at the careers of two masters, and remind us of the Golden State’s place at the vanguard of the modern craft movement.

“Transformed by Fire” at the Mingei International Museum in San Diego (through July 3) celebrates the life’s work of June Schwarcz, an icon of the enamel art field. The late wood sculptor J. B. Blunk (1926-2002) is the subject of a one-man show through May 15 at Blum & Poe in Los Angeles. Both Marin County artists (Schwarcz, now 92, still lives and works in Sausalito, while the house and studio Blunk built in Inverness are now home to an artist’s residency program), each had a passionate virtuosity with material, though their respective approaches were almost inverse: one was expansive within a small format, the other reductive on a monumental scale.

“Inventive” is a word ...

Organization also announces new office in Minneapolis's Grain Belt Brewery building

New York, NY (Apr. 13, 2010) - The American Craft Council's board of trustees today announced the hiring of Christopher H. Amundsen as the organization's new Executive Director, effective May 10.

"We are honored to have Chris at the helm of our organization, leading us through this exciting transition for the Council," said Leilani Lattin Duke, Board Chair. "His impressive accomplishments at United Way and his extraordinary leadership skills will help ensure the long-term vibrancy of the Council, as well as build on our foundation as the national voice for contemporary American craft. Chris' experience at the highest levels of national and regional organizations will also bring new constituencies to us from the Minneapolis community and beyond."

Chris Amundsen has built a distinguished 29-year career in both the financial and nonprofit sectors. Currently the Chief Operating Officer of the Greater Twin Cities United Way since 2004, Amundsen oversees business operations, planning, system and operational strategies for the nation's third largest United Way. Amundsen began his tenure at United Way as an executive with United Way of the St. Paul Area, Inc., and from there ...