Houston Center for Contemporary Craft

"Designing Motherhood" Opens Nov. 9th at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Opening Reception Nov. 8th, 6-8PM HCCC is pleased to present "Designing Motherhood," the first exhibition of its kind to consider the arc of human reproduction through a design lens. Originated at the Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, HCCC's iteration of "Designing Motherhood," supported by program partner Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, will be the first mounted in the Southern United States and the first to highlight craft perspectives on the topic. Featuring 60+ craft and design objects, prototypes from the past 50 years, and the work of 20+ contemporary artists, "Designing Motherhood" invites us to consider why and how designs have been developed to facilitate reproductive health and ponder the political, economic, and social implications of medicalized reproduction. The exhibition explores experiences of (in)fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, parenthood, and early childhood through blown-glass weaning vessels and hand-carved rocking chairs, to art jewelry inspired by breast pump flanges, pacifiers, and nipple shields.   “Handcrafted objects are the intermediary space between the womb and the world. From handwoven swaddling cloths and knitted baby blankets to embroidered baby carriers and-woven bassinets, craft is often the first human experience of the material world,” says HCCC Curator + Exhibitions Director Sarah Darro. “HCCC’s presentation of 'Designing Motherhood' draws out the intertwined properties of labor, care, embedded history, material intelligence, and intergenerational knowledge shared by craft and parenthood, ultimately asserting such reproductive experiences as forms of craft themselves.” This project consists of a traveling exhibition, a book published by The MIT Press, an Instagram account, a design curriculum, a Narrative Portraiture project, and public programs with community partners worldwide. “Our aim was to have this exhibition speak to all visitors in some way,” says the "Designing Motherhood" curatorial team. “We wanted to showcase the beauty, elegance, and ingenuity of so many quotidian objects related to the arc of human reproduction, and for our visitors to stop and contemplate the social and cultural context surrounding these designs.” "Designing Motherhood" is curated & organized by design historians and writers Juliana Barton, Director of the Center for the Arts (College of Arts, Media and Design (CAMD) at Northeastern University) & Curator of Gallery 360 at Northeastern University; Michelle Millar Fisher, Ronald C. & Anita L. Wornick Curator of Contemporary Decorative Arts at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Zoë Greggs, Executive Assistant at BlackStar Film Projects; Gabriella Nelson, Associate Director of the Voices for Health Justice program at Community Catalyst; & Amber Winick, an independent early childhood and design researcher and curator. https://lnkd.in/gJVN9rDX

Read our FY2023-2024 Annual Report and donate to HCCC's Annual Fund today! A a message from Judy Nyquist, Board President & Leila Cartier, Executive Director: It has been an eventful year for Houston Center for Contemporary Craft! Our new annual report beautifully illustrates the achievements of our artists, our series of widely attended community events, and the hands-on activities that engage so many enthusiasts from the wonderfully diverse Houston community and beyond. Despite the challenges brought by Hurricane Beryl, which required HCCC to close for several weeks, the Center maintained its ambitious programming schedule and continued to support those who depend on us. Over the past year, we have: 🔴 Distributed over $75,000 directly to artists in commissions, residency stipends, and teaching honoraria 🔴 Hosted 136 educational lectures, panels, workshops, tours, Hands-on Houston events, and outreach programs 🔴 Served nearly 4,500 students and their families in our on- and off-site programs   It costs HCCC $7,000 each day to sustain this vital level of activity in the field of craft! Your contribution keeps admission free and directly supports HCCC’s nationally regarded resident artists, exhibitions, studios, workshops, and garden. This year, we've set an annual fund goal of $125,000. We hope you will consider making a gift to support our programming and continued recovery efforts. We sincerely thank you for your partnership, which is essential to ensuring contemporary craft remains accessible to all! To make a donation and view our FY23-24 Annual Report, visit>> https://lnkd.in/gUfnM85d 

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) is pleased to present "In Residence: 17th Edition," an annual exhibition celebrating the Center’s Artist Residency Program, which has supported artists working in the field of craft for more than two decades. The show features works in fiber, clay, paper, and found objects by 2023-2024 resident artists Robert Hodge, ANN JOHNSON, Sarah Knight, Hai-Wen Lin, Qiqing Lin, Rebecca Padilla-Pipkin, and Terumi Saito. The Artist Residency Program at HCCC provides local, regional, and international artists with a space for creative exploration, exchange, and collaboration with other artists, arts professionals, and the public. HCCC Curatorial Fellow Zaynab Hilal notes, “The Artist Residency Program offers artists the ideal opportunity to refine their craft while also trying their hand at new techniques. This exhibition features the prototypes, experiments, and meticulously crafted works of the 2023-2024 cohort. I am excited to present the diverse array of pieces that emerged from the artists' time in Houston, where they mingled, shared ideas, and drew inspiration from the city's culture.” In Residence: 17th Edition was curated by HCCC Curatorial Fellow, Zaynab Hilal. "In Residence: 17th Edition" opens November 2, 2024. Join us that day to view the exhibition, and celebrate HCCC's annual Fall Festival, a free drop-in family event which will feature hands-on activities and craft demonstrations led by current and former resident artists, from 11AM-3PM. https://lnkd.in/gPuJk9K4 Media: Terumi Saito, “Intertwine (Series),” 2023-2024. Hand-built stoneware, hand-dyed silk, natural dyes (madder root), manila rope, wool. 16x10 inches. Photo by the artist.

Corporate Workshops Available for the Holidays! Book Now! We had a fabulous time at our latest corporate workshop last month, when our Education Director Tarina Frank teamed up with local artist and designer Andrea Condara to teach a group how to craft festive holiday wreaths! Did you know that you can book private workshops with HCCC? Yes, it's true! Our private corporate workshops are a fun way to engage employees, team build, entertain clients, or say “thank you!” Workshops can take place on-site at HCCC or at a location of your choice! Materials and instruction fees are included in the price. Your team will leave with a unique object and build a sense of community through these engaging and creative experiences. To learn more and book your workshop today, visit>> https://lnkd.in/gPP7r9rk

✴️Save the Date! HCCC's Holiday Pop-up coming November 21! ✴️ This holiday season, join us at Asher: Off the Wall to shop an expanded selection of handcrafted jewelry, objects, wearables, prints, and ✨sparkly✨ gift items made by more than 30 local and national craft artists. We’re excited about the fantastic variety of merchandise and artists included this year. A few things you’ll find: papier-mache ornaments by Andrea Condara, earrings by Younha Jung, fun apparel by Baby Cats of CA, vegan handbags by Ceibo, ceramics from Gabo Martinez, and clever wooden whistles by Connie Roberts. This year's Pop-Up will run from November 21 through December 24. Heads up to HCCC Members: in addition to receiving a 10% discount on all retail, you will be able to enjoy a special Sip & Shop Preview on November 20th! If you haven't yet, now is a great time to reap the benefits of becoming a member! There will be lots of exciting events throughout the season, so make sure you follow @crafthoustonstore on Instagram to keep up with the latest news and learn more about the amazing makers who will be included in this year's Pop-Up! Happy shopping! 🛍️ To see the full list of participating artists and vendors below, visit>> https://lnkd.in/gbjTxeWa

Looking forward to moderating this panel in October for Fresh Arts at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. What are the positive, negative, and just totally unexpected ways that art making and caretaking come together? Our first iteration last year at Project Row Houses generated some great conversations. Join us for #2! https://lnkd.in/g6KgmjkV

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft is pleased to announce six new members have joined its board of directors: Dale Cover, John Guess, Duane Kelley, Margaret McKay, Jose Solis, and Sandie Zilker. All six incoming members are already advocates for the Center and have been participating directly in HCCC's programming and community—in some cases, for years. They are joining the board after a year of measurable growth and have immediately gotten to work in support of HCCC's recovery efforts following Hurricane Beryl. Their recruitment also coincides with the start of the organization’s engagement with the consulting firm Trepwise to design a strategic plan by year’s end and build on the reputation for excellence HCCC has developed in contemporary craft. HCCC Executive Director Leila Cartier commented, “When reading the resumes and looking around the room at the rest of the HCCC Board, there is absolutely no doubt that together we will realize our ambitions for the future.” To read the full press release, visit>> https://lnkd.in/gNFEeAdg Media: Top row, from left: Dale Cover, John Guess, Duane Kelley. Bottom row, from left: Maggie McKay, José Solís, Sandie Zilker.

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) is pleased to announce its newest class of residents for 2024 – 2025, a group of 11 outstanding local, national, and international artists working in craft media: - Perata Bradley, Mixed Media (Houston, Texas) - Stephanie Bursese, Craft + Photography (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) - Atisha Fordyce, Fiber (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) - Nela Garzon, Fiber (Houston, Texas) - Gbenga Komolafe, Fiber (Los Angeles, California) - Gabo Martinez, Clay (San Marcos, Texas) - Preetika Rajgariah, Fiber (Houston, Texas) - Macon Reed, Fiber (New Orleans, Louisiana, and New York City, New York) - James Sterling Pitt, Wood (Houston, Texas) - Adam Whitney, Metal (Rutland, Vermont) - Dongyi Wu, Metal (Bengbu, China) Congratulations to all! For more than 20 years, the Center’s artist residency program has offered time and space for craft artists to focus on their creative work and interact with the public. The program supports emerging, mid-career, and established artists working in all craft media, including fiber, glass, metal, wood and mixed media. This year, HCCC again partnered with Crafting the Future, a nonprofit working to diversify the fields of art, craft, and design, to reach a broader pool of national applicants and offer a BIPOC support grant for the incoming cycle of artists. As a result of these efforts, two-thirds of resident artists have identified as BIPOC over the past three years. HCCC also continues to collaborate with Houston Center for Photography (HCP) on a joint Interdisciplinary Craft + Photography (ICP) Artist Residency. The residency, designed for artists creating work at the intersection of contemporary craft and photography, supports artists with an experimental, multidisciplinary edge, who are testing the boundaries within both fields. The application for the 2025 - 2026 residency cycle opens December 1, 2024. More details about the artist residency program can be found at>> https://lnkd.in/gr4-6dK2

**Community Survey for HCCC's Strategic Plan** We are at an important organizational crossroads and want your input! Houston Center for Contemporary Craft is embarking upon a comprehensive strategic planning process in partnership with Trepwise, a consulting firm that specializes in purpose-driven planning. A critical part of this process is to hear from friends like you through a community survey. The survey offers an opportunity for you to reflect on your experiences at HCCC and have your voice considered in our vision for the future. We hope you'll take a few minutes (approximately 10) to complete this brief survey by Monday, September 23, 2024: https://lnkd.in/gHHb--dS Your candid feedback is extremely valuable to HCCC; all responses will be anonymous and analyzed by Trepwise. If you have any questions regarding the survey, please contact Khiry Van Allen at khi@trepwise.com. Thank you in advance for your investment of time and support! 

**Save 10% on HCCC Membership through 9/30!** We are excited to announce a special on HCCC Membership running through the end of this month! This fall, we have a vibrant array of programming, workshops, and exhibitions planned, including our Holiday Pop-up at our newly inaugurated Asher: Off the Wall retail installation, which will offer an expanded selection of jewelry, wearables, and handcrafted holiday gift items. We hope you’ll join us as an HCCC member and be part of our mission to advance craft and making. If you join or renew between now and September 30th, you are invited to take advantage of a 10% discount! Your membership gift helps support HCCC’s full recovery following Hurricane Beryl and keeps our programs and admission free for the public. Plus, you’ll receive exciting and valuable benefits, including:   ⭕ Discounts on all sales from our retail, exhibition, and studio spaces, as well as invitations to exclusive preview events. (Save the date for a Members-only Sip & Shop Preview of the Holiday Pop-up on November 20th!) ⭕ Early registration and discounts on craft camps ⭕ Discounts on adult workshops, events, and art supplies Members are a vital part of our community, and we’re excited for you to take part in our innovative events. We look forward to including you as part of our HCCC family! Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/gi4gXhmi #MembershipDrive #SupportCraft #HoustonCenterforContemporaryCraft #HoustonArtScene #SupportTheArts #ContemporaryCraft