Since its founding in 1985, Visions Museum of Textile Art has attracted a vibrant textile art scene in San Diego, California. In 2007, when volunteers organized a community build and created our permanent location in the Arts District Liberty Station in San Diego, California, our space invited new approaches to contemporary textile art. 

This exhibition showcases the creativity and innovation of San Diego’s textile artists, remembering that the textile tradition in San Diego dates back to the indigenous Kumeyaay. Artist Rebecca Smith utilizes her signature transparency weaving technique to create artworks whose intricate shadows rival the beauty of the artworks themselves.

Discover the rich history and enduring beauty of the cyanotype process through the work of featured artist Shane Booth. Derived from the Ancient Greek words kyáneos (“dark blue”) and týpos (“mark” or “impression”), cyanotype is one of the earliest photographic printing processes, often recognized for its striking blueprint-blue images. Invented in 1842 by astronomer and chemist Sir John Frederick William Herschel, the process gained popularity in the early 20th century because of its affordability and simplicity, becoming a favorite among amateur photographers and textile artists alike. Over time, cyanotypes found their way beyond photography and into decorative arts, appearing on fabrics, quilts, lampshades, pillows, and other household objects. Today, contemporary artists continue to reinvent the medium, exploring its unique ability to merge photography, printmaking, and textile traditions. In this video, we spotlight the work of Shane Booth, whose innovative approach demonstrates the continued evolution of cyanotype as a powerful artistic practice.

Since its founding in 1985, Visions Museum of Textile Art has attracted a vibrant textile art scene in San Diego, California. In 2007, when volunteers organized a community build and created our permanent location in the Arts District Liberty Station in San Diego, California, our space invited new approaches to contemporary textile art.

This exhibition showcases the creativity and innovation of San Diego’s textile artists, remembering that the textile tradition in San Diego dates back to the indigenous Kumeyaay. Artist Nancy Lemke draws on her own experience and playful style to create stunning art quilts.

Fiddler Beth Hoven Rotto, from Decorah, Iowa, shares the story of a Hardanger fiddle in Vesterheim’s collection made by the Helland Brothers, Knut Gunnarsson Helland and Gunnar Gunnarsson Helland. They came to the United States in the early 20th century. Vesterheim Collection 1981.090.001.

Background music is “Stenbockens Marsch” from the album Northern Resonance, performed by Northern Resonance.

Learn more about Beth Hoven Rotto: https://vesterheim.org/exhibit/beth-hoven-rotto/

Fiddler Beth Hoven Rotto, from Decorah, Iowa, shares the story of a violin in Vesterheim’s collection made by Knut Reindahl, who immigrated to the United States from Norway in the last 1800s. Reindahl made 585 fiddles during his lifetime! Vesterheim 2011.020.001.

Background music: “Dad’s Waltz” from My Father Was a Fiddler, performed by Hoven-Rotto’s band Foot-Notes.

Liz Bucheit and Vesterheim’s chief curator Laurann Gilbertson chat about examples of Norwegian-American jewelry, providing an overview of sølje jewelry history and use.

Liz Bucheit creates jewelry and body adornment inspired by her Scandinavian ancestry and keeps close ties to her heritage by drawing inspiration from Nordic folklore and myth. A goldsmith for over 30 years, she holds a Master’s degree in metalworking and jewelry from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and has trained in traditional jewelry and metalworking techniques in Norway and Ireland. She has won numerous awards for her artwork, is included in exhibits around the country, and is an instructor at Vesterheim Folk Art School. She owns and operates Crown Trout Jewelers in Lanesboro, Minnesota.

Interviews of several artists from the 2012 Show sharing their timeless remarks about the Show.  This video illustrates the joy of the handmade through the artists’ statements.

As part of “Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026,” the International Quilt Museum presents “Material Nation: 250 Years of American Quilts,” a major exhibition tracing the history of quiltmaking in the United States from the nation’s founding to the present.

Drawn primarily from the museum’s internationally recognized collection, the exhibition situates quilts as central works of American material culture, reflecting creativity, community life, and the many forms of work and care that surround quiltmaking across more than two centuries.

This is the 2025 International Polymer Clay Association’s Global Exhibition Award Video presented to our members. Winners were voted on by members of the IPCA. You can see in the video how versatile polymer clay is and what incredible creations can be made with it!

IAIA provost, Felipe Jeneciech Estudillo Colon on the hogan that they built on campus. Bonus video from the WEST episode. PBS premiere December 19, 2025.

Archival courtesy of IAIA.

For more info about Craft in America, visit www.craftinamerica.org.
All Craft in America episodes are viewable on craftinamerica.org, the PBS iPhone/iPad app, and pbs.org/craft-in-america

Craft in America’s mission is to promote and advance original handcrafted work through educational programs in all media.
Support our exploration and celebration of the handmade.
craftinamerica.org/page/donate

At the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, they showcase Native American art and their collection houses over 7,000 contemporary Native American art pieces. Bonus video from the WEST episode, PBS premiere December 19, 2025.

Images courtesy of IAIA and IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, Santa Fe, NM.

For more info about Craft in America, visit www.craftinamerica.org.
All Craft in America episodes are viewable on craftinamerica.org, the PBS iPhone/iPad app, and pbs.org/craft-in-america

Craft in America’s mission is to promote and advance original handcrafted work through educational programs in all media.
Support our exploration and celebration of the handmade.
craftinamerica.org/page/donate

Institute of American Indian Art student Whisper Crow Dog and IAIA graduate Terran Last Gun on ledger art. Bonus video from the WEST episode, PBS premiere December 19, 2025.

Images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Terran Last Gun.

For more info about Craft in America, visit www.craftinamerica.org.
All Craft in America episodes are viewable on craftinamerica.org, the PBS iPhone/iPad app, and pbs.org/craft-in-america

Craft in America’s mission is to promote and advance original handcrafted work through educational programs in all media.
Support our exploration and celebration of the handmade.
craftinamerica.org/page/donate

IAIA Artist-in-Residence and Chilkat weaver Laine Rinehart on how the Artist-in-Residence program has allowed him to pursue his craft. Bonus video from the WEST episode. PBS premiere December 19, 2025.

For more info about Craft in America, visit www.craftinamerica.org.
All Craft in America episodes are viewable on craftinamerica.org, the PBS iPhone/iPad app, and pbs.org/craft-in-america

Craft in America’s mission is to promote and advance original handcrafted work through educational programs in all media.
Support our exploration and celebration of the handmade.
craftinamerica.org/page/donate

Laurie Logan Brayshaw, Director of Sponsored Programs at IAIA on their land grant program. Bonus video from the WEST episode. PBS premiere December 19, 2025.

Archival courtesy of IAIA.

For more info about Craft in America, visit www.craftinamerica.org.
All Craft in America episodes are viewable on craftinamerica.org, the PBS iPhone/iPad app, and pbs.org/craft-in-america

Craft in America’s mission is to promote and advance original handcrafted work through educational programs in all media.
Support our exploration and celebration of the handmade.
craftinamerica.org/page/donate

We speak with three generations at the Institution of American Indian Arts. Linda Lomahaftewa is faculty emerita, her daughter Tatiana is a curator of collections at IAIA MoCNA, and Tatiana’s daughter, Amanda is a IAIA student. Bonus video from the WEST episode. PBS premiere December 19, 2025.

Archival courtesy of IAIA and IAIA Archives.

For more info about Craft in America, visit www.craftinamerica.org.
All Craft in America episodes are viewable on craftinamerica.org, the PBS iPhone/iPad app, and pbs.org/craft-in-america

Craft in America’s mission is to promote and advance original handcrafted work through educational programs in all media.
Support our exploration and celebration of the handmade.
craftinamerica.org/page/donate

Meskwaki artist and IAIA student Kayla Wanatee on her undergraduate exhibition and art. Bonus video from the WEST episode. PBS premiere December 19, 2025.

For more info about Craft in America, visit www.craftinamerica.org.
All Craft in America episodes are viewable on craftinamerica.org, the PBS iPhone/iPad app, and pbs.org/craft-in-america

Craft in America’s mission is to promote and advance original handcrafted work through educational programs in all media.
Support our exploration and celebration of the handmade.
craftinamerica.org/page/donate

Surrounded by nature in her studio in Ridgefield, Connecticut, Helena Hernmarck weaves wall-sized tapestries designed for modern, architectural environments. She takes inspiration from nature, her life and other artists, collaborating with artists from the United States to Sweden, where she grew up. Bonus video from the EAST episode, PBS premiere Dec 19, 2025

EAST explores the intersection of history, culture and contemporary craft in the eastern region of the US. As a nation of immigrants, these American stories, from a fabric flower factory to a silversmith to a potter and more, highlight the diverse expressions behind modern craft.

The featured artists and institutions include M&S Schmalberg Custom Fabric Flowers, Bisa Butler, Colette Fu, Roberto Lugo, Ubaldo Vitali, Paul Revere House and Helena Hernmarck.

Image courtesy of Helena Hernmarck / Kari Lonning photograph.

For more info about Craft in America, visit www.craftinamerica.org.
All Craft in America episodes are viewable on craftinamerica.org, the PBS iPhone/iPad app, and pbs.org/craft-in-america

Craft in America’s mission is to promote and advance original handcrafted work through educational programs in all media.
Support our exploration and celebration of the handmade.
craftinamerica.org/page/donate

Pop-up book artist Colette Fu on her tattooed lady book and her book on the long haired women in the terraced rice fields. Bonus video from the WEST episode, PBS premiere December 19, 2025.

Archival courtesy of Colette Fu, AerialCinematics / Pond5, Berloon / Pond5.

For more info about Craft in America, visit www.craftinamerica.org.
All Craft in America episodes are viewable on craftinamerica.org, the PBS iPhone/iPad app, and pbs.org/craft-in-america

Craft in America’s mission is to promote and advance original handcrafted work through educational programs in all media.
Support our exploration and celebration of the handmade.
craftinamerica.org/page/donate

Fiber artist Bisa Butler creates remarkable quilted portraits that tell stories of African American life, taking inspiration from historical photos and family history. Bonus video from EAST episode, PBS premiere December 19, 2025.

Images courtesy of ©The Gordon Parks Foundation, DogPhonics / Pond5, Bisa Butler / Mark Bunger photograph, LIFE_Picture_Collection / Pond5.

For more info about Craft in America, visit www.craftinamerica.org.
All Craft in America episodes are viewable on craftinamerica.org, the PBS iPhone/iPad app, and pbs.org/craft-in-america

Craft in America’s mission is to promote and advance original handcrafted work through educational programs in all media.
Support our exploration and celebration of the handmade.
craftinamerica.org/page/donate

Ubaldo Vitali is an American silversmith and conservator, hailing from a four-generation Italian lineage of metalworkers. Having honed his craft from childhood in family workshops and through formal studies at prestigious Italian art academies, Vitali established his own workshop in New Jersey, in 1967. He works with his assistant, Amrit Tamrakar. He is celebrated for his masterful blend of traditional silversmithing techniques with innovative design. Vitali creates original pieces and serves as a highly sought-after conservator for historical silver, restoring invaluable artifacts for institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Ubaldo was even commissioned to restore a teapot that was made by Paul Revere. His unparalleled skill and dedication to the art form were recognized with a MacArthur Fellowship in 2011, cementing his legacy as a leading figure in contemporary metalwork. Bonus video from the EAST episode, PBS premiere December 19, 2025.

For more info about Craft in America, visit www.craftinamerica.org.
All Craft in America episodes are viewable on craftinamerica.org, the PBS iPhone/iPad app, and pbs.org/craft-in-america

Craft in America’s mission is to promote and advance original handcrafted work through educational programs in all media.
Support our exploration and celebration of the handmade.
craftinamerica.org/page/donate

In Philadelphia, Colette Fu opens a giant pop-up book, revealing an intricate scene made from her photographs and cut paper. As the daughter of Chinese immigrants, the pop-up books and sculptures she crafts are inspired by Chinese American history and her travels in Yunnan Province, China, where her mother is from. Bonus video from the EAST episode, PBS premiere Dec 19, 2025.

EAST explores the intersection of history, culture and contemporary craft in the eastern region of the US. As a nation of immigrants, these American stories, from a fabric flower factory to a silversmith to a potter and more, highlight the diverse expressions behind modern craft.

The featured artists and institutions include M&S Schmalberg Custom Fabric Flowers, Bisa Butler, Colette Fu, Roberto Lugo, Ubaldo Vitali, Paul Revere House and Helena Hernmarck.

Images courtesy of Colette Fu.

For more info about Craft in America, visit www.craftinamerica.org.
All Craft in America episodes are viewable on craftinamerica.org, the PBS iPhone/iPad app, and pbs.org/craft-in-america

Craft in America’s mission is to promote and advance original handcrafted work through educational programs in all media.
Support our exploration and celebration of the handmade.
craftinamerica.org/page/donate
For more info about Craft in America, visit www.craftinamerica.org.
All Craft in America episodes are viewable on craftinamerica.org, the PBS iPhone/iPad app, and pbs.org/craft-in-america

Nina Zannieri, Executive Director of the Paul Revere House tell us about Revere’s Midnight Ride. Bonus video from the EAST episode, PBS premiere December 19, 2025

Built around 1680, the Paul Revere House is the former home of American patriot and artisan, Paul Revere. Revere was a silversmith and a versatile craftsman. His shop made at least 90 types of pieces, the most unusual of which were created before the Revolution. His house is now a designated National Historic Landmark and operates as a non-profit museum. The Paul Revere House is the oldest house in downtown Boston and an example of 17th-century urban colonial architecture. Paul Revere owned the home from 1770 to 1800. It was the starting point of his “Midnight Ride” on April 18, 1775, sounding the alarm of approaching British troops. Today, its restored rooms, period furnishings, and artifacts related to Revere’s life and work offer a rare window into colonial life.

Archival courtesy of Niday Picture Library / Alamy, Tango Images / Alamy, Science History Images / Alamy, Library of Congress, © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, The New York Public Library, Paul Revere Memorial Association, AE_Networks / Pond5, Mauricesavage / Pond5, ReenactmentStock / Pond5.

For more info about Craft in America, visit www.craftinamerica.org.
All Craft in America episodes are viewable on craftinamerica.org, the PBS iPhone/iPad app, and pbs.org/craft-in-america

Roberto Lugo welcomes us to his neighborhood of Kensington in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He works as a potter, taking deep inspiration from his community, graffiti and Ancient Greek pottery, and values sharing his art with the public by throwing pots in parks and creating public works of art. Segment from the EAST episode, PBS premiere Dec 19, 2025.

EAST explores the intersection of history, culture and contemporary craft in the eastern region of the US. As a nation of immigrants, these American stories, from a fabric flower factory to a silversmith to a potter and more, highlight the diverse expressions behind modern craft.

The featured artists and institutions include M&S Schmalberg Custom Fabric Flowers, Bisa Butler, Colette Fu, Roberto Lugo, Ubaldo Vitali, Paul Revere House and Helena Hernmarck.

For more info about Craft in America, visit www.craftinamerica.org.
All Craft in America episodes are viewable on craftinamerica.org, the PBS iPhone/iPad app, and pbs.org/craft-in-america

Craft in America’s mission is to promote and advance original handcrafted work through educational programs in all media.
Support our exploration and celebration of the handmade.
craftinamerica.org/page/donate

Fiber artist Bisa Butler creates remarkable quilted portraits that tell stories of African American life, taking inspiration from historical photos and family history. Bonus video from the EAST episode, PBS premiere Dec 19, 2025.

EAST explores the intersection of history, culture and contemporary craft in the eastern region of the US. As a nation of immigrants, these American stories, from a fabric flower factory to a silversmith to a potter and more, highlight the diverse expressions behind modern craft.

The featured artists and institutions include M&S Schmalberg Custom Fabric Flowers, Bisa Butler, Colette Fu, Roberto Lugo, Ubaldo Vitali, Paul Revere House and Helena Hernmarck.

Images courtesy of Courier News-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, Robert L. Bender Papers and Courier News Photograph Archive, Plainfield Public Library, Plainfield, New Jersey, Bisa Butler, and Estate of Jeff Donaldson and Kravets Wehby Gallery.

For more info about Craft in America, visit www.craftinamerica.org.
All Craft in America episodes are viewable on craftinamerica.org, the PBS iPhone/iPad app, and pbs.org/craft-in-america