Andy Kearney, Woodworker in Conway, SC designs and builds bedroom and dining room furniture, mirrors and clocks with Art Deco and Shaker design.

Meet the Juror: Linda Johnson Dougherty

Carolina Artisan Craft Market: 2015 Juror, Linda Johnson Dougherty

Linda Johnson Dougherty, Chief Curator & Curator of Contemporary Art at the North Carolina Museum of Art served as juror for the fine craft artists applying for a spot in the 2015 Carolina Artisan Craft Market.  Twenty Provisional Exhibiting Artists will join existing Exhibiting Artist Members of the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild for this festive shopping event held November 6 – 8 in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.

(Feature image: Andy Kearney, furniture maker and provisional exhibiting artist, chosen by the juror for the 2015 Carolina Artisan Craft Market.)

Jim and Shirl Parmentier, potters in Mars Hill, North Carolina, create one-of-a-kind hand built and carved lamps and other functional pieces.
Jim and Shirl Parmentier, potters and provisional exhibiting artists, chosen by the juror for the 2015 Carolina Artisan Craft Market

What’s the most rewarding or challenging aspect of serving as juror?

Jurying a show like this gives me the opportunity to see the diverse range of work being made by artists working in a wide variety of media, that otherwise I would not have a chance to see.  The most challenging aspect is trying to judge an artist’s work from just a few digital images and trying to imagine what the work is truly like in person, especially with 3-D works. 

What sets the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild apart?

The consistently high level of quality—both in craftsmanship and aesthetic design—of all the submissions.

What do you look for when selecting artists for the Carolina Artisan Craft Market?

I’m looking for artists whose knowledge of materials intersects with creative and experimental techniques, and who are challenging conventional notions of craft and design.

Michael Mikula, Glass Artist from Cleveland, OH, creates architectural blown glass and metal sculptures inspired by urban energy and built environment.

Michael Mikula, glass artist and provisional exhibiting artist juried into the 2015 Carolina Artisan Craft Market

What craft trends have you seen emerging among this year’s applicants?

An interest in exploring a wide range of materials; an incorporation of historical or established techniques along with more experimental and contemporary methods.

 

Linda is currently organizing exhibitions of contemporary art and developing artists’ projects for the North Carolina Museum of Art’s Museum Park. Prior to joining the staff at the North Carolina Museum of Art, she co-directed the public art program for the state of North Carolina for several years, and was a curator at The Phillips Collection, a research associate at the National Gallery of Art, and a research assistant at the National Museum of American Art in Washington, DC. She has a BA in Art History from Wesleyan University and an MA in Art History from Williams College.

Lauren Markley, Jeweler in Raleigh, NC creates one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces utilizing sterling silver, brass, reclaimed wood, thread and painting.

Announcing: Artists in 2015 Carolina Artisan Craft Market

The Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild is thrilled to announce the exhibiting artists for the Carolina Artisan Craft Market. Juried into the event, this year’s lineup represents 113 of the very best craft artists across North Carolina and the United States, including 20 artists who are new to the event. All will bring their fine craft to the Raleigh Convention Center Exhibit Hall, Raleigh, North Carolina, November 6 – 8, 2015.

Selected works include the following craft disciplines: glass, pottery, wood, basketry, wearable and decorative fiber, metal, leather, photography, printmaking and mixed media, as well as furniture and jewelry.

Victoria Sexton, Clay Sculptor in Greenville, NC, builds original, whimsical, satirical sculptures in rich matte colors - no two are alike!

The 2015 Carolina Artisan Craft Market welcomes back many returning Exhibiting Artist Members including Instrument Maker Archie Smith, Clay Sculptor Victoria Sexton (image, left), Jewelers Tom Reardon and Kathleen Doyle and Fiber Artist-Designer Michael Kane.  Click here for a preview and the full list of all the 2015 Exhibiting Artists.

Among this year’s exciting additions to the Market are:

Jim and Shirl Parmentier, potters in Mars Hill, North Carolina who design, hand build and carve exquisite sculptural lamps, vessels, vases, boxes and bowls.

Lauren Markley (featured image), studio jeweler in Raleigh, North Carolina creates one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces utilizing reclaimed wood, sterling silver, brass and thread.

Paul Willsea, glass artist in Naples, New York creates complex, beautifully colored, blown forms that exude both structure and lightnessRon Lentz, Woodworker in VA creates jewelry and valet boxes and humidors from wood with exceptional color and grain, hand finished to a high luster.

Ron Lentz (image, right), woodworker in Midlothian, Virginia creates jewelry and valet boxes and humidors by carefully selecting wood for their color and grain, each neatly appointed with natural suede.

Buy tickets to this year’s Market here: Day Tickets & Weekend Passes

Learn more about the Market here: Carolina Artisan Craft Market