We're carrying the nonprofit baton on March 10 - look for photos of CDCG action on Instagram.

Follow Us on the First EVER Nonprofit Baton Sprint!

Have you ever wanted to get a sneak peek inside the life of our staff at the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild? Well, now is your chance.

On March 10, our mighty staff of one is posting photos to the community photo project Nonprofit Baton – npbaton.tumblr.com. The Nonprofit Baton is a collaborative photo project to show the world the inspiring life that nonprofit professionals lead every day. Our job might not be glamorous, but we’re so happy to spend it serving you – our supporters and donors.

The Guild’s Executive Director Amy Etheridge will take you on a visual tour of this grassroots nonprofit art organization founded by a group of dynamic artists in 1970!  The Guild’s vision is to be a community of artisans advancing fine craft as an art form and creating opportunity for economic prosperity.  From potters, sculptors, and glass blowers to fiber artists and furniture makers, the pursuit of design, form, function and beauty will on display.

Interested in becoming an Exhibiting Artist Member of the Guild?  Learn more about how to apply by clicking here:  Call for Artists.

The project is hosted on Instagram, but it will be shared on Facebook, Twitter and through the project website. We’ll be posting pictures all day, so please come support us with a quick double-tap or a comment. Thanks!

Victoria Primicias, mixed media artist in Wake Forest, NC, creates encaustic paintings using a mixture of beeswax, damar tree resin and colored pigment.

5 Facts About the Carolina Artisan Craft Market

Nancy Ryall Jeweler in Oxford, NC, creates jewelry from sterling silver and 14k gold with highly polished surfaces, contrasting textures and finishes.

Nancy Ryall, Jeweler

CAROLINA ARTISAN CRAFT MARKET is the annual show and marketplace for fine craft being designed and created in the US today.  Hosted by the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild, this 46th annual event will take place in the Raleigh Convention Center Exhibit Hall B this weekend, November 6 – 8, 2015.

Here’s an overview of what you need to know in five quick facts about the Carolina Artisan Craft Market.

1. Expect to see a lot of fine craft, both functional and decorative—and variety of media represented. The Market features artists presenting an eclectic body of art with a variety of media represented including: glass, pottery, wood, basketry, wearable and decorative fiber, metal, leather, photography, printmaking and mixed media, as well as furniture and jewelry.

As you enjoy the Market, you’ll find something different in each artist’s booth.  If you are looking for unique and collectible gifts with a story, the Carolina Artisan Craft Market is your event!

2. The Market represents the finest craft being made in America today. More than 110 artists from across North Carolina and the U.S. will converge in Raleigh for this annual juried show and market.

Professionals like Woodworker and Instrument Maker Archie Smith and Jeweler Klaus Spies were chosen this year to present their work in the Smithsonian Art Museum Craft Show.

James Barnes, woodworker in Woolwine, Virginia, creates turned wood vessels with inlay and metal to design original, one-of-a-kind wood cloisonné sculpture.

James Barnes, Woodworker

What sets the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild apart? 2015 Juror Linda Johnson Dougherty says, “The consistently high level of quality—both in craftsmanship and aesthetic design.”  From our master fine craft artists to those who are emerging on the scene, at the Carolina Artisan Craft Market you’ll find artists whose knowledge of materials intersects with creative and experimental techniques along with traditional craft and design foundations.

3. There’s a stellar live music line up too!

Opening Night features Ed Stephenson, with an extensive guitar repertoire, along with percussionist Cat Albanese.  Saturday morning The Thomas Taylor Trio performs jazz and popular tunes, followed by Gene Bario Duo with Cort Stewart. Sunday you’ll enjoy rock and roll, blues, New Orleans, pop and R & B from the Big Chief Trio!
Learn more about our Live Music Schedule.

4. This is the start of a new cultural tradition in downtown Raleigh – fine craft, artist demonstrations and live music. Since 1970 the Guild has contributed to Raleigh’s flourishing reputation as The Southern Capital of Arts and Culture.  Leading in the promotion of outstanding design and craftsmanship, education and appreciation of fine craft, the Guild has hosted this annual event in Raleigh for 45 years – supporting career artists and making a local investment in our community.

Miriam Carter Fiber Artist and Felt Maker in NH creates handmade clothing and hats using fine wool fiber and yard, silk and cotton fabrics.

Miriam Carter, Fiber Artist

In it’s 46th year, the Guild brings its prestigious juried designer craft show and marketplace to downtown Raleigh. The arts industry and creative class continue to grow in Raleigh – lead by a vibrant artist community – and the Guild is contributing with this cherished event.

5. Here are the details for attending the event:
Price: $7 for a single day ticket, $10 for a weekend pass, and free for kids age 15 and under with a paid adult accompanying. Get tickets here for the Carolina Artisan Craft Market.
Hours: Fri, 5PM – 10PM, Sat, 10AM – 6PM, and Sun, 11AM – 5PM.
Venue: Raleigh Convention Center Exhibit Hall, 500 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27601

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

The 2015 Carolina Artisan Craft Market, hosted by the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild, is on a new date, in a new location: Nov. 6 - 8 at the Raleigh Convention Center in downtown Raleigh.

New Date, New Location, New Name: Carolina Artisan Craft Market

The Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild presents, Carolina Artisan Craft Market!

The 2015 Carolina Artisan Craft Market, hosted by the Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild, is on a new date, in a new location: Nov. 6 - 8 at the Raleigh Convention Center in downtown Raleigh.Our annual event, the Carolina Artisan Craft Market (formerly known as the Fine Designer Craft Show) will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 6 – 8, 2015 at the Raleigh Convention Center, Exhibit Hall B, in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina!

We’re looking forward to hosting our 46th annual event.  North Carolinians and visitors alike will enjoy the festivities.  Highlighting the best fine craft being made in America today, the Carolina Artisan Craft Market includes a juried marketplace of amazing artists, dynamic artist demonstrations, live music and a premier shopping experience.

For those seeking handmade, one-of-a-kind, unique and collectible gifts, functional and decorative art, jewelry, pottery, sculpture, printmaking, photography, clothing, furniture, photography and more – this is your event.  Shop local and meet the artists, learn about their materials and process, and hear the story behind each piece!

We have a stellar line up of 115 Carolina Designer Craftsmen Guild Exhibiting Artist Members and new provisional artists to bring you a diverse collection of the finest craft made in the United States!

Advance tickets are on sale now! To receive the latest event news and special announcements, sign up for our eNewsletter today.  Mark your calendar and we’ll see you the first weekend in November – Friday, Nov. 6, Saturday, Nov. 7 and Sunday, Nov. 8, for our 2015 Carolina Artisan Craft Market!  #CarolinaCraft15

Photo credit: Brian Gassel