How Much Watching Time Do You Have This Weekend?

NEW YORK TIMES

by Margaret Lyons

December 9, 2021

‘Craft in America’

When to watch: Now, on the PBS app, the PBS website, the “Craft in America” website or on PBS. (Check local listings.)

“Craft in America” is one of my favorite documentary series because of its knack for telling big stories in tiny ways. The show profiles artists and craftspeople in a wide variety of disciplines, but it’s less about specific techniques than about the formation of culture, the purpose of creativity, the idea that the pursuits of beauty and utility are foundational to humanity. The two newest episodes, “Jewelry” and “Harmony,” also highlight the importance of mentorship — not just transmission of know-how but also encouragement, support, delight.