Building Blocks: Process & Wood

In celebration of the launch of the new Craft Video Dictionary (CVD), Craft in America is organizing an exhibition of woodwork and furniture-based sculpture made by the artists who were consulted and filmed for CVD definitions. The exhibition will consist of approximately two dozen recent works made by seven leading artists in the field who are based across Southern California. Ranging in styles and perspectives, these artists are unified by their dedication to formal innovation coupled with profound understanding of materials and techniques.

The fundamental techniques of woodworking are age old and yet they remain vital in current practices. Artists conceptualize new structures, design how they can be actualized, and execute them with the methods that have largely existed for centuries. In some cases, equipment, tools, and gear have changed. But for the most part, craft approaches remain similar or identical to historic methods for manipulating wood. What has shifted is the expressive input of the artists and their fresh take on functional objects. This exhibition presents objects that were constructed through a variety of techniques that have been the essential building blocks for shaping furnishings over time.

Participating Artists: Martin Alexander, Reuben Foat, David Johnson, Ryan Taber, Lauren Verdugo, Larry White, and Max Wilson

About the Craft Video Dictionary:

The Craft Video Dictionary is a new digital tool for understanding how objects are made. Launching in early 2024 with an initial exemplary array of video definitions that span media, material, process, and discipline, the CVD will continue to expand and develop over time. New, additional video definitions will be added at later intervals in 2024 and beyond. Especially for those who are not makers or artists, the CVD provides a chance to gain awareness about the crafting of objects, in real time. These educational videos are intended to clarify, elucidate, document and explain craft techniques.