The museum touts the exhibition will explore the “evolving notions of craft within traditional media such as ceramics and metalwork, as well as in fields as varied as sculpture, industrial design, installation art, fashion design, sustainable manufacturing and mathematics. The range of disciplines represented illustrates new avenues for the handmade in contemporary culture.” As part of the celebration the museum intends to acquire artworks by every artist in the exhibition for its permanent collection.

For a museum, documenting and showcasing the past is usual, but this exhibit, which looks at innovators of handmade and craft within the past 40 years, brings this exhibit into the 21st century especially with inclusions of Jenny Hart and Cat Mazzo.

The 40 artists selected to be featured in the exhibition are: Vivian Beer, Melanie Bilenker, Jeffrey Clancy, Dave Cole, Cristina Córdova, Gabriel Craig, Jennifer Crupi, Erik Demaine, Joshua DeMonte, Brian Dettmer, Nick Dong, Joseph Foster Ellis, Jeff Garner, Theaster Gates, Sabrina Gschwandtner, Jenny Hart, Sergey Jivetin, Lauren Kalman, Lara Knutson, Stephanie Liner, Marc Maiorana, Sebastian Martorana, Christy Matson, Cat Mazza, Daniel Michalik, Matt Moulthrop, Christy Oates, Olek, Andy Paiko, Mia Pearlman, Lacey Jane Roberts, Laurel Roth, Shawn Smith, Jen Stark, Matthew Szösz, Uhuru (Jason Horvath and William Hilgendorf), Jamin Uticone, Anna Von Mertens, Stacey Lee Webber and Bohyun Yoon.

Congratulations to all the selected artists. The show will be on view at the Renwick Gallery starting in July of 2012.

Talk Shop is the series where we interview independent store owners from across the country, to get their inside take on running an independent business that supports the handmade community.

This week, Kristen Rask, owner of the quirky and delightful Schmancy Toys, gives us a glimpse into her Seattle toy shop that has been showcasing the latest vinyl collectibles and out-of-this-world handmade plush goodies since 2004.

Schmancy Toys receives rave reviews from toy enthusiasts, parents, indie crafters, and Seattle locals for it’s collection of all toys cute, goofy, oddball, and everything in between.  There’s lots of things to squish, poke, hug and love at this shop including 2-headed cloth deer made by Sara Lanzillotta, Fantastic Planet’s gnome finger puppets, and Kid Robot keychains.

Being a true crafter at heart, Rask’s reign as indie toy queen didn’t stop at Schmancy. In 2005, she launched the hit handmade fair, Plush You! at her Seattle shop. 3 years later, Rask expanded her plush empire by publishing a how-to book, and curating a sister Plush You!, at the Double Punch gallery in San Francisco.

Everyone needs a little toy monster and bit of plushy goodness in their life.  Get yours in Seattle, at Schmancy Toys.

Tell us what Schmancy is all about:
Schmancy started selling primarily vinyl toys.  Being that I am a crafter and enjoy things handmade I began selling more handmade plush toys to keep with the toy theme.  I started a show called Plush You! in 2005 to showcase plush artists from around the world.  It is an annual show now and I came out with a book for it in October of 2008.

Do you have any sort of background in crafting or the arts?
I have always made crafts but did not go to school for art.  I have an Associates in Business and a Bachelors Degree in Sociology.

How does your business support independent artists and crafters and/or the handmade community? I am very lucky to live in Seattle.  There is a strong movement to buy local in my community and I have very loyal customers.

How can local designers and crafters get involved with Schmancy?
I am always happy to look at what folks make.  People just need to send me an email with photos of their work and price ranges.  If it fits in to my store and I have the room I go from there.

Any advice for those interested in opening up their own boutique?
A business plan would be very smart.  Have a focus.  I go into a lot of stores that just seem all over the place and it confuses people.  Get a bookkeeper at the beginning.  It is hard to shell out so much money and also get someone to help with your books but it will save you so much time in the end!  Talk to other owners and build a community.  It’s a hard thing to do and you will greatly appreciate the support and advice from people who have been doing this for awhile.

Any exciting upcoming events or sales going on at Schmancy?
I am going to NYC next week for an embroidery show I curated at Gallery Hanahou called Forget Me-Not (opens Feb. 6th)  We have a ton of great events this year planned so please look at our website often!

Schmancy Toys is located at 1932 Second Avenue, Seattle, Washington, WA 98101.

Check out Schmancy Toys online at schmancytoys.com. Find out more about Plush You! at plushyou.blogspot.com.

If you own a boutique, gallery or other place of business that supports the indie craft community, and want it featured in Talk Shop, email hellocraftinfo@gmail.com with Talk Shop in the subject line.

Art Whino is holding it’s first ever design competition, and they are looking for entries. The competition will be open to anyone and everyone who wants to participate. The twenty winning designs will be showcased in a fashion show and exhibition at Crystal Couture on February 24th, 2009.

Crystal Couture is a two week event that will feature sample sales, runway and trunk shows from designers, local boutiques, and area salons in Crystal City, VA. Each night will feature a theme with unique drinks, food tastes, and exciting fashions and music.

To enter the competition, email tshirtcomp@artwhino.com for specific submission requirements. Each entry is $5 and are due by 5 p.m. on February 12, 2009.

All entries will be displayed in a slide show in the opening gala event of Crystal Couture on February 13. The twenty winning entries will be printed in poster form and in t-shirt form at a runway show and exhibit on February 24.

One entry will win “Best in Show” and receive $300. The winner will be announced at the exhibit on the 24th. The twenty designs will also be for sale at the exhibit.

Talk Shop is the series where we interview independent store owners from across the country, to get their inside take on being in business.

In this this Talk Shop, Erin Waxman dishes on her one-of-a-kind retail store, Art Star, that she co-owns along with fellow crafter Megan Brewster. Located in the City of Brotherly Love, Art Star is a gallery and boutique that showcases innovative work from both seasoned and burgeoning artists from across the globe. Art Star has made a name for itself by hosting fantastic events, and carrying a fabulous array of goods from indie crafting heavyweights such as The Black Apple, My Paper Crane and Art School Dropout.

Tell us what Art Star is all about
We are a gallery & boutique that exhibits & sells work by emerging artists/crafters from across the globe.  Most of the work is handmade, but we also carry limited edition artist designed products.  We have a gallery space where we host new exhibitions every 6 weeks.  In the boutique section we carry work by over 50 artists.  We have a little bit of everything (clothing, jewelry, housewares, prints, paintings, plush, etc) & a wide range of price points.

Do you have any sort of background in crafting or the arts?
We both went to Tyler School of Art.  Erin studied metalsmithing/jewelry & Megan studied ceramics.  After we both graduated in early 2000, Erin developed a line of clothing & jewelry & Megan managed the gallery at The Clay Studio (a Philly non-profit arts org.)  Right now b/c we are the only two people running Art Star, we don’t have too much time to make our work but we dabble.

How does your business support independent artists and crafters and/or the handmade community?
We work really hard to cultivate relationships w/ our artists so we can promote/sell their work to the best of our ability.  At the same time, we also develop relationships w/ our customers & really listen to what they are looking to collect.  We then work w/ specific artists that we carry to develop exclusive product lines, like prints/glasses/totes which are affordable to our customers.  Another way that we support the community is by organizing The Art Star Craft Bazaar, which provides another venue for artists to sell work to the public & also network w/ other artists.  This is an annual show that takes place over the summer at Penn’s Landing Great Plaza in Philadelphia & attracts about 10,000 shoppers over the course of a weekend.  Because of the high profile venue, we are able to attract tourists & other Philly natives that normally wouldn’t be exposed to the handmade community.

Who are your favorite local designers?
It is so hard to choose, we work w/ so many talented local artists.  Right now, we are really excited about a local woman named Jenya Kurtsman who’s line is called Evaforeva.  She makes baby/toddler clothing out of recycled sweaters & blankets.  Many of the clothes she finds were once adult sizes & she turns them into little jackets & sweaters for kids.  We have this adorable tutu set that we are in love with.

How can local designers and crafters get involved with Art Star?
They can submit their work for review.  All they need to do is send a link to their website/etsy page to info@artstarphilly.com.  If they do not have a website, they can send 3-5 digital images & their retail prices.  Because it is just the two of us here, we can only respond to those whose work we are interested in carrying.  We get many submissions daily & though we would like to respond to everyone, it is just not possible.  We do look at everything though.

What’s the most unusual item(s) for sale in your shop?
We have these crazy crocheted skirts/dresses by Glo Bug (Gloria Joan Haag).  Some parts of the dresses are crocheted w/ plastic – they are like wearable art.

Any advice for those interested in opening up their own boutique?
Take at least a year to research & develop a business plan.  Make sure it is something you really want to do b/c it is a ton of work!  It basically becomes your life.  Think of everything you would need to spend money on & price it out.  We priced out everything from the rent to the paper clips.  Really research the area that you would like your business to be b/c it could make or break you.  If you don’t plan on selling online, you will need to rely heavily on foot traffic.  If you are selling items on a consignment basis, make sure paying your artists is a priority.  Their commission is not your money to spend.

Where do you shop, besides Art Star, of course…
Other small boutiques in Philadelphia: Revelations, Lost & Found, & Bus Stop.  I am in AC Moore a lot. Etsy too.

Art Star is located at 623 N. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123.
For store and event information, and to shop online, go to artstarphilly.com.

If you own a boutique, gallery or other place of business that supports the indie craft community, and want it featured in Talk Shop, email hellocraftinfo@gmail.com with Talk Shop in the subject line.

In this Talk Shop, Maggie White tells all about her Young Blood Gallery & Boutique, which she co-owns with Kelly Teasley in Atlanta, Georgia.  Young Blood is a testament that good things happening to folks who are dissatisfied with the status quo… and decide do something about it.

The framework for Young Blood started way back in 1997, in the home of White and Teasley, who were dismayed by the typical refusal of Atlanta’s art galleries to exhibit unknown local artists, who had a tremendous amount of energy and talent. In 1999, their home exhibitions turned into a gallery space in Grant Park, and then in 2003, Young Blood expanded into the converted studio space beside the gallery, creating a shop that features handmade goods and items designed by artists.

With monthly art openings and their crafts market for burgeoning artists, Young Blood has something for every art lover and indie crafter.

Where indie craft history is concerned, Young Blood was one of the first ones there to plant their flag and support the scene, long before the movement got legs and started taking over the planet.

Tell us what Young Blood is all about:
We got started 10 years ago when we organized art shows in our home. It was a reaction to the lack of opportunities for emerging and non-traditional artists.  We were inspired by the DIY punk scene and the house shows we went to. It was tons of fun then turned into a labor of love and now we’re trying to see the fruits of our labors!  Running a business is not easy but we still can’t imagine doing anything else.   We opened the shop in 2003 and are working to support indie designers and crafters and ourselves at the same time.

Do you have any sort of background in crafting or the arts?
I (Maggie) made jewelry and clothing in my free time days as well as photography, video, and occasional mixed media work. Kelly is a visual artist who went to school for painting and design.  She also gets crafty with sewing, bookmaking…she’s pretty much a walking encyclopedia of art how-to.

How does your business support independent artists and crafters and/or the handmade community?
Supporting independent artists was the motivator that Young Blood was built on and at this point I’m proud to say we’ve hosted over a hundred shows and thousands of artists. In the boutique, which we opened in 2003, the theme is that everything is hand made or designed by an artist and we’re currently working with over 200 designers and crafters.

How can local designers and crafters get involved with Young Blood?
By submitting their art or creations to Maggie and Kelly online,  or by participating in Kraftwork which is our first-Thursday indie kraft market. Plus we’re always open to ideas!

What’s the most unusual item(s) for sale in your shop?
Ha! Kelly’s brother-in-law made us some fly fishing lures, we have crocheted corn dogs and Twinkies by Sweet Honey Complex and Erica Weiner’s penis bone necklace comes to mind.

Any advice for those interested in opening up their own boutique?
Do your homework and know what you’re getting into if you want to be profitable.  Learn the business side ahead of time. We had to learn from our mistakes and there were a lot of them!

Any exciting upcoming events or holiday sales going on at Young Blood?
Our holiday Kraftwork is always tons of fun.  It’s on December 4th from 7-10 pm.  We’re hosting Magpie Vintage Party in December which our vintage clothing fashionista friends organize.  They travel the country to find choice vintage clothing and it’s very affordable!  Other than that, stayed tuned to our blog:  http://youngbloodgalleryandboutique.blogspot.com/

If you own a boutique, gallery or other place of business that supports the indie craft community, and want it featured in Talk Shop, email hellocraftinfo@gmail.com with Talk Shop in the subject line.

In this the premiere Talk Shop, Joshua Tiktin, artist, musician and co-owner (with his wife Luciana),
of Dekka in Washington, D.C., gives us the goods on his unique art co-op that has become a smash hit gallery and retail destination.

Dekka’s mission is to be a vehicle that designers, artists, and musicians can use in order to connect with their consumers; They provide opportunities such as donated space and time at entertainment events for individuals to showcase their talents and sell their products.  Dekka also provides their artists with donated space at the DEKKA Showroom — a co-op style space where members pay a rent to sell their merchandise.  And to top off this brilliant concept, Joshua is a super nice dude… which means a lot in the fast-paced business world of D.C.  Read on to find out more.

Tell us what Dekka is all about:
DEKKA is a showroom that features over 30 (mostly local) designers and artists. We work together as a team to promote our individual creative businesses.  At the same time, it is in our hearts to stir up positive movements in the cultural landscape in the DC area.

Do you have any sort of background in crafting or the arts?
Yes, a lot! I have written, produced, MC’d, and DJ’d Electronic and Hip Hop music since 89′.  I was also a self employed artist for several years in Miami, after graduating from University of Maryland with an Art degree.

How does your business support independent artists and crafters and/or the handmade community?
We give them the opportunity of having a store in the heart of a hopping shopping district (U Street!),
without the tremendous cost and risk of owning and operating their own store.

Being that DC is typically a conservative (fashion-wise) and expensive (for most of us) city, how have those factors played into your decision to open and run a business here?
We didn’t plan on doing this! We did have the idea in our minds while living in Miami and here, but it happened here because we met a lot of artists and designers who wanted to do it.  DC wanted this! It turns out that this is the best place to do this now.  Since the government is here, the economy is more stable in DC than in other cities.  People still have their jobs, they still have money, and they are still shopping!

How can local crafters get involved with Dekka?
They can send me an email with “DEKKA” in the subject line (please send links and/or pics, etc.).  From there we will go over their work and see if it fits in with what we are doing.  If it does, we will go over all the details and logistics.  After that, it is up to them if they are ready to join with us!

What are the most unusual items for sale in your shop?
With songs like “Evil Chicken” and “The Windshield Wiper Dance”, I would have to say my “JMC” CD’s are definitely out there.  Also, Jon Wye’s belt buckles (Belgian waffles, underwear, etc) are fresh.  The artwork of David Barr and Michelle Fatovic are also truly unique and inspiring.

Any exciting upcoming events or sales going on at Dekka?
Absolutely! Black Friday is going to be awesome (November 28).  We will be open from 9am-9pm, featuring lots of discounts, drinks, food, and music.  It’ll be a blast!  Also, the first Saturday of every month is our Art Open House, and the third Thursday of every month is our Trunk Show.  Keep a heads up for some monthly out of store events coming soon! Don’t forget to visit our website at www.dekkafam.com.

Dekka is located at 1338 U Street NW, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20009.
Check out their artists and latest happenings at dekkafam.com.

If you own a boutique, gallery or other place of business that supports the indie craft community, and want it featured in Talk Shop, email hellocraftinfo@gmail.com with Talk Shop in the subject line.