Tales and Traditions: Storytelling in Twentieth-Century American Craft - Exhibition Catalogue

Seattle and London: University of Washinton Press, 1993. First Edition . Trade Paperback. Fine. 8 1/2" X 11. 94 Pages. No defects noted to this Gift Quality as new book. Interior text and illustration pages are flawless. Since the first cave dwellers drew on cave walls, pictorial storytelling has been a common role for the artist. Medieval stained glass windows and tapestries remind their admirers even today that materials and processes long considered craft are among the most revered in the visual arts for their narrative power. After many centuries in which crafts were accorded a homely utilitarian status, today glass, clay, fiber, metal, and wood have regained full status for their expressive potential in the hands of creative artists. Storytelling is, once again, the province of the serious craft artist. This catalogue documents the rich narrative and figurative traditions of contemporary craft artists in the United States, from the turn of the century to the present. Beginning with earlier pieces that often documented historical, commemorative, or mythological events, Tales and Traditions then moves to today's work, which is often rich with personal imagery and socio-political commentary. Contents: Foreword, Preface, Introduction, Tales and Traditions 1750- 1950, Tales and Traditions 1950-1992, Catalogue, Checklist, and Acknowledgments.