CraftTexas 2018 is the the tenth in a series of biennial juried exhibitions showcasing the best in Texas-made contemporary craft. Juried by Jennifer Scanlan, Curatorial and Exhibitions Director at Oklahoma Contemporary, the show features 50 works by 36 artists and includes a wide range of sculpture, jewelry, and furniture, with a strong emphasis on cutting-edge works.

The CraftTexas series provides a unique opportunity for Texas artists to have their work viewed by a nationally recognized juror and to display their work in an exhibition that strives to broaden the understanding of contemporary craft. This year, Scanlan selected her favorite works from a pool of 173 applicants. In her juror’s statement, she commented: “Many of the works that I juried into the exhibition presented materials in innovative ways. Clay and fiber, used by humans for millennia, were revealed with unexpected textures and shapes. Others incorporated materials that were new or unusual in a craft context, such as rice husk fiber and Styrofoam. While craft is often associated with tradition and the past, these artists remind us that creative material exploration is often the impetus for technological advances.”

After reviewing Scanlan’s selections, HCCC Curator Kathryn Hall commented on the surprising variety of works in the show. “From Alex Goss’ beautifully tooled YouScrew, whose smiling screwheads remind people not to touch, to Brian Molanphy’s collaboration with a mud-dauber nest, this year’s juried exhibition challenges us to think critically about the presence of craft in our everyday lives as well as continue to recognize master craftspeople such as enamellist and HCCC Texas Master, Harlan Butt.”