History in the Making

History in the Making: 2011 Renwick Craft Invitational features works by four extraordinary artists who explore the deep roots of contemporary American craft and decorative arts. Ubaldo Vitali, a fourth-generation silversmith and master conservator of historic silver, uses classical techniques learned in the guilds of Rome to create luminous works for popes, kings and presidents. Cliff Lee, a neurosurgeon by training, creates elegant porcelain vessels with the exactitude of a doctor, often using his knowledge of chemistry to recreate medieval Chinese glazes long thought lost to history. Judith Schaechter brings a wealth of knowledge about traditional stained-glass practice to her moody, innovative windows, which reflect diverse influences, from gothic art to punk rock. Matthias Pliessnig combines traditional boat-building techniques and 3-D design technology to create seating furniture out of steam-bent oak strips that may have up to 7,000 points of contact without aid of hardware. The Renwick Craft Invitational is a biennial exhibition series established in 2000 to honour the creativity and talent of craft artists working today. History in the Making is the fifth presentation in the series. Nicholas R. Bell, Ulysses Grant Dietz and Andrew Wagner examine how each artist mines and transcends tradition in silver, porcelain, glass and wood to create highly original works of consummate craftsmanship.