100 Questions About Craft: MA in Critical and Historical Craft Studies

Students to attend CAA Advancing Art & Design, Haystack, and NCECA conferences

The MA in Critical and Historical Craft Studies challenges the boundaries of craft; our program invites students to consider which craft to study, from media-specific work in ceramics or textiles to craft-like contemporary art and craft-based contemporary art jewelry; and from tableware to folk art and artisanal or DIY explorations. Research as an applied practice is the principle that connects students’ project work in the Swannanoa/Asheville area to that in their own hometowns. Because craft is everywhere, this program connects students into the field, and develops new understanding of craft by inviting visitors into our classroom conversations.

Students begin each semester in intensive on-site residencies alternating between July on the Warren Wilson College campus and January in downtown Asheville at the Center for Craft, Founding Program Partner. Residencies initiate a semester study of craft history, research methods, and materials lab. Guided by international faculty drawn from multiple disciplines, the program consists of 2 years plus one additional residency in which students share their Practicum Projects. Final projects may take a number of forms, from a formal thesis to a curated exhibition, curricular development to creating a scholarly symposium, a collection of short-form critical writing to a series of podcasts.

Online applications are due February 1, 2019.

To request more information, please contact Nathan Wyrick, Graduate Admissions Counselor at nwyrick [​at​] warren-wilson.edu or visit the website.

Program representatives will be in attendance and/or presenting at the following conferences this spring: CAA Advancing Art & Design (formerly College Art Association), Schmuck 2018 (Munich), NCECA,  SNAG (Society of North American Goldsmiths), and Haystack Summer Conference.

Students in the field
Extending the classroom experience into the field itself, select students receive scholarships to participate in national conferences. Warren Wilson College is pleased to work collaboratively with Haystack Mountain School of Crafts and NCECA (National Council on Education in the Ceramic Arts); participating students will attend Craft and Legacy: Writing a History, Preserving a Field, the 13th Haystack Summer Conference Claytopia, and NCECA’s 53rd annual conference in Minneapolis, MN, and, and contribute writing about their experiences to each organization. Two students will attend and write about their experiences at CAA Advancing Art & Design through program support from Windgate Foundation.

The 2019 scholarship recipients are:
–Haystack Summer Conference: Michael Hatch and Matt Lambert
–NCECA: Pheonix Booth and Sarah Kelly
–CAA Advancing Art & Design: Darrah Bowden and Samantha Gale

Open classroom
We invite you to join us in the classroom this January in two ways.

Join us for one of more a series of Craft Conversations:
All programs will take place from 6:30–8:30pm on the 2nd floor, the Center for Craft, 67 Broadway Street, Asheville, NC. Free and open to the public; rsvp requested through Eventbrite

January 5: T’ai Smith + Namita Wiggers (Program Director)
January 8: Lisa Vinebaum + Linda Sandino (Core Faculty)
January 10: Judith Leemann + Ben Lignel (Core Faculty)
January 15: Christina Burke + Marilyn Zapf
January 16: The MA in Craft Studies at Warren Wilson College + Student Pecha Kucha

During the first hour of this open classroom, each presenter shares their research and process for 30 minutes; this is followed by a second hour of active discussion with students and attendees.

Open house
Warren Wilson College invites you to find out how the program fits your interests at our Open House, January 10–11, 2019 in Asheville, NC. Visit classes, craft organizations, public program, and meet faculty and students. For more information and to register, contact Nathan Wyrick, Graduate Admissions Counselor at nwyrick [​at​] warren-wilson.edu.

Warren Wilson College
This master’s in craft joins our first rate MFA in creative writing as one of only two graduate programs at Warren Wilson. Warren Wilson is an independent, liberal arts college in Asheville, North Carolina, and is the only national liberal arts college with integrated work and service components.

All of Warren Wilson’s degrees are accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools: Council on Colleges.

Special thanks to the Asheville Art Museum for sharing images of work from their permanent collection for this year’s application. 

Thank you to Lisa Jarrett for the 100 Questions workshop created to launch the program residency in July 2018. Collectively compiled by students and faculty, the questions are posed by: Pheonix Booth, Darrah Bowden, Nick Falduto, Samantha Gale, Michael Hatch, Matt Haugh, Lisa Jarrett, Sarah Kelly, Matt Lambert, Ben Lignel, Kelly Malec-Kosak, Sydney Maresca, Kat St. Aubin, Linda Sandino and Namita Wiggers. 

Poster of 100 Questions (not pictured) designed by Ben Lignel.