FS Connects: Re-membering Black Craft Histories: Michael Puryear and Robell Awake in Conversation

Furni­ture makers Michael Puryear and Robell Awake will discuss Robel­l’s new book A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects as well as their jour­ney’s into craft and the inspi­ra­tion they draw from various Black craft traditions.

“Black people in America have long been keeping history, telling stories, and pioneer­ing revo­lu­tion­ary artis­tic tradi­tions through craft. From the assem­blage art found in the ​‘yard shows’ of the rural South to the sophis­ti­cated and dynamic abstract visual language created by gener­a­tions of quil­ters from Gee’s Bend, Alabama, Black craft tradi­tions have been pushing the bound­aries of art and craft for gener­a­tions while simul­ta­ne­ously resist­ing oppres­sion and erasure.” —author Robell Awake

Black arti­sans have long been central to the story of Amer­i­can art, creat­ing beau­ti­ful and inno­v­a­tive work for hundreds of years against immense odds. In A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects, cele­brated designer, chair­maker, researcher, and educa­tor Robell Awake explores the fasci­nat­ing stories behind ten corner­stone exam­ples of Black craft, includ­ing furni­ture, pottery, quilts, iron­work, fashion, and more.

From the enslaved potters of Old Edge­field, South Carolina to Ann Lowe, the couture dress­maker who made Jacque­line Kennedy’s wedding dress; from Philip Simmons’s gorgeous iron­work, seen through­out Charleston and exhib­ited all over the world, to the Gullah sweet­grass basket makers whose art, rooted in tradi­tion, contin­ues to evolve and thrive well into the 21st century, A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects illu­mi­nates the work of gener­a­tions of Black arti­sans, some who
have become well known, and others who remain uniden­ti­fied. Along the way it fore­grounds their stories within the history of Amer­i­can art and design. This beau­ti­ful volume includes lumi­nous color illus­tra­tions by artist Johna­lynn Holland and an after­word by Dr. Tiffany Momon, founder and co‐​director of the Black Crafts­peo­ple Digital Archive.

Awake’s book is avail­able through his preferred book­seller here. Signed copies are also available. 

This event is free, however we hope that you will consider making a contri­bu­tion. Any and all dona­tions to this event will go towards a BIPOC schol­ar­ship to attend upcom­ing Furni­ture Society events.