This weekend the American Craft Councilshow comes to Fort Mason, and it's not just the hobby collectors who value traditional techniques and handmade craftsmanship. With more than 220 artisans and an anticipated crowd of over 12,000, the once niche event now requires a strategy.
The goals: Don’t get overwhelmed. Soak up decor inspiration. Buy awesome stuff. If that sounds like your plan of attack, start here:
1. See how the pros do it
Local interior design luminaries will showcase vignettes created with the show’s objects. Contributing their vision to this year’s theme of entertaining are April Powers, Jiun Ho, Alison Damonte, John K. Anderson, Chad DeWitt, and Tyler Dawson.
2. Own a museum piece
Snatch up a gorgeous statement piece from jewelry designer Niki Ulehla, whose work has been shown at Philadelphia Museum of Art.
3. Pile on the charm
A mini pop-up shop of charms from metal-smiths and jewelry designers including Christy Klug, Biba Schutz, and Petra Class add to your arm party.
4.Get lost
That is, in the delicate fiber wall sculptures of Sausalito-based artist Juline Beier.
5. Network
Chat with artists about their techniques like the hand-thrown ceramics and encaustic processes of artist Eileen P. Goldenberg.
6. Warm up with wood
Varian Design’s chairs made of sustainably harvest black walnut are a rustic minimalist’s dream.
7. Embrace prints
Ealish Wilson’s collection of textiles made under label Design Bahn are developed through a laborious process of sculpting trompe l’oeil pieces from pleats and smocks, that are then photographed and turned into 2D prints.
