searchlight info

jessica benzaquen

i recently got a press release from the american craft council about the searchlight program of which i am a participant:

THE AMERICAN CRAFT COUNCIL ANNOUNCES THE 2009 SEARCHLIGHT ARTISTS TO EXHIBIT AT THE BALTIMORE SHOW

New York, NY (November 11, 2008)—The American Craft Council is pleased to announce that fourteen emerging artists have been chosen as Searchlight Artists to exhibit their work at the prestigious American Craft Council Show in Baltimore, February 27 through March 1, 2009 at the Baltimore Convention Center.

“The American Craft Council is the leading voice of craft in America—gallery owners, educators and show attendees look to us to identify new talent and trends,” said Andrew Glasgow, executive director of the American Craft Council. “The Searchlight artists were selected because they exemplify craft’s cutting-edge direction and we’re pleased to provide a national platform for them to present their work.”

Searchlight Artists are nominated by the leaders of national universities, museums and residencies and selected through a rigorous jury process. These artists, who have not previously participated in a national craft show, will present their work alongside more than 700 professional artists and their high-quality handmade jewelry, furniture, clothing, home décor and more at the largest, juried indoor craft event in the country.

The work of the Searchlight Artists will be presented in a unique, collaborative space on the show floor. In an effort to create a dynamic retail space, the artists will work with Amy Shaw, this year’s Searchlight Retail Advisor. Amy Shaw is a curator, blogger and owner of Greenjeans, a gallery shop in Brooklyn committed to craft, sustainability and conscientious living.

2009 Searchlight Artists:

jessica benzaquen (albuquerque, nm)
eun-suh choi (rochester, ny)
annica cuppetelli (detroit, mi)
jennaca davies (north kingstown, ri)
hiroe hanazono (philadelphia, pa)
matthew hutton (portland, me)
maya kini (sacramento, ca)
sylvie rosenthal (asheville, nc)
richard saja (jackson heights, ny)
nanda soderberg (richmond, va)
amy tavern (asheville, nc)
stacey webber (chicago, il)
kai wolter (santa fe, nm)

The AMERICAN CRAFT COUNCIL is a national, nonprofit public educational organization founded in 1943 by Aileen Osborn Webb. The mission of the Council is to promote understanding and appreciation of contemporary American craft. Programs include the bimonthly magazine AMERICAN CRAFT, annual juried shows presenting artists and their work, a leadership conference, the Aileen Osborn Webb Awards honoring excellence, workshops, seminars, and a research library.

sylvie rosenthal

thanks for reading.