Jenny Lynn Weitz, Marketing Director of the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, gave us an overview of what the craft center offers.
Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) is a nonprofit arts organization founded to advance education about the process, product and history of craft. HCCC’s major emphasis is on objects of art made primarily from craft materials: clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood or found/recycled materials.
Since opening in September of 2001, HCCC has emerged as an important cultural and educational resource for Houston and the Southwest—one of the few venues in the country dedicated exclusively to craft at the highest level. HCCC provides exhibition, retail and studio spaces to support the work of local and national artists and serves as a resource for artists, educators and the community-at-large. In addition, HCCC reaches thousands of children a year through educational programming.
Courtesy of HCCC
At HCCC, you will see the full range of the creative process, from how an object is made to why the artist decided to create something “just that way.” Their exhibitions feature sophisticated creations – some that have functions and some that don’t. Asher Gallery is the place to shop one-of-a-kind gifts made by a variety of local and national artists. The Craft Garden, behind the building, demonstrates the living connection between how plant materials are grown and used to create things like the blue jeans and T-shirts we wear every day.
And, no stop at HCCC is complete without visiting the Artist Hall to explore the artist studios. Resident artists are selected from across the country to come to Houston and share their knowledge and love of craft with you. In return for opening their studios to the public, they receive financial, professional, and promotional support to advance their careers.
Courtesy of HCCC
HCCC showcases the best in contemporary craft in a welcoming environment that invites you to stay for a while or drop in often. Visitors enjoy viewing innovative exhibitions, talking with resident artists, creating their own craft objects at monthly events like HANDS-ON HOUSTON on the first Saturday of every month, or Craft Social On Third Thursdays, and shopping for one-of-a-kind gifts and home décor in the Asher Gallery. Admission is free. Docent-led tours are available for groups, if scheduled in advance.
For more information about Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, visit crafthouston.org.
