When Northwest Designer Craftartists (NWDC) was founded 65 years ago, one of its goals was outreach to the rest of the country, and to the world, to raise awareness about the vibrant creativity and superb craftsmanship of craft artists in the Pacific Northwest. NWDC members wanted the recognition they so justly deserved and to engage in new relationships that would stimulate ever greater creativity and opportunity.

At its heart, the Currents 2020 National Craft Exhibition provides an opportunity for NWDC members, and our invited artists, to learn and share with fine craft artists and curators on a national level while introducing their work to a larger audience. As a survey of contemporary and traditional craft, it is an opportunity to celebrate excellence in craft and design, and to compare and contrast current and continuing trends in craft making.

The theme of "hats" made the cocktail party video project fundraiser at Steve & Vincent’s studio seem even MORE festive. In addition to the art-packed environment, hat-wearing members who paid to come also brought abundant, varied and delicious appetizers. Larry Halvorson and Dick Weiss "manned" the bar.

A FUNDRAISER AND ONE STEP CLOSER TO OUR GOAL

The afternoon of January 13, 2019 at Mike Peck’s POTS Gallery in Fremont

That day brought together donated artworks from 82 Northwest artists with a group of interested artists and patrons for a fundraiser to benefit the NWDC’s Living Treasures Project. It was a raffle, and the anticipation was high, as each artwork was priced at an affordable $200…and everyone hoped their ticket would be drawn early.

The first ticket drawn? NWDC’s own Chris Wooten owned it, and she chose the piece by Tip Toland, the artist featured in the Living Treasures current project.