Style Spotlight: Craft Artists Honored as USA Fellows

Aaron Yakim, who created these ”Egg Baskets,” is among six traditional craft artists to win a USA Fellowship. CREDIT: Aaron Yakim

Craft artists are among the 50 artists honored with USA Fellowships by the advocacy group United States Artists (USA). In a ceremony on Dec. 5 in Santa Monica, Calif., the honorees—architects, dancers, writers, musicians, playwrights and visual artists— were each awarded with a $50,000 grant to use however they like. The organization’s mission is to “invest” in American artists. Since 2006, USA has “invested” $15 million in U.S. artists.

Six artists were recognized in the crafts and traditional arts category:

Textile artist Sonya Clark, of Richmond, Va., whose provocative work makes use of mediums including beads, plastic combs and human hair; blacksmith and sculptor Tom Joyce, of Santa Fe, whose forged sculpture and architectural ironwork often makes bold statements about the social, economic and political histories of iron; Atlanta resident Jon Eric Riis, an internationally renowned tapestry weaver whose work blends ancient Asian tradition with contemporary sensibilities; Beth Lipman, of Sheboygan Falls, Wis., whose exquisite glass sculpture and designs explore the traditions of still-life painting while making a statement about conditions in the world today; ceramic artist Akio Takamori, of Seattle, who draw on his memories of childhood, as well as illustrations in history books, for inspiration; Aaron Yakim, of Parkersburg, W.V., who creates traditional Appalachian baskets by harvesting white oak himself and using hand tools to split the wood into delicate strips.

For a full list of winners, visit www.unitedstatesartists.org.