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Craft in America
Banjo maker Jim Hartel on the African heritage and banjo
Banjo maker Jim Hartel shows us old banjos, derived from instruments made by African slaves, plays the minstrel tune "Jim Along Josie," and tells about turn-of-the-century banjo models and playing styles. Bonus video from the MUSIC episode. PBS premiere November 20, 2015. Archival Courtesy of Bettmann/Corbis, Library of Congress/Mary Cassatt/Harris & Ewing, H. Armstrong Roberts, Carl Fleischhauer,
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Crossroads explores the intersections of craft, culture, and technology.
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THREADS explores weaving, storytelling through quilts and textiles
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Explore the creativity and personal dynamics of craft artist families.
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Many craft artists go beyond skill to personal and political expression in "Messages."
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What inspires a career in craft? How does one learn a craft and make a living at it?
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Community focuses on the connection artists have to their communities through craft.
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Landscape considers the influences on artists that translate into objects.
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Memory looks to the dynamic of cultural history and personal heritage in creating objects.