Description

Ten beautifully illustrated essays explore the stories of handcrafted objects and the Black artisans who created them, offering both inspiration and historical insight. Black craftspeople have played a vital role in American art and design, producing extraordinary and sought-after work despite significant challenges. Atlanta-based chairmaker and scholar Robell Awake delves into the history of ten foundational examples of Black craftsmanship, including:

The masterfully crafted wooden chairs of Richard Poynor, an enslaved artisan who established a legacy of Tennessee chairmakers.

The intricate wrought-iron gates of Philip Simmons, which remain a lasting feature of Charleston, South Carolina, incorporating traditional Low Country motifs.

The imaginative assemblage art and yard displays of Joe Minter, James Hampton, Bessie Harvey, and others, who draw from African spiritual traditions to build powerful, large-scale art installations.

From the enslaved potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina, to Ann Lowe, the famed couturier who designed Jacqueline Kennedy’s wedding gown, to the Gullah Geechee sweetgrass basket makers and the renowned quilters of Gee’s Bend, *A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects* highlights generations of Black artisans and their enduring contributions to American craft.

This book provides a deep exploration of Black artisanship, including its historical significance in the southern United States, where Black craftspeople were once estimated to outnumber white artisans five to one.

The volume features richly illustrated essays with vibrant color artwork by Johnalynn Holland, showcasing these remarkable craft objects and their creators.

Robell Awake, the author, is a respected furniture maker, artisan, and educator whose work has appeared in *The New York Times* and exhibitions at Verso Gallery in New York City and the Center for Craft in Asheville, North Carolina. The afterword is written by Dr. Tiffany Momon, the founder and co-director of the Black Craftspeople Digital Archive and a leading scholar of Black history and African American placemaking in the Southeast.

With its elegant design, this book is a perfect gift for art lovers and craft enthusiasts, serving as a lasting tribute to Black heritage and an essential resource for Black History Month and beyond.

Ideal for:

Anyone interested in the intersection of Black art, craft, and history

Designers and craftspeople

Educators and students

Collectors and museum curators

Lovers of fine and artisanal design objects