Unique and inventive work on view at Ohio Craft Museum

The world of craft is remarkably diverse. It’s also a world in which “pretty” and “charming” are far from the only descriptors that can apply to a piece.

To consider the multiple dimensions of crafts – ranging from political statements, to intrigue, humor, mystery and more – visit the Ohio Designer Craftsmen Best of 2024, the 41st annual showcase of elite works on view through July 6 at the Ohio Craft Museum.

Seventy-eight pieces by 65 artists include dishes, jewelry, furniture, sculpture, vessels and weavings. There is no common denominator in theme or style except that each work is uniquely inventive and merits careful consideration by the viewer.

Many of the artists are from Ohio, but others hail from Indiana, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont. Their works were selected from more than 300 submissions by Jacqueline Nathan, the former longtime gallery director at Bowling Green State University who praised the craft artists’ “originality, artistic voice and impressive technical skills.”

The Challenge Award for Excellence went to Wooster artist Susan Shie for her quilt titled “Use the Skillet: Knight of Pyrex Cups in the Kitchen Tarot.” Shie, on a quest to make quilts for the 78 cards in a tarot deck, has fashioned this one as a statement for protecting the environment and honoring three women who have led the cause: author Rachel Carsen, activist Greta Thunberg and sustainability proponent Annie Leonard, creator of the animated film “The Story of Stuff.”

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Images of these three are the central component of the largely blue, yellow and green quilt; they are positioned below the headline: “Use the Skillet!” that Shie writes in her artist statement is a symbol for women’s strength.

The trio is surrounded by lines and lines of text that describe their actions, as well as comments and personal information from Shie. You could spend hours reading the entire quilt, and you could step back across the room and enjoy its beautiful colors, composition and flow.

Also impressive is Fannie Lee’s vertical wall-hanging, “San Tien 1,” a cotton and wool piece that begins with cream colors at the top, then morphs into yellow and blue woven arrows, and finally, descending narrow strings of white fringe. For this piece, the Brooklyn, New York, artist won the Ohio Designer Craftsmen Director’s Award for Excellence.

One of the few paintings in the exhibit is the striking “The Mystery of Grace,” by Columbus artist Cody F. Miller. His paper, paint-and-markers image shows a girl astride a huge tortoise. Suitcases are piled behind her and before her, a flock of birds unravels the ball of string she holds in her hand.

Even more enigmatic are the sculptures of Groveport's Juliellen Bryne, including the two rabbits featured in “Jewels” and the two bathing-capped girls in “Swim.” The skin of the swimmers is an eerie shade of chlorine green.

William Brouillard ,of Lakewood, goes steampunk with his huge platter, “We Will Win Their Hearts and Minds with Our Technology,” in which the central figure, a stern-faced automaton surrounded by gears and gizmos, points at the viewer.

Emily Joyce, an artist and teacher from the Cleveland area, used fold-formed and hand-sawed copper and enamel to create “Spiral Bound Notebook Paper,” a sculpture that looks exactly like its title.

One of the most delightful pieces is Canton artist Susan Mentrak’s “I Do It,” winner of the Award for Excellence. Her sculpture is a bust of her daughter who insisted on getting ready for preschool by herself. The rosy-cheeked girl has a stubborn expression and crooked pigtails, all fashioned from coil-built stoneware.

There is so much more to see in this complex exhibit. Some of the artists are veterans in their craft and others are just beginning their artistic careers. Regardless of their longevity, each artist demonstrates finesse in craftsmanship and individuality in expression. Without using many words – well, except for Susan Shie – they have a whole lot to say.

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At a glance

The Ohio Designer Craftsmen Best of 2024 continues through July 6 at the Ohio Craft Museum, 1665 W. Fifth Ave. From Sept. 21 to Dec. 28, selections from Best of 2024 show are to be on view at the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, 145 E. Main St., Lancaster.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

Admission is free. Call 614-486-4402 or visit ohiocraft.org for more information.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: No common theme in Ohio Designer Craftsmen Best of 2024 showcase