Florida CraftArt's 75th: Handmade History

0:00It's April 8th. Welcome to Tampa Bay News today, powered by AI. Florida Crafdart in downtown St. Petersburg is marking its 75th anniversary with an exhibit called The Makers Who Made Us showcasing the evolution of craft styles across the state. This display ties right into the National Handwork Initiative for America's 250th birthday in 2026, making Florida. Crafdart, the only spot in the state involved. The group started back in 1951 as Florida Crafsman founded by Elsa and Louise Freund to boost Crafdart and give them a unified voice. They got their first real building in 1986 and settled into the current headquarters in 1995. Artists like Mary Klein, who does jewelry and enamel work, have pieces in the show that capture moments right outside the gallery. She describes the process as meditative, using powder glass silica fused onto metal for intricate designs that free the mind. The exhibit

1:01pulls from their permanent collection, organized by time periods, featuring top talent in clay, glass, wood, fiber, and jewelry, stuff that. Stacks up nationally. Co-curator McKelle Twigel calls it the best craft media from Florida Makers who master their materials. Catch this journey through handmade history until April 22nd in Pinellas County and feel that joy from objects born of pure skill and creativity.