Materials–Based Research Grant
2019
Craft techniques adapted from manufacturing show that organic fibers can be needle felted into complex 3D objects by hand. Applying similar processes to post-consumer (Polyethylene Terephthalate) PET nonwoven fiber has the potential to transform ‘waste’ materials into high-performing, custom-shaped objects. The translation of intelligent hand-labor to a larger scale and new material is the long-term goal of our team’s research. We are developing a fabrication process that uses an industrial robot to felt in 3D, trained by a craft person's expertise. Our focus is to refine the tool to combine dexterity, speed, and precision in shaping a sustainable, recycled material.
Selected works
In order to increase the value and relevance of craft to society, the Center works to advance the understanding of craft in higher education, museums and cultural institutions, and across disciplines. Field building strategies include convening thought leaders, creating, documenting and disseminating research, and launching innovative leadership initiatives. We provide grants and fellowships to emerging and established craft artists, curators, and scholars in order to build a future for the field of craft.
Recognizing that Asheville and the surrounding area has been a bastion for craft in the United States dating back to the Cherokee, the Center is actively working to preserve and advance the craft legacy of Western North Carolina through the development of our property in downtown Asheville, North Carolina and through a series of exhibitions and community-focused initiatives.
67 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 785-1357 | info@centerforcraft.org
Gallery Hours: Tues–Sat, 10–6 get more info
Gallery Hours: Closed — Reopening Fall 2019
Field Building
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