Joan Mondale's legacy lives on at St. Paul craft show
A national craft show that Joan Mondale helped bring to St. Paul 28 years ago returns this weekend in its first showing since her death earlier this year.
The American Craft Council St. Paul Show will feature about 230 artists. It's expected to draw about 10,000 people from Friday through Sunday at St. Paul RiverCentre.
Mondale was influential in bringing the American Craft Council headquarters to the Twin Cities from New York in 2010. She loved to showcase to the nation the richness of the Twin Cities arts community and its philanthropic spirit, said council spokeswoman Pamela Diamond.
• More: Photos: Joan Mondale remembered
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She attended every show, including last year, despite her health. "She was really struggling last year," Diamond said. "But she was here."
This year's show continues to bring out elements that Mondale loved, including having local artists present, Diamond added. "People get to meet the artists and they develop a relationship over time, and they hear the story behind the piece," she said. "There's so much humanity in these pieces."
Ceramics, hand blown glass, metal work and woodworking will be part of the craft show, along with the theme of using arts to entertain.
Handmade creations in jewelry, clothing, furniture and home décor will be featured in a special exhibition called "Make Room, Modern Design Meets Craft — Let's Entertain." The exhibit includes 10 craft inspired rooms, and a tap room serving Minnesota-brewed craft beers.
"I think she would be so proud to see how craft has been more accepted in the general public," Diamond said of Mondale. "It's grown into things like craft beer — just the revival of all of these skills that were lost when everything became mass manufactured and big box."
The council was founded in 1943 when there was a huge need for cups, bowls, and plates for World War II.
Mondale recognized fine craftsmanship as an art form way before many others, Diamond said.
"We just feel that Joan is kind of in our DNA," she added. "We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her."