Resources: American Craft Council Library

The American Craft Council (ACC) moved their offices from New York to Minnesota in the last couple years. A loss for NYC but a big gain for the arts in Northeast Minneapolis. The ACC publishes my favorite magazine, American Craft, six times a year; they also put on several American Craft Council shows around the country, from California to Minnesota to Maryland.
But the best part about the ACC moving to Minneapolis is their library came with them. It's free and open to the public 10am - 5pm, Monday through Friday. I love browsing through all the art magazines, some of which I've never seen anywhere else. The library has over 6,400 books, 7,000 exhibition catalogs, 700 volumes of periodicals and a substantial collection of artist files (from letters to images of work to artist statements). Obviously the main focus of the library's holdings is American craft, with an emphasis on works after 1940.

I suggest browsing the Craft Council's very simple and easy to use website. It's probably one of the best website designs I've seen in a long time. They have a great list of links to art magazines, museums and art centers, other craft organizations and schools.

You can search their catalog online or talk to the librarian to help you find what you're looking for. You can call the library at (612) 206-2330 or send an email inquiry: library@craftcouncil.org.

The American Craft Council is located on the second floor of the historical Grain Belt Brewery at 1224 Marshall St NE, Suite 200, Minneapolis MN 55413. There's free parking in a lot right across the street.

(sidenote: there is a long running debate about the difference between "craft" and "art" in artistic circles. Everyone seems to have a different definition. Personally, when I define "craft" I think of something that historically is meant to be functional first and aesthetically pleasing second. When I think of something created to be "art" it seems to me that aesthetics are more considered than any function. Another way I define the two terms: craft = domestic, made for use in the home, whereas art = gallery, created to be viewed and not touched. For example, a hand crafted teapot has a practical use but is also beautiful to look at and can be displayed as a work of art. The traditional studio arts (painting, sculpture, drawing, etc) are made to be put on display, but don't have a functional purpose beyond bringing beauty into the viewer's life)