ST. PETERSBURG — “The Makers That Made Us” will trace 75 years of craft, community, and making in Florida. The exhibition will run March 11 through April 22 at Florida CraftArt, 501 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. An opening reception will take place on Saturday, March 14, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Curated by Michele Tuegel, Florida CraftArt’s first executive director, the exhibition draws from the organization’s permanent collection to reflect on the artists, ideas, and values that shaped Florida CraftArt from its founding to the present. It considers how craft, rooted in material knowledge and experimentation, has long served as both artistic practice and connective force. A major anniversary exhibition marking the organization’s 75th year, it is the first of two exhibitions presented as part of Handwork 2026, a nationwide effort recognizing the enduring cultural impact of craft in America and reflecting on the nation’s 250-year history through the work of makers.
Founded in 1951 by artists and educators Elsa Freund and Louis Freund, Florida CraftArt began as a statewide endeavor, organizing traveling exhibitions throughout Florida. It later established its headquarters in downtown St. Petersburg in the historic Rutland’s Department Store and Golden Dragon Dance Hall building. That early commitment to serving artists across Florida continues to shape the organization’s work today.
Elsa, a pioneering modern jewelry artist influenced by Bauhaus ideas and the work of Alexander Calder, created bold sculptural pieces now held in major collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Louis, a painter, draftsman, printmaker, and muralist, studied in Paris and later earned WPA mural commissions across several states. Together, they positioned craft as both serious artistic pursuit and public good, an ethos that remains central to Florida CraftArt.
Today, FCA represents more than 200 artists, presents professionally curated exhibitions at no charge to the public, and supports artists and community through its Youth Arts and Emerging Artists programs.
A native Floridian, artist Charlie Brown exemplifies the spirit of “The Makers That Made Us.” He spent his lifetime in the state, drawing inspiration from the St. Johns River. In 1962, at age 58, he left accounting to become a full-time potter, developing a distinctive hand-built style in earthenware and raku. He dug his own clay from the banks of the river he loved and built a studio behind his home, helping foster a vibrant studio pottery community. His nationally recognized work, including exhibitions at the Smithsonian Institution, reflects a practice rooted deeply in place, material, and community.
Extending that legacy into the present is contemporary fiber artist Nneka Jones. Her triptych “Layers of Identity” uses meticulous hand embroidery and collage elements to examine the stereotypes projected onto young Black women, revealing layered realities beneath constructed images. A University of Tampa graduate raised in Trinidad and Tobago, Jones gained national attention when her embroidered American flag appeared on the cover of Time magazine. Her work demonstrates how craft continues to evolve, engaging urgent cultural conversations while expanding the boundaries of the medium.
“The Makers That Made Us” is followed by “Florida NOW,” running May 2 through June 13. “Florida NOW will be a statewide survey of contemporary Florida artists working in craft materials and techniques. Together, the two exhibitions situate Florida CraftArt’s history within the broader, evolving story of craft in America, aligned with the national conversation sparked by Handwork 2026.
Admission is offered at no charge to the public through the generous support of sponsors. Florida CraftArt is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For information, visit www.FloridaCraftArt.org or call 727-821-7391.