Featuring works in fiber, clay, paper, and found materials, this exhibition highlights the work of 2023-2024 resident artists Robert Hodge, Ann Johnson, Sarah Knight, Hai-Wen Lin, Qiqing Lin, Rebecca Padilla-Pipkin, and Terumi Saito. The walkthrough offers a unique opportunity for visitors to engage with Robert Hodge, who will provide insights into his creative processes and the conceptual foundations of his work.

About the Artist

Robert Hodge is a multidisciplinary artist currently working in Houston, Texas. His work celebrates resilience and reclamation through commemorations of African-American cultural icons and is grounded in the rich continuum of African-American history and cultural expression. Hodge’s collage-based works pair urban detritus and found objects with cut-out images, lyrics, and other signifiers of the African-American experience, creating a duality of meaning in which fragments of everyday life become conduits of artistic expression. His works are often cut, sewn, scorched, and painted, collapsing the space between his reclaimed materials and the traditions he invokes, and suggesting alternative pathways through the “layer cake” of African-American history.

Hodge has exhibited his work in galleries and museums across the country and internationally, including the Baltimore Museum of Art, The Contemporary Art Museum of Houston, the Carnegie Museum, and the Blaffer Museum. The multi-media artist also recently released a theme-based record honoring and remixing music from the legendary Robert Johnson.

Discover the artistic processes of working craft artists and learn about the artists’ works of art, influences, and materials. After the talk, visit the residents’ open studios to learn more about their tools and explore their work up close!

This event will be held in person as well as streamed on our Youtube channel at 3:00 PM.

Learn more about the resident artists here.

Create unique, dynamic photography settings for your artwork, starting with pre-designed backdrops inspired by still-life compositions  using everyday objects like food, clothing, and printed materials. Incorporate your own artwork into the scene, experiment with constructing new backdrops, and explore how lighting and composition can transform your photos.

Dongyi will share insights from her travels and offer practical tips on capturing compelling images with minimal equipment, budget, and photography experience. By the end of the workshop, you’ll walk away with a digital portfolio of professionally styled photographs of your artwork, ready to showcase online or in print!

Note: The workshop takes place in person and inside the HCCC building. Space is limited to a maximum of 12 participants.

REGISTRATION
$125 for HCCC members
$155 for Non-Members

Register here.

This class is for adults aged 18+ or children aged 13+ accompanied by a parent or guardian. No experience is necessary. Pre-registration is required and includes instructor, basic materials, tools and administration fees. Participants will be asked to bring a few art objects to photograph. Registration closes on June 12^th at 12:00 PM.

CANCELLATION POLICY
Workshops are subject to cancellation or change due to low enrollment. Registrants will be notified seven (7) days in advance if the workshop is canceled by HCCC. If registrants need to cancel their registration, they must do so at least 14 days in advance to receive a full refund. No refunds will be made for cancellations made less than two weeks prior to the workshop date. To cancel your registration, email HCCC at education@crafthouston.org, so that someone on the waiting list can attend the workshop.

Image credit: Ceramic doll and ceramic cat by Bailey Holley. Necklace on ceramic doll by Dongyi Wu. Jewelry on shoes by Bob Baldridge. Jewelry on ceramic couch by Kimberly Arcega. Ceramic couch by Shea Kister. Photo by Bob Baldridge.

Visitors of all ages are invited to:

–Watch craft demonstrations by a variety of Houston-area artist guilds and community groups
–See the exhibitions on view: Designing Motherhood, In Residence: 17th Edition, and Ceramics in the Environment
–Visit the resident artists’ studios
–Enjoy food and refreshments from food truck and Coffee.

PARTICIPATING GROUPS

• ALMAAHH – Advocates of a Latino Museum of Cultural and Visual Arts & Archive Complex in Houston, Harris County
• ClayHouston
• Contemporary Handweavers of Houston
• dosido
• Gulf Coast Woodturners
• Houston Book Arts Guild
• Houston Calligraphy Guild
• Houston Metal Arts Guild
• Islamic Arts Society
• Knit at Night Guild (KANG)
• Machine Knitters
• Polymer Clay Guild
• PysankaHTX
• Quilt Guild of Greater Houston
• Texas Association of Original Doll Artists
• Texas Basket Weavers Association
• Texas Electric School Bus Project
• Urban Harvest
• Woodworkers Club of Houston
• Zine Fest Houston

Please note: The HCCC parking lot will be blocked off for demonstrations, but street parking is available nearby. Craft Community Day replaces Hands-on Houston in March. HOH will resume in April!

As part of a grassroots effort by artists and craftspeople in cities and towns across the country to feed the hungry in their communities, Empty Bowls Houston is implemented locally by Houston-area ceramists and artists working in various media, the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, and the Houston Food Bank.

For a minimum $25 donation, attendees have the pleasure of selecting a bowl from thousands of one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted bowls, donated by Houston area ceramists and craft artists, and receiving a simple lunch. The empty bowls serve as a reminder of all the empty bowls in our community and around the world.

Pottery, woodturning demonstrations, and live music will be featured at the event. For more information, visit Empty Bowls Houston.

To get first dibs on bowls, check out the Empty Bowls Preview Party on March 21st.

DONATE BOWLS
Make and donate bowls to help provide food for better lives! Bowls can be dropped off March 10 – 21 at the Ceramic Store (check website for business hours) or March 11 – 21 at HCCC during public hours (Tuesday – Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM).

During this event, artists are invited to network and connect with other local craft artists. Artists who want to workshop concepts in development can sign up to be a presenter, giving peers a glimpse into their creative process and inviting them to share feedback. This is a great opportunity to test out new ideas and highlight techniques and materials. Space is limited for presentations; however, everyone is invited to interact and connect with fellow craft artists!

Refreshments in the HCCC lobby begin at 5:30 PM, and the program begins at 6:00 PM. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the Designing Motherhood exhibition before the program.

The following artists will make brief presentations:
Lorena Angulo
Naomi Choi
Brooke Kapusciak
Megan Randall
Ryan Trusell

This event is free to attend with registration.

Presenter Registration is now full
To be added to the waitlist contact Natalie Svacina at nsvacina@crafthouston.org. The program is limited to five presenters, and each one will have three minutes to highlight their work through a physical object, image, or concept, with time at the end for discussion and questions.

General Registration
To attend and network with other artists, register here.

This event will be held in person as well as streamed on our Facebook Live page promptly at 3:00 PM.

Learn more about the resident artists here.

The Art of Taxes 2025 will cover:

• What it means to be self-employed/independent contractor
• Keeping records of income and expenses
• Business vs Hobby rules as applied to tax
• Combination of W-2 and 1099 tax reporting
• What’s deductible?
• What is the self-employment tax and how it is paid?
• Estimated tax payments
• Other taxes – Sales, Franchise, Business Personal Property
• Information on the child tax credit and student loans
• And more!

This event is free to attend with registration. Register here.

Refreshments and light bites in the HCCC lobby begin at 5:30 PM, and the program begins at 6:00 PM. Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore the current exhibition, Designing Motherhood, before the program.

This project is generously funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Texas Commission on the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit arts.gov.

This project is supported in part by the City of Austin Economic Development Department.

ABOUT THE PRESENTERS

Kathy Ploch, CPA
Kathy is a CPA at Durio and Korpal P.C. She previously spent 7 years as a Tax Compliance and Consulting Specialist at Harper & Pearson Company, P.C. She has been in public accounting preparing all types of taxes for 35 years and has worked with artists and small non-profit organizations for 20 years. Kathy is a Past President of TALA and has been a volunteer with the organization since 1999. She is a member of the Houston CPA Society and previously served as President.

Lisa Sretenovic, CPA/CITP/CGMA
Lisa is a business coach with expertise in accounting, finance, and management. With experience across a variety of industries, Lisa brings a broad perspective, applying knowledge from one sector to another. One of her key strengths is the ability to translate complex financial information into language that resonates with any audience — from board members and IT teams to directors’ assistants and small business owners. Her specialties include financial consulting for small and start-up businesses, with a focus on improving owners’ financial literacy to drive business growth. She specializes in working with artists and creative businesses.

While you’re at HCCC, enjoy these other activities during our Day of Clay!
You’ll find family fun, artist demonstrations, exhibitions, and unique holiday shopping at this free day of activities celebrating the ceramic arts.

**Hands-on Houston: Clay Ornaments (indoors), 11 AM – 3 PM**
Embrace the holiday spirit by decorating an air-dry clay ornament with metallic embossing powder and unique designs.

**Ceramics in the Environment Opening Reception (Craft Garden), 3:30 – 5:00 PM**
Enjoy refreshments while you explore site-specific ceramic sculptures created by students from the MFAH’s Glassell School of Art.

**Holiday Pop-up Sale (indoors), 10 AM – 5 PM**
Find more great shopping inside HCCC at the Holiday Pop-up Sale.

Natural Dyeing Activity
Breathe fresh life into your well loved but faded or stained garments using natural dyes. Transform your clothing with deep blue (indigo) into something fresh and renewed using shibori or tie-dye techniques. Note: Since these dyes will only bond with natural fibers, clothing must be made from 100% cotton, linen, flax, silk, or wool. If you do not have any clothing that can be dyed, a limited selection of handkerchiefs will be available.

Clothing Swap
While you wait for your clothing to dye, participate in a kid and maternity clothing swap, inspired by our current exhibition, Designing Motherhood. Bring gently used items that you no longer want or need, and trade with other families to refresh your wardrobe.

The clothing swap is free, but pre-registration is required for planning purposes. Register here no later than January 3, 2025. Participants may drop off their used clothing beginning December 7th up until the day of the event. All clothing left at the end of the event will be donated to The Cottage Shop operated by The Women’s Home.

HANDS-ON HOUSTON is a free drop-in event held on the first Saturday of every month. Each month, a teaching artist or guild demonstrates a craft related to the current exhibitions. Community members of all ages are welcome to come any time between 11 AM and 3 PM and participate in a 30-minute activity. This event is on a first-come, first-served basis, and materials are provided while supplies last. This program supports HCCC’s mission to advance education about the process, product, and history of craft. Learn more here.