Northwest Designer Craftartists - NWDC

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Northwest Designer Craftartists - NWDC Northwest Designer Craftsmen (NWDC) was founded in 1954 to promote excellence of design and crafts.

NWDC accepts only new members who meet the highest professional craftsmanship and artistic standards. Whether working in metal, wood, clay or textiles, NWDC members hold a common respect for materials and processes. Today, our membership has grown to over 150 individuals working in a variety of craft mediums from weaving, quilting and basketry to an array of jewelry and metal arts, as well as mixed media artists who create using a variety of techniques and materials, blurring the lines between fine art and craft. Whether functional or not, NWDC's membership offers quality work that exemplifies the continuity of craft tradition wedded to contemporary expression.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WXH281iUPG0?si=cc8DLvHhZ3qCChpRNWDC Member Artist TalkPatti King: Confessions of a Th...
09/15/2026

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WXH281iUPG0?si=cc8DLvHhZ3qCChpR

NWDC Member Artist Talk
Patti King: Confessions of a Thread Head

Originally presented on Zoom Sunday, May 31st 2026

Patti King has been working as a textile artist for over 40 years. For 25–30 years, King wove custom rugs for the design trade and individual clients. Over the past 17 years, her practice has transitioned to working in the tradition of the Korean wrapping cloth, generally known as bojagi, with some overlap between the two bodies of work.This newer medium reflects the geometric structure and color relationships present in King’s earlier rugs, while operating on a smaller scale and using only needle and thread.

Over the past 14 years, King has also curated three exhibitions: two focused on Korean wrapping cloth and one co-curated with Misik Kim in 2022, centered on contemporary Korean quilting. Two of these exhibitions were presented at the Pacific Northwest Quilt and Fiber Arts Museum in La Conner, Washington. Most recently, Bojagi Journey 2023, an international exhibition, ran for 10 weeks during the summer and fall.

Image: Patti King, Jogakbo Diptych.

NWDC at RailSpurSelected Work by NWDC MembersOctober 1–November 15, 2026419 Occidental Ave., Second FloorPioneer Square,...
09/12/2026

NWDC at RailSpur
Selected Work by NWDC Members
October 1–November 15, 2026
419 Occidental Ave., Second Floor
Pioneer Square, Seattle

Opening Reception and First Thursday:
Thursday, October 1, 5–8 PM

Exhibition Hours:
Tuesday–Friday, 3–6 PM
Saturday, 11 AM–6 PM
Also available by appointment

First Thursday at RailSpur:
Thursday, November 5, 5–8 PM

Northwest Designer Craftartists presents NWDC at RailSpur, an exhibition bringing together work by 32 NWDC members from across the Pacific Northwest. The exhibition, curated by Executive Director Daniel Wallace, introduces NWDC through the wide range of materials, processes, and approaches represented by its members. This exhibition is part of Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026 is a nationwide Semiquincentennial initiative to showcase the importance of the handmade both throughout our history and in contemporary life.

NWDC at RailSpur is designed to build momentum toward NWCraft27. Opening in summer 2027, NWCraft27 will be the first edition of a new annual exhibition each August, bringing together NWDC artists, invited artists, and artists selected through a national juried open call. The Ron Pascho Legacy Fund supports the annual exhibition.

RailSpur, a cultural hub where art, music, history, and community converge, has served as a haven for the local arts community throughout the past four years. RailSpur is committed to not only embracing the arts in its buildings by to creating a forum that supports and provides venue space for artists, while engaging the community and adding to the overall vibrancy of Pioneer Square.

Artists:
Dan Adams, Ron Adams, Lanny Bergner, Danielle Bodine, Christian Burchard, Flóra Carlile-Kovács, Julie Sevilla Drake, Leah Gerrard, Tom Gormally, Terri Grant, Laurie Hall, Lois Harbaugh, Kristy Kún, Mary Lane, Anna Macrae, Dorothy McGuinness, Gabi Nirino, Elin Noble, Brian O’Neill, Katia Paroczi, Ann Chadwick Reid, Claire Renaut, Lynne Rigby, Seth Rolland, Denise Snyder, Tip Toland, Cynthia Toops, Mary Tyler, Dick Weiss, Stewart Wong, Allyce Wood, and Paige Wright.

.seattle

NWDC PRESENTS HANDWORK 2026: WOOD AND CLAY IN THE NORTHWEST AT KIRKLAND ARTS CENTEROctober 15 through November 20, 2026....
09/10/2026

NWDC PRESENTS HANDWORK 2026: WOOD AND CLAY IN THE NORTHWEST AT KIRKLAND ARTS CENTER

October 15 through November 20, 2026.

Juried exhibition showcases contemporary craft by members of Northwest Designer Craftartists

Northwest Designer Craftartists (NWDC), in partnership with Kirkland Arts Center, presents Handwork 2026: Wood and Clay in the Northwest, a juried exhibition of contemporary craft on view October 15 through November 20, 2026.

The exhibition is the third presentation in NWDC’s Handwork 2026 series and brings together recent work by NWDC members working in ceramics and wood. Juried by David Lynx, Executive Director of Kirkland Arts Center, the exhibition highlights the range of scale, material, and approach within these two foundational craft traditions—from finely detailed vessels and objects to furniture, sculpture, wall-based work, and larger freestanding forms.

Together, the works demonstrate how Northwest artists continue to expand the possibilities of clay and wood through skilled making, experimentation, and a deep engagement with material.

An opening reception will be held Friday, October 16, from 6–8 p.m. at Kirkland Arts Center. Selected artwork will be available for purchase during the exhibition.

Image: (L) Seth Rolland, (R) Jan Lipetz

Membership Applications Now Open!Deadline: OCTOBER 31, 2026https://nwdesignercraftartists.org/apply-for-membershipApplic...
08/27/2026

Membership Applications Now Open!
Deadline: OCTOBER 31, 2026

https://nwdesignercraftartists.org/apply-for-membership

Applications must be sent before midnight of this date to [email protected]. There is no application fee.

In order to meet our basic criteria, each applicant must:
+ Be a fine craft artist working in clay, wood, glass, metal, fiber, mixed media, or some combination of these media.
+ Present a strong and consistent body of original work completed in the last 3 years, represented by 10 professional-quality images.
+ Inform us of exhibitions, educational background, residencies attended, workshops taught, awards received, gallery representation, research projects, or other opportunities that have increased proficiency in craft.

Questions? Contact the Membership Chair at [email protected]
Image:

Membership Applications Now Open!Deadline: OCTOBER 31, 2026https://nwdesignercraftartists.org/apply-for-membershipApplic...
08/26/2026

Membership Applications Now Open!
Deadline: OCTOBER 31, 2026

https://nwdesignercraftartists.org/apply-for-membership

Applications must be sent before midnight of this date to [email protected]. There is no application fee.

In order to meet our basic criteria, each applicant must:
+ Be a fine craft artist working in clay, wood, glass, metal, fiber, mixed media, or some combination of these media.
+ Present a strong and consistent body of original work completed in the last 3 years, represented by 10 professional-quality images.
+ Inform us of exhibitions, educational background, residencies attended, workshops taught, awards received, gallery representation, research projects, or other opportunities that have increased proficiency in craft.

Questions? Contact the Membership Chair at [email protected]
Image: .purdue

Membership Applications Now Open!Deadline: OCTOBER 31, 2026https://nwdesignercraftartists.org/apply-for-membershipApplic...
08/22/2026

Membership Applications Now Open!
Deadline: OCTOBER 31, 2026

https://nwdesignercraftartists.org/apply-for-membership

Applications must be sent before midnight of this date to [email protected]. There is no application fee.

In order to meet our basic criteria, each applicant must:
+ Be a fine craft artist working in clay, wood, glass, metal, fiber, mixed media, or some combination of these media.
+ Present a strong and consistent body of original work completed in the last 3 years, represented by 10 professional-quality images.
+ Inform us of exhibitions, educational background, residencies attended, workshops taught, awards received, gallery representation, research projects, or other opportunities that have increased proficiency in craft.

Questions? Contact the Membership Chair at [email protected]
Image: Vicki Gerton

Membership Applications Now Open!Deadline: OCTOBER 31, 2026https://nwdesignercraftartists.org/apply-for-membershipApplic...
08/21/2026

Membership Applications Now Open!
Deadline: OCTOBER 31, 2026

https://nwdesignercraftartists.org/apply-for-membership

Applications must be sent before midnight of this date to [email protected]. There is no application fee.

In order to meet our basic criteria, each applicant must:
+ Be a fine craft artist working in clay, wood, glass, metal, fiber, mixed media, or some combination of these media.
+ Present a strong and consistent body of original work completed in the last 3 years, represented by 10 professional-quality images.
+ Inform us of exhibitions, educational background, residencies attended, workshops taught, awards received, gallery representation, research projects, or other opportunities that have increased proficiency in craft.

Questions? Contact the Membership Chair at [email protected]
Image: .nanz

Membership Applications Now Open!Deadline: OCTOBER 31, 2026https://nwdesignercraftartists.org/apply-for-membershipApplic...
08/20/2026

Membership Applications Now Open!
Deadline: OCTOBER 31, 2026

https://nwdesignercraftartists.org/apply-for-membership

Applications must be sent before midnight of this date to [email protected]. There is no application fee.

In order to meet our basic criteria, each applicant must:
+ Be a fine craft artist working in clay, wood, glass, metal, fiber, mixed media, or some combination of these media.
+ Present a strong and consistent body of original work completed in the last 3 years, represented by 10 professional-quality images.
+ Inform us of exhibitions, educational background, residencies attended, workshops taught, awards received, gallery representation, research projects, or other opportunities that have increased proficiency in craft.

Questions? Contact the Membership Chair at [email protected]
Image: .nirino

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Seattle, WA

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