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The Best of 2025
May 4–June 22, 2024
Entry Deadline: February 14, 2025
This juried exhibition is regarded as one of Ohio’s best collections of fine craft, and features established and emerging ODC member artists working in all fine craft media (clay, glass, wood, fiber, metal and mixed media).
We are honored that Michele Tuegel, the founding executive director of Florida Craftsmen, Inc., from 1986 until 2004, will be jurying this year’s exhibition. Tuegel also owned and operated Michele Tuegel Contemporary, an art gallery in downtown St. Petersburg, showcasing fine art and craft work by local and nationally known artists. She has juried numerous exhibitions and fairs.
Applications for the “Best of 2025” are available online at artcall.org. Images can be uploaded directly to the site, and the $30 (students, $20) entry fee can be paid online as well. Over $8000 in artists’ awards will be selected by the juror!
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CHALLENGE DRIVE:
Best of 2025 Awards Fundraising Campaign
Ohio Designer Craftsmen celebrates the accomplishments of fine craft artists with the annual “Best of” exhibition and awards. Both are meaningful ways to encourage outstanding artists in their pursuit of excellence. In 2024, donations to the drive by ODC members and friends of the Ohio Craft Museum made possible a $2000 Challenge Prize, the $2000 Yassenoff Family Award for Excellence/Watkins Printing Poster Award, the $500 Brooke Hannan Emerging Artist Scholarship Award, an Emerging Craftsman award, 12 additional cash awards, and a $1000 Artist Scholarship Award.
Please consider donating to this drive—100% of your donation goes directly to the artists and is tax deductible.
Thank you for your generosity!
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ODC Awarded $350,000 Grant!
We are thrilled to report that ODC has been awarded a Greater Columbus Arts Council Capital Expense Grant in the amount of $350,000! The funds will be used to update and renovate the Ohio Craft Museum both inside and out, including a renovated front porch and sidewalks, new classroom windows, renovated lower-level bathrooms, LED lights throughout the building, additional track lighting in the gallery, new outdoor lights, new museum display cases and more!
Watch our social media posts for project updates!
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For the Love of Clay:
A Potter’s Perspective
From the Collection of Tim Frederich
at the Ohio Craft Museum
February 8–March 29, 2025
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The Ohio Craft Museum proudly presents “For The Love of Clay: A Potter’s Perspective,” showcasing the remarkable collection of Tim Frederich, a local ceramist and long-time ODC member who has been working with clay for over 45 years. This exhibition, featuring nearly 100 works, highlights Frederich’s expansive and diverse collection.
Frederich, who discovered his love for clay during a college art class, has built a collection of more than a thousand pieces. "I don’t buy anything if it doesn’t speak to me," he shared. Curated by Ohio Designer Craftsmen Director Emeritus Betty Talbott, herself a ceramics artist, the exhibition showcases stunning pieces from clay greats, including Bernard Leach, Warren MacKenzie, Cynthia Bringle, Don Reitz, Karen Karnes and Jack Earl, as well as contemporary artists Suze Lindsay, Ron Meyers, Posey Bacoupolos and Justin Tielhet.
“I am thrilled that Tim, who has been collecting pottery for over 50 years, is sharing his passion for ceramics with the Ohio Craft Museum and its visitors,“ Talbott said. “It has been a joy to learn about his friendships with ceramics artists throughout the country. I know that others will find the depth and breadth of his collection as fascinating as I have.”
A free opening reception will be held at the Ohio Craft Museum Saturday, February 8, 1:00 pm–4:00 pm. Collector Tim Frederich and curator Betty Talbott will give gallery talks at 2:00 pm.
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100 Tiny Sorrows:
Demonstration Workshop
with Julie Byrne
at the Ohio Craft Museum
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March 1, 2025 • 10:00am–3:00pm
We are so excited to offer this demonstration workshop with Columbus ceramics artist Julie Byrne! Julie will share handbuilding and surface design techniques, and talk about the inspirations and motivations behind her work. Fee: $55; includes box lunch.
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Art Studio Clearance Sale 2025
One-Time Online Event
February 1–2, 2025
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Because of extensive construction around the Ohio Expo Center’s Lausche Building, the Art Studio Clearance Sale, planned for February 2025, has been canceled due to health and safety concerns. Our priority is the well-being of both our customers and artists.
We didn't want customers to miss out on this fun event, so we are organizing an online sale for participating Clearance Sale artists. Visit winterfair.org on February 1 and 2 to be directed to artists’ websites, where they’ll be offering special discounts for our customers!
The Art Studio Clearance Sale will return in 2026 to the Lausche Building at the Ohio Expo Center.
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Functional Ceramics Workshop 2025
April 11–12, 2025
It’s a new year! Resolve to learn new techniques and have fun doing it! This workshop will be fantastic: North Dakota artist Catie Miller is best known for the fun, colorful illustrations on her pots, which are transferred from her drawn and printed imagery on newsprint to the clay surface. Big Prairie, Ohio, artists Cary & Stephanie Hulin work together to create wood-fired pots with highly decorative surfaces. Registration fee: $175; students, $75.
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2024 Winterfair Award Winners
Congratulations to our award winners
at the 2024 Columbus Winterfair!
Awards of Excellence:
Shana Bertetto, Jewelry, Other
Dimonde Hale, Oil/Acrylics
Dre McLeod, Fiber
Jesse Richard, Printmaking
Kaname Takada, Clay, Functional
Amie Sell, Clay, Decorative
Yuliya & Ari Wolf, Best Booth
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