The line between art and design is a debatably fine one. But with tonight’s A Handcrafted Night shopping event, the Weisman Art Museum is making the case that design can, and should, be artful. It spotlights three Minneapolis makers at the top of their respective crafts: jewelry designer Annika Kaplan, clothing designer Martha McQuade, and handbag designer Talin Spring. Together, the trio offer a glimpse into Minnesota’s burgeoning maker community, which prides itself in all things handmade, one-of-a-kind, and made to last.
Annika Kaplan–co-founder of artisan e-commerce shop Ship & Shape–studied jewelry design and fabrication at the Savannah College of Art and Design and the Minneapolis Community and Technical College before opening at studio in south Minneapolis. Inspired by nature and folk traditions, her hand-cast, 14kt and 18kt gold, brass, sterling silver, and semiprecious stone designs are future keepsakes destined to be passed down from generation to generation.
Originally trained as an architect, Martha McQuade designs clothing and textiles that are, unsurprisingly, architectural in shape. Not only does the designer craft gorgeously fluid, effortlessly chic garments, she digitally-prints, hand-dyes, and hand-knits her own textiles.
Talin Spring creates handbags with a distinctly European flavor. And it’s no wonder: Born in Istanbul to a European family of shoemakers, she lived half her life in France before moving to Minneapolis in 2006, where she founded her company, Spring Finn & Co. Her hand-oiled leather bags and hand-painted canvas market totes–inspired by horse grooming buckets, vintage doctors’ bags, French plumber bags, and Parisian farmers’ market satchels–are utilitarian yet beautifully crafted.
Each artist will be selling a unique selection of their merchandise for this private, after-hours evening of shopping–which also includes wine and a gorgeous view of the city skyline. WAM members receive a ten percent discount on all purchases; become a member now at wam.umn.edu to receive the discount in time for the event.
6-8 p.m. Wed., Aug. 7. Free. RSVP to wamrsvp@umn.edu to attend. Weisman Art Museum, 333 E. River Rd., Mpls., 612-626-4204, wam.umn.edu.
Editor’s Picks:
Annika Kaplan The Moonstone Eye Ring, $128, one of a kind @ shipandshape.com
Annika Kaplan Landscape Rings, $56 @ shipandshape.com
Annika Kaplan Cross Section Studs, $58 @ shipandshape.com
Martha McQuade Wedge Dress in Watermark Print, $245 @ marthawmcquade.com
Martha McQuade Dolman Coverall, $245 @ marthawmcquade.com
Martha McQuade Cotton Asymmetric Tunic, $150 @ marthawmcquade.com
Spring Finn & Co. Milano Hand Painted Canvas Bag, $158 @ springfinnandco.com
Spring Finn & Co. Original Tote in Chocolate, $525 @ springfinnandco.com
Spring Finn & Co. Architect Bag, $510 @ springfinnandco.com
