“Leaf Clocks”
Emi Ozawa

I joined the craft field in the 1980’s, when talented artists working in craft media such as glass, ceramics, fiber, metal, and wood were crossing the boundaries into fine art. Over the years, their efforts met with some success as our major museums have begun to recognize and incorporate this work into collections.

This past year I have attended several conferences where I noted that the energies of younger artists have shifted to the design fields. Discussions are no longer focused on being recognized as an “artist;” rather, today’s up-and-coming craft artist prefers respect for his or her design talent.

Take, for example, Emi Ozawa. Since graduating from the prestigious furniture program at the Rhode Island School of Design, Emi has been producing a line of small furniture and functional objects that shine with a fresh new design sensibility. Her clocks would fit just as well into MOMA’s design shop as the local craft gallery.

It is exciting to think that a whole new generation of talented designer craftsmen has developed and matured. There is beginning to be a collective sense of ‘movement’ in which craft objects are mainstreaming into the design marketing community. So much the better for all of us!