Annotated Forms: Craft in Conversation with the Archive

Archives and collections, whether housed in museums, libraries, or personal keepsakes serve as vessels of memory and markers of cultural continuity. They are systems of preservation, but also of omission, silence, and interpretation. In craft, artists often draw upon these sources not as static repositories, but as living catalysts for innovation. Through making, they annotate, revise, and reframe what has been recorded, bringing new meaning to historical objects and forms. Annotated Forms invites contemporary craft artists to submit work that engages with archives, collections, and historical references. Works may reinterpret traditional objects, respond to artifacts in museum collections, or explore archival systems and methods as part of their process. Together, the exhibition will examine how craft can transform the act of preservation into a generative practice, activating the past within the present.

Annotated Forms is juried by Craft Alliance's 2026 Visiting Artist, Kimberly Winkle. Kimberly Winkle is a maker and educator based in Cookeville, Tennessee, known for her distinctive work in furniture, objects, and woodturning, which combine refined form with color and surface pattern. She serves as Professor and Director of the School of Art, Craft & Design at Tennessee Tech University and holds a BFA in Ceramics from the University of Oklahoma and an MFA in Furniture Design from San Diego State University. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and featured in publications such as Fine Woodworking and 500 Chairs.

Open to artists 18 years and older working in clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, paper, and other craft-based media or hybrid forms. Both functional and non-functional works are eligible. Works must have been completed in the past five years and not previously exhibited at Craft Alliance. Entry fee is $30 for 3 images and $10 for each additional piece. All work submitted should be available for sale with Craft Alliance taking a 50% commission. Exhibition dates are March 6 - April 26, 2026. Applicants will be notified by January 21, 2026, with work to be delivered by February 18, 2026.