Foothills Craft Guild: A Brief History
In the 1960s, many folks began to re-embrace crafts as both a leisure activity and as additional income to fill the renewed public interest in handmade crafts. In the tradition of the Arts and Crafts movement, which inspired such artists as Louis Comfort Tiffany and Frank Lloyd Wright, a group of artisans, called “the Oakridginals,” came together in 1967 in Oak Ridge, TN, to sell their crafts. While there was a single regional guild already in existence, the group decided to start the nonprofit Foothills Craft Guild in 1968. The focus of this guild was more about art and creativity than just preserving traditional crafts—more about fine studio crafts than functional crafts. It was also the first craft guild in Tennessee for Tennesseans.
From its inception, the Foothills Craft Guild was seen as a full service guild patterned on those that had started at the beginning of the 20th century. It sought to provide opportunities to market members’ crafts and promote fine crafts in general, including high standards of quality and creativity, shows, exhibits, demonstrations, scholarships, workshops, competitions, and educational programs for members and the public. The Foothills Craft Guild quickly achieved prominence and became a notable player in the handmade fine crafts industry, bringing buyers from across the nation.
The Guild expanded from the original twenty-five charter members to one hundred sixty-five members in the first ten years of operation and now has 250 members. It has had a Fall Fine Craft Show for 58 years, as well as participated in other community shows and festivals. It recently started a Spring Fine Craft Show which will become a regular offering. Through scholarships and other funds raised, the Guild has provided many programs for craftspeople to extend their skill base and worked to build the next generation of highly skilled craftspeople.
The Guild has remained a strong institution with a high reputation that is known for innovation, quality, and creativity of its members. It continues to grow in size and stature as the oldest nonprofit craft guild in Tennessee. The Guild’s charter has not changed. It was—and still is--dedicated to:
In the 1960s, many folks began to re-embrace crafts as both a leisure activity and as additional income to fill the renewed public interest in handmade crafts. In the tradition of the Arts and Crafts movement, which inspired such artists as Louis Comfort Tiffany and Frank Lloyd Wright, a group of artisans, called “the Oakridginals,” came together in 1967 in Oak Ridge, TN, to sell their crafts. While there was a single regional guild already in existence, the group decided to start the nonprofit Foothills Craft Guild in 1968. The focus of this guild was more about art and creativity than just preserving traditional crafts—more about fine studio crafts than functional crafts. It was also the first craft guild in Tennessee for Tennesseans.
From its inception, the Foothills Craft Guild was seen as a full service guild patterned on those that had started at the beginning of the 20th century. It sought to provide opportunities to market members’ crafts and promote fine crafts in general, including high standards of quality and creativity, shows, exhibits, demonstrations, scholarships, workshops, competitions, and educational programs for members and the public. The Foothills Craft Guild quickly achieved prominence and became a notable player in the handmade fine crafts industry, bringing buyers from across the nation.
The Guild expanded from the original twenty-five charter members to one hundred sixty-five members in the first ten years of operation and now has 250 members. It has had a Fall Fine Craft Show for 58 years, as well as participated in other community shows and festivals. It recently started a Spring Fine Craft Show which will become a regular offering. Through scholarships and other funds raised, the Guild has provided many programs for craftspeople to extend their skill base and worked to build the next generation of highly skilled craftspeople.
The Guild has remained a strong institution with a high reputation that is known for innovation, quality, and creativity of its members. It continues to grow in size and stature as the oldest nonprofit craft guild in Tennessee. The Guild’s charter has not changed. It was—and still is--dedicated to:
- Encouraging the development and appreciation of arts and handicrafts of all types;
- Promoting high standards of workmanship in handicrafts;
- Conducting educational programs on handicrafts with all ages;
- Sponsoring handicraft shows and demonstrations;
- Engaging in activities which contribute to the advancement, development, and appreciation of arts and handicrafts of all kinds.
Remembering our Founders - Charter Members
TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE THAT SHAPED AND RAN THE GUILD IN THE EARLY DAYS
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Margaret Arnold - leaded plastics
Dudley Blanke - painted and natural wood carvings Marie Blanke - dried flower pictures Yolanda Baxter - paper mache figures, ornaments, and paper flowers Jo Brewer - leaded plastic ornaments Charles Caldwell - sculptured figurines and sets Mary Anne Good - Danish embroidery Dorothy Green - block prints Peggy Haaland-Heddleston - Co-founder - framed and decorated tiles, terrarium furniture, bisque ornaments, earthstar jewelry, slab trivets, mushrooms and wood, ceramic wind chimes, note paper Rozan Harris Rogers - glass, plastic and wood panels Barbara Hackett - copper enameled jewelry and bowls William T. Henry - wood carving |
Judy and George Kidd - painted wood ornaments and mobiles, wooden cutting boards, Danish embroidery, tontens, fabric and wooden toys, metal and wood crosses
Marshall Lockhart - stone and wood stabiles, lapidary mobiles, wall hangings, stix 'n stones Manya Pirkle - rock owls Louise Pflasterer-Root - nature water colors Dorothy Senn - nut topiary trees Ruth Smalley - glass, plastic and wood panels Louise Stoddard Ragle - period dolls Margaret & Sam Thompson - ceramic mushrooms, miniatures, jewelry, gorgets, pottery, beads, surbonnets, molded and dipped candles, ceramic and cloth dolls, painted wooden boards, jewelry and tree ornaments Barbara Webb - wood Josh Williams - painted tinware |
Life Members
Charlie Akin
Ben Benjamin
Dick Busey
Jean Cole
Dianne Farris
Juanita Gerber
Wayne Seed
Ralph Chasney*
Barbara Webb
* Deceased
Ben Benjamin
Dick Busey
Jean Cole
Dianne Farris
Juanita Gerber
Wayne Seed
Ralph Chasney*
Barbara Webb
* Deceased
