National PBS Program “Craft in America” comes to Silver Dollar City

For fifty years now, Silver Dollar City has been known for its rides, food, shows, and crafts. This year during the National Harvest Festival, the park will showcase not only its craftsmanship, but the crafts of the nation as well. KSMU’s Adam Hammons has more on a new exhibit at Silver Dollar City.

Starting Saturday crafts from around the nation are coming to Silver Dollar City. The new exhibit will showcase over 50 works created by artists featured in the PBS series Craft in America.

Executive director of Craft in America Carol Sauvion explains what exactly it is.

“Craft in America is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote and advance original hand-crafted work through programs in all media,” she said.

Sauvion went on to say organizers felt there was a need for people to get a sense of what it really means to be involved in making something.

“Craft is something that I think people, is a combination of hand-work, and your mind, and your heart. So it’s important,” she said.

At Silver Dollar City, people know the importance of craftsmanship.

Martha Bohner is a spokesperson for Silver Dollar City.

“Part of the vision of our founding family the Herschends was to showcase the native crafts that were essential for life in the 1880’s Ozarks. And also show the skill and craftsmanship that had been perfected over generations,” she said.

This history of crafts has led the U.S. Congress to declare Silver Dollar City the “Home of American Craftsmanship.”

“I think it’s a great recognition of that fine work and the fine talent that we have right here,” Bohner said.

The exhibit will start on Saturday and last for six weeks. Some of the artists of the crafts will be there to talk about what they made and how they made it.Along with Craft in America, Silver Dollar City will be hosting the Caricature Carvers of America, the Best of Missouri Hands artists, and other visiting craft artists from around the nation.

To see some of the items on display, you can go to www.craftinamerica.org.

For KSMU News, I’m Adam Hammons.