Michael Anderson Takes Top Best Of Tennessee Craft Award

  • Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Winter Days by Michael Anderson
Winter Days by Michael Anderson

Tennessee Craft and the Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts announce the winners of the 2024 Best of Tennessee Craft Exhibition, which was on view at the Sandra Blain Gallery at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg last fall. This juried exhibition celebrated and showcased the contemporary and traditional craft the state has to offer, providing public visibility and recognition for the quality and diversity of craft found throughout Tennessee.

Best in Show went to Chattanooga’s Michael Anderson for his wood work, "Winter Days". Juror Anna Fariello, curator and author of Handmade in America; Guidebook of Western North Carolina Craft Artists, selected the artwork for this exhibition. The resulting 71 craft artworks, created by 62 Tennessee Artists, ranging from traditional forms to cutting-edge conceptual pieces, represent artists from Memphis to Johnson City.

A complete list of winners, chosen by Juror Fariello, is below. Images are available at www.tennesseecraft.org/bestof.

Best in Show
Michael Anderson, Chattanooga—Wood
“Winter Days”

Second Place
Carlton Wilkinson, Nashville—Photography
“Crucifixion”

Third Place
Stephen Forrester, Nolensville—Wood
"Flowing Leaves Platter”

Merit Awards
Shannon Ferguson, Knoxville—Printmaking “The Escape”
Donna Rizzo, Charlotte—Sculpture “Great Speckled Bird”

A complete list of featured artists can be found at tennesseecraft.org/bestof.


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