Feet Firmly Planted by Clay Burnette
The South Carolina State Museum is pleased to announce the selection of 12 artists from across the state for the upcoming juried exhibition, In the Making: Contemporary Craft from South Carolina, opening October 10, 2026. The exhibition will coincide with the museum’s annual Artist Homecoming event, which will take place October 8-9, 2026.
Organized as part of Handwork 2026: Celebrating American Craft, a nationwide initiative led by Craft in America, the exhibition will highlight South Carolina-based artists working in fiber, ceramics, wood, metal, glass, mixed media and other fine craft media. The exhibition will feature new works alongside recent pieces, offering a look at the depth and versatility of contemporary craft practices across South Carolina.
“This exhibition celebrates the incredible range of talent and creativity happening across South Carolina,” said Maia Payne, associate art curator at the State Museum. “We’re excited to showcase both established and emerging artists who are shaping the future of contemporary craft in our state.”
The artists selected were Jim Arendt (Conway, SC), Kristy Bishop (Charleston, SC), Clay Burnette (Columbia, SC), Katty Cassel (Greenville, SC), Bill and Pam Clark (Greenville, SC), Charles Clary (Conway, SC), Jessica Downs (Clemson, SC), Matt Garton (Hanahan, SC), Bill Harris (McConnells, SC), Christine Tedesco (Clemson, SC), Jennifer York (Charleston, SC), and Valerie Zimany (Clemson, SC). To learn more about the artists, visit scmuseum.org.
Artists were selected based on the strength of their portfolios by a panel of jurors that included Rebecca Elliot, associate curator of craft, design and fashion at the Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina; Maia Payne; Harriett Green, former visual arts director of the South Carolina Arts Commission; and Ariel Zaccheo, curatorial director of the Museum of Craft and Design in San Francisco, California. To learn more about the jurors, visit scmuseum.org. (Full disclosure: Maia Payne is a member of the Jasper Project board of directors.)
Final works for the exhibition will be selected during studio visits, with the possibility for artists to create new pieces specifically for the show. Final selections will be made by the Museum’s curatorial staff.