American Made: Treasures from the American Folk Art Museum

July 2 – September 19, 2016

Wooden sculpture of a character in a blue coat and hat on a bike with flag and propeller. — Artist unidentified, *Uncle Sam Riding a Bicycle Whirligig*, ca. 1880–1920, paint on wood with metal, 37 x 55 1/2 x 11 in. Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York. Gift of Dorothea and Leo Rabkin

America has always been a nation of makers.

The things we make tell the story of who we are. American Made: Treasures from the American Folk Art Museum features 115+ objects—including quilts, carvings, signs, samplers, weathervanes, whirligigs and more—hand made by Americans when our nation was young.

On the heels of the American Revolution, everyday citizens filled their homes with objects and artworks—made by their own hands—that revealed the hope and enthusiasm they felt for our new nation. These self-made artists created practical objects that reflected their daily lives. They embellished furniture and household items with images of the countryside, made decorative objects reflecting American patriotism and politics, and stitched quilts and samplers that demonstrated their skill and creativity. Traveling painters moved from town to town making portraits of local community leaders. Together, these artisans crafted a visual story of America’s development.

American Made in the News

Associated Press:
American folk art show opens at Crystal Bridges Museum

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:
Editorial: Rooms with Views

Additional treasures complement the exhibition:

In-Gallery Activity Space – invites visitors to create their own magnetic quilt squares, contribute to a community loom, and design stencil boxes to take home.
Local Artist Demonstration Space – weavers, quilters, metalsmiths, woodworkers, broom makers, and many more will demonstrate their crafts throughout the exhibition.
Take-Home Reading List – suggests works of early American literature published during the era of the exhibition. Rare editions of many of these books are on display in the museum library including Moby Dick, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Created especially for Crystal Bridges from the American Folk Art Museum in New York, American Made shares the story these artworks tell about America: our history, our culture, our identity.

Only at Crystal Bridges.

Quilt with red starburst circles, green and gold tree border on off-white background.

Elsey A. Halstead, Rising Star Variation Quilt, 1848, cotton, 100 x 85 in. Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York. Gift of Kathryn Trotta Kane and family in memory of our beloved grandmother Margaret Halstead Minch

Colorful paper cutout flowers in a decorative urn with

Artist unidentified, Papercut for Benj. S. Farret, 1848, paint and ink on cut and pasted paper, 14 7/8 x 12 in. (18 3/4 x 16 x 1 in. framed). Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York. Gift of Cyril Irwin Nelson in loving memory of Jean Lipman, 2004.14.2 Photo by Gavin Ashworth, New York

Man with whip beside horse in fenced grassy area, dog nearby, scenic hills and clouds background.

James Bard, Horse Jack of Woodbridge, NJ, 1871, oil and ink on paperboard, 8 7/16 x 11 13/16" (15 x 19 1/8 x 3/4" framed). Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York. Gift of Ralph Esmerian

Artist unidentified, Uncle Sam Riding a Bicycle Whirligig, ca. 1880–1920, paint on wood with metal, 37 x 55 1/2 x 11 in. Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York. Gift of Dorothea and Leo Rabkin

American Made exhibition trailer

Discovery Guide

Use this fun guide to find the beauty in the details. Each image features a close-up detail of a specific artwork. Look closely for these works as you move through the exhibition, and marvel at the self-taught mastery of the artists who made them!

Download the American Made Discovery Guide