One definition of a material is ‘a thing that something else is made out of.’ In shaping this collection, we learned what a slippery definition this can be when applied to craft.

For example, materials can take different states (solid, liquid, and gas) and forms (rolled metal, sheet plastic, molded paper, and dust). Materials can also be captured in various forms of processing (raw cotton, cotton thread, woven cotton). In some cases, like in ceramics, a common state of the materials used in the practice is wet, like clay, slip, and glaze, which are not materials that can be maintained in the collection over time. Therefore, we’ve included material samples like dry clays, powders, and fired slabs.

Our decision of what constitutes a craft material collection entry is, in part, informed by the artists and suppliers who donated the materials. For example, the Professional Crafts program at Haywood Community College donated samples of white oak slabs used in their fine furniture-making department. In addition, white oak splints were donated by artist Mary W. Thompson but listed as a separate entry. Although both splints and slabs come from the white oak tree, they are categorized differently due to their distinct sourcing, properties, and uses in craft. Specifically, the splints can bend when soaked in water, making them suitable for basketry.

The collection also includes materials that may not typically be associated with craft. Examples include seaweed, mycelium, and reclaimed post-consumer waste. For example, marble plastic is a sheet good made from post-consumer plastics such as electronics, laundry detergent bottles, old refrigerators, and bread tags. Marble recycled plastics can be cut, designed, and used to create various objects and furniture-making, such as the Materials Collection installation furniture.

"Materials like this highlight the relation between craft and innovation and craft as a catalyst for creating sustainable applications of materials."

Sample Descriptions

The sample descriptions were written based on the information provided by the sample supplier and the resources listed below. Each entry includes an explanation of the material, where it comes from, its known properties, and how it can be used in craft. Materials sourced regionally are noted as local, though many can be found throughout the world.

Possible Uses in Craft

A principle behind this collection is that craftspeople are constantly innovating new ways to use materials. The ‘Uses in Craft’ listed are informed by how they are used by the suppliers and various craft publications and should be understood as a starting point and not a definitive representation of the way materials have been, are, and will be used in craft. We acknowledge that these materials also have various uses other than the applications listed here.

"Craftspeople are constantly innovating new ways to use materials."

Geography of the Collection

These materials were sourced from artists, organizations, and companies, the majority of whom are in the United States.

Dates of the Collection

The material samples in this collection were all collected from April 2024 to the present. However, we recognize that many of these materials have been used in craft practices as long or longer than recorded history. We did not want to confine craft to historic modes of production.

Select Resources

• Levy, Matt , Takuro Shibata , and Hitomi Shibata . 2022. Wild Clay Creating Ceramics and Glazes from Natural and Found Resources. Great Britain: Bloomsbury, Herbert Press.
• Halem, Henry. 1996. Glass Notes: A Reference for the Glass Artist. 3rd ed. Kent, Ohio: Franklin Mills Press.
• Franklin, Katie, and Caroline Till. Radical Matter: Rethinking Materials for a Sustainable Future. New York, New York: Thames & Hudson Ltd.
• Hardwood Manufacturers Association. American Hardwood Information Center: The Authoritative Resource for American Hardwoods. Hardwood Manufacturers Association, Accessed August 1, 2024. www.hardwoodinfo.com/library/.
• Hale, Peter M., and Moses Ashley. 2021. The Woods and Timbers of North Carolina: A Compilation From the Botanical and Geological Reports of Drs. Curtis, Emmons, and Kerr, to Which Are Added. Great Britain: Legare Street Press.
• Rabinowitz, Nica. Fruiting Bodies: Recipes to Connect Us with the Mycelia Web and the Interconnected World All Around Us. New York, New York: Fiberhouse Collective, 2024.
• Franklin, Kate, and Caroline Till. Radical matter: Rethinking materials for a sustainable future. New York, NY: Thames & Hudson, 2020.