At the beginning of a new millenium the consumer market is dominated by mass-produced goods and computer-generated imagery, and our daily lives our filled with objects which have rendered themselves invisible by the very nature of their plastic perfection. There are still some individuals creating hand-wrought, beautifully designed and crafted objects, and there are people and organizations that celebrate the combination of spirit, craftsmanship, and aesthetic that go into the making of those objects.

Since 1963, Winston-Salem, North Carolina has been home to Piedmont Craftsmen, Inc., a guild founded by craft artists and collectors to honor the work of the hand.

The organization carries on a centuries-old regional tradition dating back to the eighteenth century when the first Moravian settlers established their workshops, laid out their garden plots, and set up housekeeping in the lovely rolling hills of the Piedmont. Furniture makers, potters, weavers, metalsmiths and glassblowers, their goods were recognized as the finest available in the southeast.

Today, Piedmont Craftsmen represents nearly four hundred of the region’s most talented artisans. Exhibiting members are juried into the organization on the basis of their skill, professionalism, quality, and originality. Their work includes fine handmade garments, jewelry, one-of-a-kind functional housewares and beautiful decorative objects.

Established in 1963, Piedmont Craftsmen represents the highest standard of contemporary and traditional craft. Exhibiting members from throughout the Southeast have been juried into the guild by a standards committee made up of exhibiting craftsmen.

The organization conducts workshops, mounts exhibitions, and operates a gallery and shop at 601 North Trade Street in Winston-Salem, NC. Shop hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  For more information about membership in Piedmont Craftsmen, call (336)725-1516.