Hand Made in America - Image: Jim Escalante
Featuring never-before exhibited works from makers across the country, Hand Made In America: Contemporary Custom Footwear celebrates breathtaking, custom footwear made by masterful craftspeople combining design sensibilities refined over decades, with deep knowledge of leather working techniques and the human anatomy. Curated by shoemaker and artist Amara Hark-Weber, Hand Made in America brings together the work of 11 established, contemporary shoe and boot makers: Daphne Board, Greg Carmack, Rachel Corry, Sarah Guerin, Paul Krause, Lee Miller, Jesse Moore, Marcell Mrsan, Lisa Sorrell, and Francis Waplinger.
Shoemaking is an ancient, global practice. Specific craft traditions developed over time and were passed down from generation to generation through apprenticeships. In the 19th century, the trade of shoemaking was almost completely initialized, and shoe factories became an increasingly common source for manufactured shoes.
Today most people get their shoes from retailers based on standard sizes and off-the-shelf styles. In recent years, however, a renaissance of independent shoe makers–consciously in contrast to mass produced shoes available throughout the United States–has re-energized and elevated the craft of custom shoe making. These footwear makers, including the 11 participating in this exhibit, build upon and transform tradition in the creation of modern bespoke footwear.
This must-see exhibition is open from February 8 to May 14, 2023 at the Center for Design and Material Culture’s Lynn Mecklenburg Textile Gallery in Madison, Wisconsin.