“Tools of the Trades” highlights hand-crafted tools including engraved hammers by Andrea Harvin Kennington and Chuck Kennington. (photo courtesy of Craft in America)

The Craft in America Center has extend the exhibition “Tools of the Trades: American Handmade Implements & Devices” through Feb. 28.

The exhibition is the first of its kind to highlight beautifully designed, hand-crafted tools made by contemporary toolmakers in the United States. It is the first in a series of exhibitions for Handwork 2026, a nationwide semiquincentennial collaboration celebrating the diversity of craft that defines America.

Artists, particularly craftspeople, rely heavily on tools in the creation of their work. Some processes might require implements that are very idiosyncratic to an artist’s process and that are not simply available at the hardware store. “Tools of the Trades: American Handmade Implements & Devices” focuses on contemporary, handmade tools, made by artists distinctly for craft processes with extreme attention to craftsmanship and design. Vintage tools will round out the selection.

Prior to mass production, makers and artists fabricated their own implements as needed. In doing so, they might decide to add beauty to the functional tool with decoration. “Tools of the Trade” celebrates the ingenuity born of necessity and the special narratives in the hand-crafted. The objects pertain to a wide scope of crafts including ceramics, textiles, hot glass, wood working and metal, as well as niche fields within them, such as ironwork or spinning.

Participating artists include Jeff Amundson; Randy Augsburger; Jim Austin, of Alchemy Metalworks; Brent Bailey; Brien Beidler; Bosworth Spindles; Elia Bizzarri; Med Chandler; Saign Charlestein; Dennis Dusek; Dyakcraft; Troy Evans; Janet Fox, of Handywomanshop; Seth Gould; Max Grossman; Spencer Hamann; and Kelly Harris. Also included are Arlen Heginbotham; Indian Lake Artisans; Ben Jackel; Rachel Kedinger; Clark Kellog; Andrea and Chuck Kennington, of NC Black Co.; Jay Burnham Kidwell; Kalia Kliban; Anna Koplik; Will Larranaga; Tom Latané; Terry Lee; Shanna Leino; Robert Liu; Jim Moore; Liza Nechamkin; Potter USA; Douglas Pryor; William R. Robertson; Eleanor Rose; Fabiano Sarra; Reid Schwartz; Michael Sherrill, with Mudtools; Elias Sideris; Randy Stromsoe; Tony Swatton; Dossain Valencia; Watanabe & Co.; and John Williams, of Guildwerks.

Craft in America is located at 8415 W. Third St. For information, visit craftinamerica.org.