Congratulations to the two most recent Jumpstarter Craft Innovation Grant recipients, Kevin Snipes and Jayoung Yoon!

Kevin Snipes 

@hollowfingers

For over 20 years, Kevin Snipes’s focus has been simply on the act of creating, driven by the joy it brought him. “I felt like I had discovered a way to channel my desire for research, technique, and sensory experience through my own hands and eyes. Now, I finally recognize that my dedication to my work in the field of ceramics and following my own path has been appreciated by more people than I imagined when I was a young artist. Two decades later, I’m still fueled by that passion, constantly experimenting and adding fresh elements to an already distinctive body of work. I take pride in having inspired so many younger artists to create remarkable pieces, and that encouragement pushes me to elevate my own work.”

Jayoung Yoon

@jayoungart

Using hair as her primary medium, Jayoung Yoon creates two- and three-dimensional works, exploring themes of mindfulness and interconnectedness. “Human hair has the potential to embody both mind and matter. Since I weave and knot each strand of hair into structures that tare mostly air, my sculptures become semi-transparent, resembling ineffable thoughts and memories. Hair evokes matter through its visceral, tactile quality, inviting the viewer to engage with the physicality of the present.”