This month we are taking a moment to recognize the innovation brought about by contemporary craftsmen, makers, and emerging designers. Navigating an industry that prioritizes profit over quality, where cookie-cutter items are mass-produced at the expense of finish, originality, and the planet, artisans embody the emotional connection, human creativity, and resourcefulness necessary to deal with the challenges of today.
An Ohio native of Lebanese descent, artist Danya Ahmed embraced cement as her new medium after moving to a mountainous village out of Beirut in 2012. Having always been drawn towards disciplines that allowed her to make things with her hands, she had recently completed an undergraduate degree in drawing and sculpting at Ohio State, and a Master's in fibers and textiles at Savannah College of Art and Design, and was looking for change.
