Faythe Levine is known locally -- and nationally -- as many things: new wave craft artist, Paper Boat Gallery owner, entrepreneur, Wooden Robot's musical saw player and founder of Milwaukee's own Art Vs. Craft fair.
Now, she can add author to her resume, as the book she co-wrote with local artist Cortney Heimerl, "Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft and Design," hits virtual shelves. The book is available for pre-sale on Amazon.com and will be in major bookstores this November.
The book comes out about a year before her documentary of the same name, which traces the rise of DIY art, craft and design. I suppose that makes her a filmmaker, as well.
The film, now is post-production, includes interviews with more than 50 artists in 15 cities who explain how the new wave of craft, "forges a new economy, lifestyle and burgeoning art community that is based on creativity, determination and networking."
All the fun details are fleshed out here.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
