FEATURED IN PLAY EPISODE

PLAY celebrates the power of imagination and the child in all of us. Featuring Roberto Benavidez, Schroeder Cherry, the Cotsen Children’s Library, Calder Kamin, Noah’s Ark at the Skirball Cultural Center, and Lorena Robletto.

PBS broadcast premiere December 29, 2023 (check local listings).

All episodes streaming on PBS Video App, craftinamerica.org, pbs.org/craftinamerica

ROBERTO BENAVIDEZ

Roberto Benavidez is a figurative sculptor specializing in the piñata form. Benavidez plays with underlying themes of race, ephemerality, beauty and sin, layered with his identity as a mixed-race queer artist, with a focus on impeccable craftsmanship. 

SCHROEDER CHERRY

Dr. Schroeder Cherry is an artist working with puppets, paintings and mixed media assemblages. Cherry captures everyday scenes of African American life, often set in barbershops and utilizing repurposed materials. 

COTSEN CHILDREN'S LIBRARY

The Cotsen Children’s Library, a unit within Princeton University Library’s Department of Special Collections, is the benefaction of Lloyd E. Cotsen, ’50, and Charter Trustee, Emeritus. The curatorial division administers the research collection of illustrated children’s books, manuscripts, original artwork, prints, and educational toys, hosts academic conferences on children’s books and publishes their proceedings, and sponsors fellowships for research. The outreach division of Cotsen serves children of all ages, families, librarians and educators. Campus visitors can explore Bookscape, a whimsical reading environment with its two-story bonsai tree, Wall of Books, exhibition space, and attend free weekly story hours and special events.

CALDER KAMIN

Artist, educator and advocate, Calder Kamin transforms trash into beautifully crafted creatures and opportunities to inspire others to be creative and courageous about the future. Nature’s endless ability to reuse and adapt motivates her to eliminate waste and reimagine it as art. 

SKIRBALL CULTURAL CENTER

The Skirball Cultural Center is a place of meeting guided by the Jewish tradition of welcoming the stranger and inspired by the American democratic ideals of freedom and equality. It welcomes people of all communities and generations to participate in cultural experiences that celebrate discovery and hope, foster human connections, and call upon them to help build a more just society. 

LORENA ROBLETTO

Lorena Robletto is a Los Angeles based piñata artist. After serving as a social worker for immigrant families and consulting for immigrant-owned businesses, Robletto turned her focus towards the artistry of piñatas and set up a shop, Amazing Piñatas, where her team creates custom piñatas of any scale along with ready-made piñatas and various signature designs.

ARTISTS

PLAY
Roberto Benavidez
Schroeder Cherry
Cotsen Children's Library
Calder Kamin
Skirball Cultural Center
Lorena Robletto

MINIATURES

HOME
INSPIRATION
JEWELRY

HARMONY

STORYTELLERS

DEMOCRACY
IDENTITY
QUILTS
VISIONARIES
CALIFORNIA
NEIGHBORS
BORDERS
NATURE
TEACHERS
CELEBRATION
MUSIC
SERVICE
INDUSTRY
HOLIDAY
FORGE
CROSSROADS
THREADS
FAMILY
MESSAGES
PROCESS
ORIGINS
COMMUNITY
LANDSCAPE
MEMORY