The Handcrafted Utopia: Arts and Crafts Communities in America's Progressive Era

Join historian and author Dr. Thomas Guiler, Director of Museum Affairs at the Oneida Community Mansion House, for an engaging talk exploring the rise of communal Arts and Crafts Movements in early 20th-century America. Drawing from his newly released book, The Handcrafted Utopia: Arts and Crafts Communities in Progressive America (Couper Press, 2025) Dr. Guiler examines the rich histories of visionary communities like Rose Valley, Byrdcliffe, and Roycroft—utopian experiments where artists and idealists sought to merge beauty, labor, and social reform.

Discover how these communities used handcrafted decorative arts as a means of building more meaningful lives and learn about the unique role New York State played in this transformative cultural moment. A Q&A and book signing will follow the presentation.

Learn more: https://nysm.nysed.gov/programs/handcrafted-utopia

You may also like the following events from New York State Museum:

• This Saturday, 15th November, 01:00 pm, Uncharted Waters: Diving into the Holdings of the New York State Archives in Albany
• This Sunday, 16th November, 10:00 am, Wear the Library in Albany
• This Sunday, 16th November, 02:00 pm, Reframing Washington: A Conversation with Rick Hill in Albany

Also check out other Arts events in Albany, Fine Arts events in Albany, Literary Art events in Albany.