Press Release
Retail craft store at mid-century was startup company of its time
Pottery by store founder Frans Wildenhain on view at upcoming art exhibition
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Shop One, an artists’ cooperative that exclusively sold handmade crafts at
mid-century, was the innovative startup company of its time.
At mid-century, only two retail stores in the United States were in business selling only crafts. A
group of entrepreneurial artists operated one of those stores in Rochester, N.Y.
Shop One was an innovative business venture that lasted nearly 25 years (1953-1975) under the
management of craft artists Frans Wildenhain, John Prip, Tage Frid, and Ronald Pearson. Each
had a deep-seated passion for handcrafted art, as well as a connection to the School for
American Craftsmen (SAC) at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).
SAC, now named the School for American Crafts, played a vital role as an artistic incubator for
Shop One. At Shop One, customers of the pioneering venture could buy works crafted by SAC
faculty and from associated artists who also specialized in craft.
At the time, the only other exclusive shop for handcrafted art was America House in New York
City. Philanthropist Aileen Osborn Vanderbilt Webb was responsible for the ground-breaking
launch of America House, as well as supporting SAC.
Now, thanks to a generous donation from a Shop One patron and longtime collector, RIT is in
possession of more than 300 beautifully handmade ceramic works by the late Wildenhain, a
Bauhaus Master Potter.
Roughly 150 of those pieces are on view Aug. 20 through Oct. 2, 2012, at RIT in both the Bevier
Gallery and Dyer Arts Center. The exhibition, Frans Wildenhain 1950-75: Creative and
Commercial American Ceramics at Mid-century, is free and open to the public.
One chapter in the accompanying exhibition catalogue, “Selling Craft in Mid-Century America:
Marketing the Merch at Shop One,” investigates the commercial aspects of Shop One’s novel
approach to operating an arts and crafts store.
For more information on the Frans Wildenhain exhibition, please contact Bruce Austin at 585475-2879 or visit, rit.edu/wild.
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Talk to the Experts
About the Exhibit:
 Bruce Austin, RIT. 585-475-2879, [email protected]
About Frans Wildenhain:
 Professor Rick Hirsch, Graduate Director, Studio Ceramics, School for
American Crafts, RIT. 585-475-7785, [email protected]
About mid-century studio ceramics:
 Dr. Jonathan Clancy, Director, American Fine and Decorative Arts
Program, Sotheby's Institute of Art, NYC. 212-517-2771,
[email protected]
About the School for American Craftsmen:
 Ms. Becky Simmons, RIT Archivist. 585-475-2557, [email protected]
About RIT History:
 Ms. Jody Sidlaukas, Associate Archivist, RIT. 585-475-4613,
[email protected]
About Shop One:
 Bruce Austin, RIT. 585-475-2879, [email protected]