Gustav Stickley: American Craftsman

The rise, fall and resurrection of the father of the American Arts and Crafts movement is chronicled in the new documentary “Gustav Stickley: American Craftsman.” The film offers an unprecedented look at the life and works of Gustav Stickley as told through interviews, archival materials, and a close examination of his most iconic works. It traces the development and evolution of Stickley’s unique style, as well as the creation of his diverse businesses including the Craftsman Magazine, Craftsman Farms and his ground-breaking Manhattan store. It also details the eventual loss of his businesses – and, after several decades, the rebirth and recognition of the movement he inspired. The film visits several key locations in his lifetime, including his Syracuse home, where he lived and created his first arts and crafts interior, and the pump house at Skaneateles Lake in upstate New York, which he restored as a summer family camp; as well we meet some of the talented collaborators Stickley surrounding himself with, such as Harvey Ellis, Lamont Warner and Irene Sargent.
2020. USA. 67 minutes. Not rated.