Nearly all of the art and craftwork  we carry at Moonstones is exclusively American in origin.

We have chosen to specialize in American Art for several reasons. The number one reason is that America is where we live, physically, emotionally and spiritually. We believe in our country and we are very proud of the progress we have made as a relatively new nation and in the contributions we have made to the world. America is an idea. It was conceived of by our founders who risked everything they had to give birth to their vision. The concepts they fought for changed the world. They give us the  freedom to imagine and fostered the courage to take the risk in the marketplace of creating. They are allowed to turn ideas into products or works of art.
We choose to support our country by helping to support its creativity, represented by its artisans.
The craftspeople we deal with have become our friends, some are our neighbors, all are our countrymen. We have found that our business relationships took on more meaning when we knew the people who made our products. Our artisans  in many cases are the people we grew into adults with. We have seen them raise their kids, buy their houses and develop their craft. This brings a depth to our lives that most other retailers may not have the opportunity to enjoy.
Another reason we carry American work is that we have found it to be without question the best quality craftwork we have been able to find anywhere. This has made our choices so much easier over the years because we were able to eliminate the myriad of decisions other galleries and gift stores have had to make when they choose from the immense amount of merchandise flooding our shores from other countries. It has kept our product mix strong and true. It has allowed us to focus on one niche market that we feel makes the best products in the world. You can find less expensive versions of our products but you cannot find better products on the market or for that matter better value. When you factor in the environmental and safety regulations that our American craftsman employ in their craft you begin to understand why their products are a little bit higher in cost than imported knock offs. They are still a bargain when you consider the superior materials and design. News reports are filled with stories of  unsafe and inferior products coming to our shores from overseas. To me paying a little bit more for a better product that uses safe manufacturing methods only makes sense. This may run counter to much of the press about American products but I can only tell you about what I have learned from experience. American design and craftsmanship is better, a lot better. Help us support America by supporting American artisans and manufacturers. They are your neighbors. Help keep America strong.
Finely Crafted American Art equals value. When you consider that small craftsman in our country generally have much lower cost factors when you consider how much of a product's cost is tied up in expensive advertising campaigns, shipping, duties, packaging and middlemen. Our individual craftsmen work out of their homes or small shops, they have much lower costs in many areas than large importers and marketers. They actually place more resources and time into their creations than mass marketers. The products made by American Craftsmen endure. They are not throw away knock off ideas. An artist has a sense of pride in what he personally makes and sells.
You have not saved anything by purchasing a product that is not well made or does not endure. There are many ways to support your country, especially in these troubling times. I cannot think of a better way than to support the American spirit of creativity than by purchasing the products of American Craftsmen.

What is Art?

It is a question that has been asked for thousands of years. I have been in the American Craft movement since 1970 and I have been asked that question many times by clients and by artisans. Is a beautifully crafted rocking chair art?
I like to shift the answer to the realm of creativity and the mystery that surrounds it. It appears to me to be an innate drive of the human spirit. You can also see it at work in the wonderful creativity of our natural world. I mean could you really make up some of the strange creatures you see in the world  in your imagination if you tried? I think in humans it is a natural expression of this same force that creates this exotic world and for that matter us.
The creation of  a painting or the creation of a beautifully sculpted chair are both art forms. Skill and a keen imagination are involved in the translation from physical raw materials into art. "No-thing" is elevated to "Some-thing". It is like poetry, only of the physical.
The important thing is that you see spirit infused into the tangible. It will make your life richer when you appreciate this talent both in yourself and in others. At Moonstones Gallery we attempt to bring you examples of this spirit instilled into art forms so you can have and enjoy them in your home and work environment. If you love it, if that love endures, then it must be art. Art is the marriage of craft and imagination.

Robert Unger
owner