Desiree Delong, Brooklyn, NY; semi-precious jewelry
PHILADELPHIA, PA.- More than 195 contemporary fine craft artists from across the U.S. will exhibit and sell their work at the 38th annual Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, held Nov. 6 to 9 with an opening night gala on Nov. 5. Presented annually by the Museum Women’s Committee and Craft Show Committee, the event showcases the country’s finest craft artists and attracts some 18,000 visitors to the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia over four days.
The highly competitive jury process draws artists from Maine to California, carefully selected from more than 1,000 applicants. Craft Show artists present a striking variety of museum-quality work in glass, ceramics, wood, basketry, both wearable and decorative fibers, metal, paper, leather and mixed media, as well as one-of-a-kind handmade furniture and both precious and semi-precious jewelry.
Craft buyers can meet, learn about and purchase unique items from artists who are represented in prominent museum collections nationwide, including the Museum of Art and Design, N.Y.; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Mass.; Mint Museum of Art, N.C.; Craft and Folk Art Museum, Calif.; and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, D.C. Collectible, handmade works, from artist-designed jewelry to sculptural furniture, are available in a wide price range from $100 or below to $8,000.
2014 artists include Christine Love Adcock (Santa Barbara, Calif.), Bennett Bean (Blairstown, N.J.), Desiree Delong (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Bruce Erdman (Greendale, Wis), Amy Gillespie (Arlington, Mass.), Starr Hagenbring (New Orleans, La.), Elizabeth Kinder (Philadelphia, Pa.), Minh Martin (Charlottesville, Va.) and Youngjoo Yoo (Champaign, Ill.)
Christine Love Adcock, Santa Barbara, CA; basketry.
A full list of 2014 artists and images of their work are now available at pmacraftshow.org/artists.
Promoting its place in the forefront of craft education, the Craft Show will devote its 2014 guest artists program to emerging artists. This year the show will again offer outstanding work from top craft students from The University of the Arts, Moore College of Art & Design, Kutztown University, and Savannah College of Art and Design.
The event will also include artist meet and greets, on-site artist demonstrations and a craft beer social night. The opening night gala on Nov. 5 from 4 to 9 p.m. offers collectors an opportunity to get a first look at the Show and includes a cocktail buffet. More details will be available soon at pmacraftshow.org.
Organized and coordinated by 2014 Show Chair Carol Blank Barsh and Show Manager Nancy O’Meara and staffed by volunteers, Craft Show proceeds benefit the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Over the last 37 years, the Show has contributed more than $11 million in museum funding, used to purchase works of art and craft for the permanent collections, support education programs, and contribute to conservation and publication projects. “Not only do all the proceeds go directly to varied museum-wide activities, but a percentage also goes in a fund that is applied to acquiring contemporary craft,” says Philadelphia Museum of Art associate curator Elisabeth Agro. “That’s what sets the Craft Show apart.”
Bruce Erdman, Greendale, WI; furniture.
