Pennsylvania Guild events!

"Come to a Garden Party"

And

"Spring Craft Market"

April 17 & 18

Lancaster

Lancaster:  Celebrate spring with two all new events with the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen.

The first is an all new special spring mini-show, Craft Market (web, images), featuring the work of 40 of the Guild's finest craft makers in pottery, woodturning, leather, traditional German folk art, jewelry and more.  This fun outdoor event is for one weekend only, April 17 & 18, at the corner of Prince & Walnut Sts. in downtown Lancaster.

The second is a special, five-week long gallery exhibition and sale of spectacular work for the outdoors including sculpture, bird baths, garden tools and floral jewelry etc. all designed for those with a spring in their step! Come to a Garden Party (info, images) opens April 17 and runs through June 5 at the Guild's gallery at 252 N. Prince Street, at the corner of Prince & Walnut, downtown.  More than 500 works by 35 craftsmen will be available.

Both new events coincide with Downtown Lancaster's famously fun Spring ArtWalk (info) on April 17 & 18, featuring 30+ special exhibitions and events, all within easy walking distance.

SPRING CRAFT MARKET

Exhibiting both traditional and contemporary handmade craft, the Spring Craft Market offers a number of live demonstrations, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to meet the artists and learn how authentic craft is handmade.   

"We believe that the making of craft enriches lives," said Guild executive director Sherrie Boyer. "Everything we do is designed to bring people together in pursuit of fine craft. Whether you are a maker of craft, or a lover of craft, these two programs are all about making craft happen for you.  Everything you see, whether a piece of pottery, a turned bowl or framed art has been designed, created and finished by the craft maker."

 The Pennsylvania Guild is one of the newest galleries to open in Downtown Lancaster. Now part of this vibrant art community, the Guild offers more than 35 events annually to meet the needs of craft enthusiasts, emerging craftsmen and established craft professionals.  The Guild's gallery store is open at various times throughout the year and additional workshops, craft shows, and craft events are offered throughout the State.  The Guild is also a leading organizer for the community's beloved "ArtWalks" which occur in Spring and Fall to connect audiences with the dozens of downtown art venues.

The Spring Market features four demonstrations from different artists, including:

Sandra Jean Coldren will demonstrate how she creates her theorem paintings using tools from the past and present.  A series of stencils and precise brushwork are used to produce a traditional painting generally depicting a still life on cloth or velvet. 

Edwin Youtz will be doing wood-turning in his booth.  Using a lathe and different slabs of wood, he will be creating natural edge and finished edge wooden vessels. 

Chong Lim will demonstrate how he creates beautifully embossed papers. Chong will be carving molds using a hammer, chisel and miniature electric tools. Sheets of paper are pressed into these molds, making an impression on the paper.

COME TO A GARDEN PARTY

A wide range of crafts for indoors and out will be on display at this special themed gallery exhibition designed for the serious gardener, avid outdoor adventurer and those with an itch for warmer weather.  Find the perfect spring wedding present or an inspired addition to your home, garden or yard among the more than 500 works by 30 craftsmen. Meet the artist events have been schdeduled:

On April 18, Ruthann Santry and Megan Greenholt will be in the gallery to answer questions about their pottery and fine art painting respectively.

General Public Information

The Guild's Spring Craft Market is open on Saturday, April 17th from 10am to 5pm and Sunday, April 18th from 11am to 4pm.  Admission is free.  Please Save the Date!

Garden Party opens at 10 am, Saturday, April 17th and is open Monday through Saturdays, 10 am to 4 pm, until June 5th.  For more details about both events, visit www.pacrafts.org . 

The Pennsylvania Guild is one of the nation's largest and most recognized craft guilds with over 1,200 members in 33 states.  Recognizing that the making of craft enriches all, the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen seeks to encourage the practice of and nurture excellence in heritage and contemporary craft.  It does this through education, advocacy and support of the practicing craftsman.  Membership is open to both craftsmen and supporters of the arts.  Crafts lovers who join as Friends of the Guild receive free admission to our fine craft fairs, discounts on great workshops and the knowledge that they are helping to support artists whose work celebrates our natural world and self-sufficient lifestyles.  To join, visit www.pacrafts.org.  For more information about Lancaster's Spring Art Walk, visit www.lancasterartwalk.org.

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PRESS INFORMATION:
IMAGES: Images (artisans, fair images and logos) available
Contacts:    Jenny Germann, Program Coordinator, 717-431-8706, jenny@pacrafts.org

                   Nick Mohler, Program Director, 215-485-1150, nick@pacrafts.org

                   Sherrie Boyer, Executive Director, 717-431-8706, sherrie@pacrafts.org