The Reading-Berks Chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen will hold its 11th Annual Juried Spring Fine Arts and Craft Festival in Keystone Hall, Kutztown UniversityApril 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and April 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The highly popular Mid-Atlantic craft show with more than 80 seasoned and student artisans is presented in partnership with the Pennsylvania German Scholarship Studies, the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center in Kutztown and the university, whose art students also will exhibit their work at the show.
Reading-Berks Guild President Barry Bennecoff said visitors will be able to see and purchase a diverse selection of quality handcrafted traditional and contemporary work created by mainly local craftsmen who are nationally and internationally known.
Guild member exhibits and demonstrations will cover traditional wood turning, shaker boxes, braided and penny rugs, scherenschnitte paper cuttings, folk art, theorem painting, country furniture, calligraphy, basketry, tinsmithing, redware, block printing, quilting, wheat weaving, painted beeswax, hand-hammered aluminum, felted wool and metal yard art.
Also at the show will be contemporary ceramics, glass, jewelry, dried florals, wearable art, photography and fine artwork produced by Guild members, many of whom also created special ornaments and decorations for the Pennsylvania Governor’s Mansion in 2010 and 2009.
Butch Imhoff’s ‘The Acoustic Road Show’ will provide music during both days of the show with different acts appearing every half hour and performing bluegrass, bluegrass gospel, rock, pop, comedy, folk, country and more. Among the performers are the Zepp Family, the Celtic Martins, Brian Peachy, Chelsea Lynn Meyer, Richard Machemer, Emazing Grace, Conlan Kerschner, Andrew Maguire and Justin Nast.
More details about the spring show will be included on the Guild’s monthly show on Berks Community Television March 21, 22, 27, 28 and 30, http://www.comcastnewsmakers.com/video/spring-fine-arts-crafts-festival.
In addition to the spring show, the Guild has an annual Holiday Crafts Show, this year on Nov. 2 and 3. The Guild publishes a newsletter, hosts an annual student awards program with monetary awards for Berks County high school seniors, and disburses annual grants to members for educational use. The Guild donates yearly to BCTV and the Kutztown University Scholarship fund.
For more details, visit the website www.rbcrafts.org or email info@rbcrafts.org. Or call 610-678-6650. And visit the Guild’s Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Reading-Berks-Guild-of-Craftsmen/111069259175.
