PhilaCulturati

Renown National and Local Artists at Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Oaks

Philadelphia’s Most Exceptional Talents Among 300 Artists at March 19-21 Festival

The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Oaks will showcase the works of more than 300 distinguished artists from across the country; but the Festival will also highlight the wealth of creative talent within the greater Philadelphia by showcasing work by more than a dozen nationally-known, local artists. The Festival will be held from Friday, March 19 through Sunday, March 21, 2010 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA.

The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival will feature an eclectic mix of artists whose work is exhibited in fine galleries, shown at museums, and acquired by prestigious collections, as well as to new artists showcasing experimental techniques and bold creative vision. Craftspeople will display and sell affordable and innovative functional and decorative pottery, sculpture, glass, home décor, furniture and home accessories, leather, fiber and wearables, items for gifts, fine art and photography.

The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Somerset will feature some of greater Philadelphia’s most exceptional artists, including:

Colleen Attara (Yardley, PA) Colleen combines her love of the environment with fine art to create three-dimensional pieces from recycled windows.  Her art has been featured in numerous galleries and publications including Art Business News, Philadelphia Magazine, and Cottages and Bungalows.

Arlene Freed (Langhorne, PA) Arlene uses mixed metals along with her hand painted silks (embedded in a resin), to add texture, color and balance to her jewelry. Her works have won numerous awards, and can be seen in galleries across the country.

Elaine Dimino (Philadelphia, PA) Elaine’s gift boxes are custom made with the carefully selected fabrics and are uniquely decorated with beads and metal appliqués, decorative trims, ribbons and laces.

Armond Scavo (Philadelphia, PA) Armond has been photographing landscapes, seascapes, florals, and abstracts for more than 40 years.  His love of Philadelphia’s urban landscapes, makes them frequent subjects of his work.

The lively marketplace of the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival is enhanced by a full schedule of family entertainment. Master craftspeople will showcase their expertise in a range of media, including ceramics, metal spinning, and woodturning in live demonstrations. The Festival also celebrates the skill of making small-batch specialty gourmet foods, available for sampling and purchase. Visitors will enjoy live musical performances, and children can experience the adventure of time travel with a special puppet show from Middle Earth Studios.

The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival will be held Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sunday, March 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, located at located at 100 Station Ave, in Oaks, PA.  (For GPS navigation use “Intersection of Egypt Rd & Mill Rd – Phoenixville, PA  19460″ and follow the signs to the Expo Center.)

Adult admission to the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival is $7 when purchased online, $8 for adults at the door, and free for children under 12. Admission is good for all three days, and free parking is available.

For more information about the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival, directions, or to purchase discount admission tickets online visit www.SugarloafCrafts.com or call (800) 210-9900.

Additional show information, artist profiles, and special offers may be found on Sugarloaf’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sugarloafcrafts.

About the Sugarloaf Craft Festivals:

For over 30 years, the nation’s most talented artisans have sold their contemporary crafts and fine art at Sugarloaf Craft Festivals, rated as one of the top craft experiences in the country.  Last year, more than 180,000 visitors purchased over $16 million in fine arts and crafts directly from the artists at Sugarloaf festivals.

The Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen Fine Craft Fair will be held 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday July 25th and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday July 26 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront, Wilmington, DE.  Admission is $7 for adults; children 12 and under are free. For more information call the Pennsylvania Guild at 717-431-8706 or visit www.pacrafts.org. Click and Save $1 with the ad below! 

Dela…where?! Don’t fret. Wilmington, Delaware is a simple train ride or short drive from Philadelphia. You’ll get there faster than you would the shore. Fine art, culture, cute shops, restaurants… go ahead, explore our neighbors to the south.  For more cool things to do in Wilmington check out http://www.riverfrontwilm.com.  Oh, and want one more reason to go to Delaware: tax free shopping and dining! [See below for train discount and information.]

The Brandywine Valley’s premier Fine Craft Fair, this 3^rd annual summer event brings thousands of loyal art patrons and festival goers to Wilmington’s Riverfront in search of exquisite contemporary and traditional crafts.  In 2009, the Pennsylvania Guild will make its home in Wilmington for one weekend, but the guild would like to make lasting connections with local businesses and organizations that make Wilmington their home the other 363 days of the year. The Delaware Art Museum, Delaware by Hand, and the Biggs Museum of American Art will have representatives present during the course of the weekend and will be giving daily talks to our 170 participating craftspeople and our 5,000 attendees. 

TRAIN: The French St. Station is 1/2 mile away along the Riverwalk. You can take the River Taxi from there or hoof it– it’s 1/2 mile along the river! Septa: Ride the R2 from Philly. Amtrak: All north/south Amtrak trains stop at Wilmington Station, more than 55 trains a day. Amtrak offers a 10% discount off the lowest available rail fare to Wilmington, DE between July 22 and July 29, 2009. To book your reservation call Amtrak at 1 (800) 872-7245 and reference Convention Fare Code X87W-961 (can’t get the discount over the net).