Craft Show - Believe it or not, Spring IS just around the corner and what better way to beat the mid-winter blahs than to attend the 29th Owen J. Roberts Annual Craft Show on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8 from 10 AM to 4 PM. This year the Craft Show will be held in brand-new facilities at the Owen J. Roberts Senior High School at the corner of Routes 23 and 100. The primary entry is located in front of the Senior High School Building to the left of the main entrance (the gymnasium entrance). Access can also be made at the Art and AG wing, from the rear parking lot by the middle school. (Please note that the location of the Craft Show is not at the Middle School this year.)

This year’s show will feature over 80 artisans displaying an excellent array of unique contemporary and traditional crafts.  Many artists will be demonstrating during the show.  All artists have been juried on the quality of their craftsmanship, the uniqueness of their trade, and the overall aesthetics of their display booth.  Artisans from many state and local guilds will be represented. 

There will be many new artists in the 2009 Craft Show. Crafts to be displayed will include stained and leaded glass, metal work, theorem painting, photography, leather goods, copperware, silversmith work, basketry, pottery, and colonial reproduction furniture.  Among the exhibits will be pressed flower art, wearable fabric art, stoneware, watercolor painting, leather goods, papier mache’ forms, blacksmithing, folk art painting, and many other art forms.

Local artists returning to our show include: Jack Paolini – black & white gelatin silver print; Charles Bender – 18th century reproduction furniture;  Eve Greiner – textured mixed metal jewelry;  Linda and John Beazley-- papier mache forms & illustrative watercolors;  Rolf Hofer – 18th & 19 century reproduction Windsor chairs; Bob Bauers-- decorative ironwork; Peg Deegan – hand-woven colonial baskets;  Jan & Gary Fulton – fiber art home fashions;  David Sousa – lathe turned vessels, bowls and holiday ornaments;  Melinda Pasquale – stained glass pieces and many more craftspeople.  Many new artists will be featured in this year's show.  They include Victoria Cox – patchwork quilted baskets; Sandie Painter – Handmade rugs with wool appliqué; and Sandra & Bill Jones – stoneware and porcelain pottery; and Geoff Bowman – woodcarvings.  Also showing for the first time at our show are:  Theresa Hutt – stoneware & glass jewelry; Nancey Shelly – paper cuttings; as well as  The Village Artisans” a group of three artists  including Christine Skonieczny -- stained glass artist, Peggy Arnold -- handmade dolls and Megan Greenholt -- milk paintings.

A separate and yearlong raffle will be held again this year.  Charles and Lorraine Bender of Charles Bender & Co., will be donating a reproduction walnut Queen Anne Looking Glass.  The winner of the walnut inlaid document box from the yearlong raffle last year, was Catherine Orencial.  This was donated by Charles Bender & Co.

In addition, a raffle of craft items donated by the exhibitors will be held throughout the two-day show.  The raffle prizes include examples of pottery, basketry, jewelry, fabric art, watercolor painting, paper mache’, woodcarving, photography, wool products and many more.

Luncheon and take-out offerings from gourmet Bause-Landry Catering of Pottstown will be available both days. Not only is the menu an unusual one, but a source of delectable choices which include homemade soups: Really Good Chicken Noodle Soup; Creamy Corn and Potato Chowder; Hearty Vegetable Soup. OJR Art Subs which include Smoked turkey with Cheddar and Sweet Peppers; Honey Mustard Chicken Salad Croissant; Pesto Turkey Wrap with Baby Greens and Veggies; Sweet Pickle Ham Salad Croissant; All Beef Hot Dog; and Cheese Cannelloni with Asiago.  For the culinary challenge of all time - the desserts  include Chocolate Cake with Caramel Icing; Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing; Decadent Chocolate Mousse, Key Lime Pie with Graham Crust and Amy's Cookies. Beverages include Sodas and Water, Iced Teas, and Morning Star Coffee.  The list goes on--don't miss Oval Logo - Dinner to Go! which includes the Chef's OJR Education Foundation Award Winning Vegetarian Cashew Chili, plus many items listed on the luncheon menu.

All admissions and raffle proceeds from the show benefit the students of the Owen J. Roberts School District.  The OJR Friends Of the Arts fund a large variety of student activities including trips to museums and the ballet, artist-in-residence programs, assemblies with performances by guest artists, Art Goes to School presentations, and support for theater and musical productions in the schools.  The Friends Of the Arts also sponsor annual scholarships awarded to graduating senior students who plan to further their studies in the performing and visual arts. Scholarship information is available through Ms. Jen Arnst in the High School guidance department.  Contact her at 610 469-5200 or jarnst@ojrsd.com.

Tickets are available at the door on the day of the show.  Adult admission is $5.00.  Admission is free for children under 12 when accompanied by an adult.  No strollers.  Local newspapers and businesses feature $1.00 discount coupons.  Or go on the OJR website to Friends Of the Arts – Craft Show, and click on the request for coupon.

We would not want anyone to miss this two-day Craft Show event, so please remember folks, to TURN YOUR CLOCKS ONE HOUR AHEAD SATURDAY NIGHT!  The Craft Show is one of only three major fundraisers run by the Friends of the Arts.  Please consider volunteering to help with booth relief, ticket sales, raffle sales, etc.  For information contact 610 326-5301

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IN REVIEW - The Friends of the Arts had a large turnout and a very successful Holiday House Tour in December. The day was glorious and the weather co-operated.  As always there were baked goods and refreshments for all to enjoy before patrons set out on the tour.  If you would like to see a house on the 2009 Holiday House Tour please contact Barbara Rambo - 610-495-6808; Mary Lou Fulmer – 610-469-0274; or Peg Welcomer – 610 286-9805

ART GOES TO SCHOOL - This is a great program that is incorporated into the elementary art curriculum.  It teaches students to appreciate and study famous works of art.  We need more volunteers to go into the schools to do this.  Anyone interested may observe a class, please contact Elaine Nitko-Eroh – 610 286-6891 or Joanne Floquet – 610 326-6357.  Parents, grandparents, or any adult with a few hours each week can be taught to do the art presentations.  So please consider volunteering some time for your children or grandchildren and their art education.

JOIN US! - Friends Of the Arts is seeking new ideas and new faces.  Teachers, parents, or grandparents of students who are involved in any of the arts and music programs may consider this an opportunity to get involved in a worthwhile group.  Please feel free to bring your ideas to us by attending our monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 PM in the North Coventry Elementary School.

CONTACT US -
Mail - Owen J. Roberts Friends of the Arts (OJR FOA), 901 Ridge Road, Pottstown, PA  19465
Phone - 610.469.5100
Fax -  610.469.0748
E-mail - mfulmer@ojrsd.com 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR - 2009 dates
Sat & Sun, March 7 & 8 - Craft Show
September TBA- Artists and Artisans Studio Tour
Sat, December  12 - Holiday House Tour

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