Art Town - Trinidad, Colorado

 

Trinidad, Colorado, sits right on the NE border of New Mexico, you get to experience the mountains and the plains. It's a funky, lively town and has a great art and crafts vibe. Home to everything from fine arts to jaw-dropping art cars to fun public art. The esteemed organisation, ArtSpace, is restoring a historic building in to a performance arts facility plus building a block of live & work artist apartments on the edge of town near the old train depot. There's fabulous outdoor adventures and drives in the surrounding area with a long history in mining. Much of the public art pays homage to their mining history.

Check out the website and add it to your list of must visit art spots! Enjoy.

Excellent article in Handmade Business Magazine

 

A big thank you to Handmade Business Magazine for running this article on #ACW2020 Art Therapy in the Time of Covid contest featuring all the winners! We appreciate your support. Please share, buy the magazine and spread the word.  Link here for ACW website with list of winners.

Meet Ann Sanicola Jewelry from Cochise, Arizona

 

American Craft Week is delighted to welcome first time participant, Ann Sanicola Jewelry from AZ to ACW2020. Her work specializes in bracelets, earrings and necklaces using local stone. Anne notes, "All are one of a kind pieces which grew out of stones, which tell me their stories. " 

Check out her website to see samples of her creations, read her story & give her a big welcome to ACW2020.

Welcome to Dinkra Stylez from Maryland

 

We're delighted to welcome teen owned and operated craft design firm, Dinkra Stylez of Brandywine, MD to ACW2020. Her mission is to create colourful, fun and engaging products to promote literacy about African heritage. Check out her website and watch 'her story' video ... it's very cool. Brava and good luck to this determined and talented young lady!

Mountain Made in Asheville, N.C., creating poetry in the mountains for ACW2020

 

A long time supporter of American Craft Week, Mountain Made in Grove Arcade, Asheville,  N.C., has great ideas for ACW2020... they'll be hosting a graffiti painting project and doing a book of poetry & thoughts on 'The Year of 2020.' The book will eventually be published and sold with profits going to charity. How cool is that? Be sure to check out their website for more information. And if you're in the area, definitely attend their events. They're going to be such fun  ... don't forget your mask!😊

Welcome to CLAYFOLK .. Southern Oregon Potters Assoc

 

American Craft Week is delighted to welcome Clayfolk - Southern Oregon Potters Association to ACW2020 and we look forward to a long and happy relationship for many more years. Check out their talented members under the gallery menu on their website. We look forward to hearing what events they have planned and we'll be sure to let you know. 

Delightful Hidden Gems to explore

American Craft Week's fabulous Hidden Gems for art and craft lovers Top 10, plus 5 runners up, we're unveiled last week. These charming towns are off the beaten path jewels to be explored across the country. Taking a road trip this summer? Add on a couple and go enjoy, and  help spread the word!

https://www.acwshowcase.com/hidden-gems

Warm welcome to Colorado!

American Craft Week is delighted to welcome artist, sculptor and writer Ron Isaacson of Amazar Avians  based in Evergreen, Colorado. Isaacson uses nature, recycled leather and textures to create his Amazar Tales. To delve in to his magical world, head on over to his website

 Artist Ron Isaacson in his studio in Evergreen CO. Photo courtesy of artist's website.

Be sure to sign up to join the fun and celebrate our 10th anniversary during AWC, October 4-13, 2019... sign up before the end of June and get a discounted price of $25!

Do you know a Hidden Gem?

We're celebrating 10 years of American Craft Week, and in the theme of 10 we're looking for 10 Hidden Gems! Do you know an out of the way, off the beaten path town/village/neighborhood that makes for a great art and craft experience? Please tell us about it. Please go to bit.ly/ACWGem and send us your suggestions. Thank you!

Enchanting New Mexico talent

American Craft Week is delighted to welcome Columbus, New Mexico, Village Library to this year's 10th birthday celebrations. The library is the heart of this small border town tucked in the SW corner of New Mexico, it is always a hive of activity and they host wonderful art and craft programs. They have some very interesting craft workshops planned for the week of 4-13 October 2019, but if you're in the area in April, don't miss their Celebrating Earth Day with Recycled Arts from April 1 - May 20. The Recycled Books Contest is on 22 April 2019. Local talent shines if last year's winner of the children's section is anything to go by. This incredible recycled Jack Kerouac book was created by 2nd Grader Julian Reyes last year. We look forward to seeing what treasures they create this year during this workshop and during American Craft Week!

Recycled Book. Created by 12th Grader Julian Reyes of Columbus, NM

Let's Party!! Sign up! sign up!

Have you signed up to join the fun for American Craft Week, 4-13 October 2019? It's our 10th Birthday, we'd love it if you'd help us make it very special.
There's an early bird special rate of $25 if you sign up before June 30, so don't delay. It takes 5 minutes online...so, please, sign up now... this link takes you to the sign up page. What could be easier? 
We look forward to seeing what you've got planned!
"Se" you at the party ... where ever it is you hold a great craft event for our birthday 🎉

Need suggestions to celebrate with us?

It's our 10th anniversary this year, let's celebrate - we'd love you to join us during 4-13 October 2019, all you need to do is host an event during American Craft Week. 
So, what can you do to celebrate with us? Here's a few suggestions... there are loads more ideas out there but here's a start:
+ If you're a gallery, have 10 of your craft artists do a demonstration of their craft. It's a great way to introduce people to a variety of crafts.
+ Get your artists and crafters to create a piece on the subject of "10" - maybe at a special event and give them 10 minutes/20 minutes etc to complete it. It's fun and gets everyone involved.
+ Arrange an evening art stroll and organise events at 10 neighboring businesses based on a craft theme.
+ Feature 2 craft artists every day for 5 days.
+ Arrange an artist talk at a library to broaden children's ideas on craft - make it fun around a 10 theme.
and...
we bet you can come up with some really cool ideas. You don't have to base the events around the number 10, we just thought it might be fun. Our main aim is you celebrate American crafters and artists all over the country and the beauty they create. Put on your thinking hats and let's get creative!

Please help us get to 10,000 followers on Facebook!!

The New Year celebrations have settled - now it's 2019 … a great time and as it's a brand New Year to celebrate American Craft Week - and especially since it's out 10th anniversary year, we'd love your help to get us to 10,000 Facebook followers! We're so close it would be cool to reach our goal this year. 

👍 Please like our Facebook page as an individual – business pages don't show up in the count! Please share with your friends. 

We thank you for all your support and enthusiasm, We appreciate you, and all the crafters and artists who keep the creative spirit aflame – plus thank you to all collectors who appreciate good craft.

Now, let's get that number up to 10,000 … ready - steady - GO!! 💖
And please, MARK YOUR CALENDARS now so you don't miss the fun!

St. Peteersburg, Florida... a Top 10 Craft Town

So to round up American Craft Week's Top 10 Craft Towns : St Petersburg, Florida, or St. Pete's as it's popularly called, is a craft town supreme … it has a whole spectrum of craft and art from small galleries and studios to the fabulous world renown Salvador Dali Museum plus the Chihuly Collection on Central Avenue. You can plan your visit by starting with the VisitFlorida or St. Pete.org but don't miss a stop at the great American Craft Week participant, Shapiro's Fine American Crafts in the hip Downtown St. Petersburg or at their Hyde Park Village.

There's always lots to see and do, lots of great museums and galleries to visit. For instance, there's the Warehouse Arts District second Saturday Art Walk.. check out the “Seven Arts Districts: One Arts Destination webpage.

Enjoy your time in the great Top 10 Craft Town of St. Petersburg, Florida

Happy Thanksgiving

American Craft Week wishes you a very happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Copyright Anne Jenkins 

Oh yes! Berea, Kentucky is a Top Ten Craft Town

Berea, KY enjoys national recognition as an outstanding craft town.  You can't miss the public art display of the "hands of Berea," click on this link to hear the story of the hands, and to hear the artists explain their work. There's the Berea Craft Festival coming up 13-15  July - don't miss it. 
The Artisan's Village is the lower section of town, and the College area is the upper section. And be sure to make a note of the working artists in town to arrange your visit.
There's lots to see and do so give yourself a few days. Berea is a delight to visit, historic hotel, great eateries and great craft and art..start planning your trip!

Be inspired

Joining us for American Craft Week is easy and we want you to have fun. We ask you to arrange one event at least during the week. This can be a demonstration of throwing pots on a wheel, an artist talk to an elaborate multi-media group exhibit. You can get a number of arts related businesses near you to join up and throw an arty party for a weekend with studio tours, gallery events and performance art. Whatever works for you, the activities help the chorus of voices to highlight how important our crafts are to the quality of life and the economy of our communities.

So, now you've signed up to join us in 2018 and you need some ideas to get the creative juices going? Try checking out what previous participants have done.
A fabulous example for an exhibit during American Craft Week is North Carolina's Asheville Area Arts Council. They were the winner of the 2017 Star Award for "The Perfect ACW Exhibit." Check out all our Star Award winners AND other participants...they're all are fabulous!

We're looking for you to join us

Are you an individual artist?..join us! Should your organization, studio or shop be an American Craft Week participant? Join us! It's time to sign up for this years celebration, Oct. 5-14. Get more information & sign up now

Save the Date

Time to start thinking of creative ways to celebrate American Craft Week!  It's never too early to be prepared...first, sign up to join us and then put on your creative thinking cap... we'll share ideas to inspire you over the next few months. Looking forward to seeing you