Crafts are big in small state of delaware

Known to consumers for its tax-free shopping in malls and discount stores, Delaware also offers some unique alternatives for discriminating buyers. During the Southeastern Delaware Artists Studio Tour held each Thanksgiving weekend in Sussex County, Del., 15 artists working in a variety of media invite the public into their workshops on the two-day, self-guided tour. “The Artists Tour will be celebrating its 10th year in 2004,” says Delaware potter Sabie Carey. “As one of the original artists of the group, I’m pleased and amazed that it has been such a success for this many years. In my opinion, this shows us that the public not only wants to view and purchase our artwork, but more than that, they thoroughly enjoy seeing where we create and how we turn a lump of clay or a flat canvas or a piece of copper into a lovely piece of artwork to be enjoyed for many years.”

Tour promoter Lynn Massey, whose husband, artist Grant Massey, started the event in 1995, says that the overwhelming turnout in the first year prompted them to make it a two-day event — it had originally been one day. “The attendance has continued to grow as well as the sales,” says Lynn Massey. “In 2003, we had 15 artists and artisans and several of them said it was the best sales event they ever had.” Massey says her husband’s sales in 2003 were the best he’s ever had during the event.

“It’s a great opportunity to establish relationships with your customers and I believe that they feel a connection to the work after meeting the artist and seeing the workspace,” says participant Amy Kaufman, who also had her best sales in 2003. “We live in a tourist area so much of the clientele is from out of the area or owners of a second home. Of course, we also have a balance of local customers as well.”

The Tour also includes the “Art in the Hat” raffle, which benefits art programs in the local school district. Each tour artist donates a piece of work to be raffled and chances to win the work are sold at each stop on the tour. Over the past four years, the raffle has raised over $11,600 and Massey hopes to raise another $4,000 this year.

In New Castle County, Del., sculptor Rick Rothrock says the arts in the First State have seen “amazing growth” in the last 25 years. “This is a very prosperous and educated place,” says Rothrock. “The commitment of gallery owners, arts administrators, and the city, state and county governments to growing and sustaining an active arts culture is strong.”

Rothrock, along with nearly 100 other artists, calls The Ardens — three villages founded by artists — home. This north Delaware enclave, that includes Arden, Ardentown and Ardencroft, was founded in 1900 by sculptor Frank Stephens and architect Will Price.

"Blossom Earrings," made of sterling silver and bule lace agate by Jersey City, NJ., artist Natasha Wozniak.

Today, nearly 1,000 residents reside in the communities and still live under a single-tax system based on the principles of activist Henry George in which the communities own the land and residents get 99-year leases. Residents only pay one tax, which covers everything including school taxes, county taxes and community improvements.

“Living in a community of people who believe in the importance and the value of the arts helps to make being here a pleasant experience,” says Rothrock. “The strangeness of living a lifestyle organized around the pursuit of art is more accepted here than in many places.”

< Arden hosts the popular Arden Fair each Labor Day weekend. This one-day, outdoor event features about 100 exhibitors and attracts nearly 10,000 visitors. Artists are picked on a first-come basis and preference is given to past exhibitors. The deadline for applying to the 2004 Fair is June 1.

In Wilmington, the Delaware Art Museum that is currently operating in a building on the city’s Riverfront, will return in 2005 to it’s original location after a major expansion that will nearly double the museum’s size. Exhibition space will grow from 4,000 square feet to 12,000 square feet. Upon completion, the expanded museum will encompass over 100,000 square feet and will feature a new sculpture garden.

To kick off the grand re-opening, the museum will feature two craft-related exhibitions. From June 17-Sept. 11, 2005, the museum will be the only East Coast venue for “The Course of Invention: The Arts and Crafts Movement in Europe and America, 1880-1920.” Created by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, this exhibit includes approximately 250 decorative arts objects mostly of British, American and German origin, with some from Austria, Hungary, Scandinavia, Finland and Russia, as well. Museum public relations director Lora Englehart says the exhibit will be arranged by country of origin, charting the influence of the British Arts and Crafts movement on the burgeoning arts and crafts movements that blossomed around the world.

From Oct. 29, 2005-Jan. 22, 2006, the museum will host “English Arts and Crafts Pottery From the Cary D. Stevens Collection.” The exhibit consists of ceramics from the last half of the 19th century and will feature works from the Martin Brothers and Doulton Potteries. “The exhibition highlights a significant aspect of the Arts and Crafts movement, born out of the work of William Morris and the second generation of Pre-Raphaelites,” adds Englehart.

New Jersey draws artists to state’s industrial north

In Jersey City, N.J., local jewelry artist Natasha Wozniak says her hometown has a high concentration of artists and craftspeople that get ample support from the community. “The artist community is very tight-knit and the residents really appreciate having all of the artists in the neighborhood,” says Wozniak. “There are many events throughout the year at which artists and craftspeople are invited to show and sell their work.”

One event that Wozniak recommends is the Jersey City Arts Tour in which more than 100 artists participate. Held each fall, the Tour has drawn approximately 10,000 visitors per year over the last 10 years, according to Charles Kessler of Pro Arts, organizer of the event.

“During these events, I have been able to sell work to other Jersey City residents. They often call me later when they need a gift after having taken my card,” says Wozniak. “Every month, downtown Jersey City gets more appealing and new residents are moving in; so, as long as the artists don’t get priced out of the neighborhood, this market will continue to grow.

In Newark, the Newark Museum, founded in 1909, often features craft exhibits highlighting American, European and Asian artists. Through May 9, “Baubles, Bangles & Bling Bling: A World of Jewelry” will showcase 300 works ranging from ancient Egyptian pieces to more contemporary work. Among the highlights of the show is a 1932 diamond bracelet ordered by actor Douglas Fairbanks Jr. for actress Joan Crawford.

From June 16-Aug. 29, the museum will host “2004 New Jersey Craft Arts Annual: Crafting Traditions in a New World.” This exhibit will feature the varied traditions behind contemporary craft artists living in New Jersey. A wide range of Asian and Latin American communities, as well as other craftspeople working with inspiration from their own native or ethnic traditions, will be included.

In the town of Mendham, Debbie Kaplan opened the Mendham Art Gallery in 2002. “The gallery is located in the historic district of Mendham Borough in a building that was originally a stage coach and carriage shop,” says Kaplan.

After a career in biotechnology, and getting two children off to college, Kaplan says she decided to open a gallery after earning her MBA from Babson College. Her Mendham location has been so successful that she opened a second gallery in nearby Frenchtown in March.

Kaplan says her customers are looking for work that is unique and different, but not too “funky.” And they prefer the work of local artists. As for trends emerging in the state, Kaplan says that the artists she works with don’t follow trends; “they work in the medium they love and earn a living.” Currently, Kaplan is looking for more glass, pottery, jewelry and wood work.

Pa. provides contacts for artists

In Pennsylvania, artists have a new resource to tap to help get their businesses off the ground. A Web site — www.paartistentrepreneur.com — was recently launched that provides artists with the training and contacts needed to start professionally selling their work.

A $50,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development helped fund the site, which includes online business plan development, expert interviews in marketing, insurance and accounting, sales and marketing plan development, contact information for Pennsylvania galleries, buyers and shows, and more. “I hope [the Web site] will enhance the chances of Pennsylvania artists striking out on their own and enable some artists to earn additional income from their craft,” says Marc Kramer, president of Kramer Communications and manager of the site.

For 25 years, Lancaster, Pa., has been home to the Long’s Park Art & Craft Festival, held each Labor Day weekend. Festival publicist Sue Savage says the four-day show attracts more than 20,000 visitors and includes over 200 exhibitors. “Average booth sales for the 200 exhibitors [in 2003] totaled more than $9,800,” says Savage. “The festival is held in a beautiful outdoor city park. Exhibits line a tranquil lake, and its residents — friendly ducks, geese and swans — regularly stage marches around the show area.”

A scene at Delawae's annual Arden Fair, featuring lifelong Arden resident Alan Burslem's stoneware.

Pennsylvania wood artist Jeffry Lohr, who owns and runs the JD Lohr Arts & Crafts Furniture and Woodworking School in Schwenksville, says he’s exhibited at Long’s Park several times and that it’s always a “wonderful” experience. “My wife and I make it a point to attend this show as buyers every year, whether I exhibit that year or not,” says Lohr. “We have a very selective eye and much prefer to only have original art in our home. Over the last 10 years, we’ve purchased more work at the Long’s Park Art & Craft Festival than at all other shows combined.”

Exhibitor and jewelry artist Cindy Mulhollen has been exhibiting at Long’s Park every year since 1996 and says that all of the artists are treated well. “The promoters help make our experience as positive as possible so that we’ll interact with the buying public in a positive manner and everyone will have a good experience,” says Mulhollen. “The promoters do a terrific job of promoting the show throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.”

The Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen (PGC), in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Designer Craftsmen, produce five shows each year that PGC program director Nick Mohler says are so popular with local artists because they attract a “well educated customer base” through deliberate promotional efforts. Mohler says that 30,000 programs are mailed, prior to the show season and programs are inserted into 300,000 local newspapers. “Our public relations efforts are assisted because we stress the individuality of crafts through seminars, demonstrations and hands-on activities,” adds Mohler.

The Spring State Craft Festival in May launches the season at the Tyler State Park in Richboro. The show features 150 exhibitors and draws up to 7,000 people. The same location also hosts the Fall State Craft Festival in October with up to 200 exhibitors.

The 58th Annual State Craft Festival at Lancaster’s Franklin & Marshall College, this year July 30-Aug. 1, is the oldest of the PGC shows with 250 exhibitors and over 12,000 attendees. The site also hosts the Holiday State Crafts Festival (Nov. 27-28) for 180 exhibitors and 7,000 attendees. Both shows are indoors with air-conditioning during the summer.

PGC also hosts a show in the Pocono Mountains called the Pocono State Crafts Festival on Aug. 21-22. The show features 80 exhibitors and attracts about 5,000 people.

Heather Skelly is associate editor of The Crafts Report.