The Fall State Craft Festival at Tyler State Park in Richboro, Pa., shows off the work of local artisans.RELATED STORY: Family Affair
By: Megan Sullivan
When buying a handmade craft, you form a connection with the artist behind it. A story lies within every ceramic bowl, tiny woodcarving or piece of pottery.
"There’s a whole different level of quality and care," says pottery artist Jennifer Miller. "When eating out of a handmade bowl, it makes your food better."
Ms. Miller is just one of 174 crafters displaying items at the Pennsylvania Designer Craftsmen’s Fall State Craft Festival in Tyler State Park in Richboro, Pa., Oct. 14-16.
"It’s so easy to buy craft items at any store that have been made outside the U.S.," says Nick Mohler, project manager for the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen. "(At the festival) you’re actually buying from the person making the product. You have a story behind it more than picking up a $3 mug at Wal-Mart."
These stories can easily be uncovered at the event, especially when dropping by Demonstrator’s Row to catch artists in the act of their craft. Demonstrations include Rodney Meyer’s Raku Firing, Sharon Carlucci’s Glass Beadmaking, Douglas Starry’s Chairmaking, Sandy Coldren’s Theorem Painting, Laura Friesel’s Bobbin Lace, Bob Dewitt’s Wood Spoon Carving, Clay Landacre’s Clay Sculpture, Barry Frank’s Chainsaw Carving, Steve Strouse’s Shaker Box Making, Bucks County Woodturners and Delaware Valley Woodcarvers.
Also displaying on Demonstrator’s Row, Ms. Miller will show how to throw pottery on a wheel. "My pottery is inspired by all different countries of the world that have been making pottery for more than 3,000 years," she says.
Nature also plays a big part in her artistic creations, as she enjoys giving them texture with found items like burdock and comfrey leaves. Her high fired stoneware includes both functional items and art vessels, from bowls, teapots and plates to funky art pieces and wall hangings.
After taking art courses at the California State University, Northridge, Ms. Miller took lessons at various studios after moving to the East Coast. "It developed into something I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing," she says. Although she had her own studio, Earth Center Pottery, while living in Massachusetts and taught classes there, Ms. Miller focused primarily on her own work after relocating to New Hope, Pa. She reopened the studio under the same about five years ago at Tyler Craft Center, the headquarters of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, and currently teaches weekly classes.
During the festival, Ms. Miller will also run a kid’s clay activity with a Day of the Dead theme, where children can contribute to the making of several masks. She will make the basic form of the masks, and children can add eyes, a nose, earrings, hair and anything else they desire. "They will have a chance to be creative with something that doesn’t take that long," she says. "They’ll end up with fun, crazy masks."
At the Spring State Craft Festival in May, she organized a fountain project in which the children added crazy creatures that might be found in the park. The fountain, and past year’s art projects, will be on display for children to view at the fall festival. The masks will be glazed and ready for next spring’s festival, hanging in trees so the children can see the finished product.
Warrington, Pa., resident Karen Wychock will be demonstrating traditional basketmaking techniques, primarily those of Shaker baskets. The Shakers were a religious group that came to America from England in 1774 seeking religious freedom. The group, who established communities mainly in the New England area, had a rich tradition in basket making.
"They look very contemporary, even today," says Ms. Wychock, who will be demonstrating various weaves and the making of basket rims and handles. Ash trees provide great basketry material to work with, she says, as it naturally splits along its growth rings after its pounded with a mallet. Oak, cherry or maple is typically used for the handles.
An art teacher for 22 years in the Neshaminy School District and current principal at Neshaminy Middle School, Ms. Wychock apprenticed for five years in New Hampshire, mainly learning Shaker basketry, and also took classes with a traditional New England basketmaker. She later taught basketry to her students in school, as she found that it appealed to boys for its woodworking and girls for the weaving process.
After checking out the wide range of crafts and demonstrations, festival-goers can help in the restoration of the historic barn and studio space at Tyler Craft Center by participating in the fundraiser "Tea Time at Tyler." The fundraiser raised close to $3,000 at last year’s fall festival.
"It’s nice… you get a handmade teacup with some tea to warm you up," Mr. Mohler says. Each $10 "wheelthrown" teacup was handmade by one of 20 Guild potters involved in the Craft Festival. Musical entertainment and an interactive marionette theater also will be provided over the weekend.
While each crafter and artist at the festival makes one-of-a-kind items, they all share the same desire to keep the heritage and tradition of handmade items alive. "People in this day and age, especially kids… Everything is done instantly," Ms. Wychock says. "Many people have lost appreciation for the handmade object."
"The country has been built on people doing things handmade," Ms. Miller says. "It’s where we started and where we’ll end up."
The Fall State Craft Festival will take place in Tyler State Park, Route 332, Richboro, Pa., Oct. 14-16. Hours: Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission costs $7, free under age 13. For information, call (215) 579-5997. The Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen on the Web: www.pacrafts.com