For Immediate Release October 8, 2019
Florida CraftArt Presents CraftArt Festival 2019
Downtown St. Petersburg, November 23 and 24, Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Fine craft artists from 23 states will be featured in Florida CraftArt’s 22nd Annual CraftArt Festival. It will be held on Saturday, November 23 and Sunday, November 24, just outside the doors of the Florida CraftArt Gallery, at the crossroads of Central Avenue and 5th Street in Downtown St. Petersburg.
CraftArt Festival 2019, presented by the Red Apple Group, is a destination for tourists and local visitors to enjoy a fun-filled, visually exciting Florida weekend. Collectors and art lovers will be delighted by the creations of over 100 of the nation’s best contemporary fine craft artists, artist demonstrations, food trucks, craft beers and a children’s art activity tent. The two-day festival kicks off the Holiday shopping season and features handmade works in ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, paper and mixed media.
Sarah Schultz, the Executive Director of the American Craft Council will be the judge and distribute $10,000 in cash awards to the artists. CraftArt Festival will showcase the talents of six emerging artists with the support of the DMG School Project, as Florida CraftArt engages and mentors the next generation of fine craft artists. Emerging Artists receive a free booth, professional photography session, postcards, and the opportunity to show and sell their work. Those sponsoring the artists are Kevin Beck, DMG School Project, Kathryn Howd, Barbara Sansone and Robert F. and Alexandria Welker.
Interested fine craft collectors can become members of the Collectors’ Circle. Members commit to purchase artists’ work in advance of the festival, award their chosen artist(s) with ribbons and receive other valuable festival perks, such as parking and VIP tent access. The chair of the Collectors’ Circle is Claudia Larrain. She and her husband, Matt Mosk, are sponsoring the Collectors’ Circle Dinner Party on Sunday, November 24 at the home of Neverne Covington and Don Strobel. For information about the Collector’s Circle, please call Rhonda Sanborn at (727) 821-7391.
In addition to the Presenting Sponsor, Red Apple Group, other festival sponsors are Regions Bank, Raymond James, The Don CeSar, Tricera Capital, Acropolis Greek Taverna, St. Pete/Clearwater International Airport, Brian James Photography, The City of St. Petersburg, the Division of Cultural Affairs for the State of Florida, Tampa Bay Times, Creative Loafing, and WUSF. To learn more about the 22nd Annual CraftArt, visit FloridaCraftArt.org.
Florida CraftArt is Florida’s only statewide nonprofit organization representing established and emerging fine craft artists. For nearly seventy years, Florida CraftArt has advanced and celebrated Florida’s fine crafts, in St. Petersburg and throughout the state as Florida’s primary authority for fine craft art. Its engaging and thoughtful cultural programming enlightens, inspires and brings the joy of art to all. Florida CraftArt’s mission is to grow the statewide creative economy by engaging the community and advancing Florida’s fine craft artists and their work. Visit Florida CraftArt at 501 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg.
CUTLINES FOR PHOTOGRAPHS:
Thompson_CraftArt_Festival.jpg For his glass sculptures, Michael Thompson from Boones Mill, Virginia, uses multiple layers of glass, kiln formed and cold worked to create dynamic shapes.
Tsai_CraftArt_Festival.jpg Erh Ping Tsai from Locust Valley, New York creates jewelry with metals, semi-precious stones, paint, and porcelain worked with colored clay inlays, underglazing, overglazing, and millefiori techniques.
Young_CraftArt_Festival.jpg Daytona Beach artist Leslie Young creates a variety of nautilus shells from wood using a scroll saw. The shells are comprised of up to 80 laminated pieces.
Couple with dog CraftArt Festival.jpg
CraftArt Festival Crowd.jpg Art lovers flock to see more than 100 of the nation’s best fine craft artists at the two-day CraftArt Festival.