November 02, 2015
Some of the city's leading art institutions - like the Philadelphia Art Alliance, Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Tyler School of Art and University of the Arts - will team up for Craft NOW Philadelphia, four days of events focusing on Philly as the "workshop of the world." Wednesday, Nov. 11 through Saturday, Nov. 14, local artists and craftspeople will gather to discuss craft and demonstrate their skills.
It all kicks off with a preview party for the Philadelphia Museum of Art's annual Craft Show Wednesday, Nov. 11. Tickets for this fundraising event begin at $250.
The fun continues with Old City Craft Night Thursday, Nov. 12. This open-to-the-public event will have The Center for Art in Wood, the Clay Studio, Snyderman-Works Gallery and Millésimé open late with extra evening hours. Local bars and restaurants will have special Craft NOW specials, too.
"Spanning Generations: A Conversation," a panel discussion about the different generations of makers and craft's future, will take place Friday, Nov. 13 the University of the Arts. Bruce Metcalf and Judith Schaechter will moderate the panel of American Craft Council Fellows and Perry Price, American Craft Council Director of Education, will give a keynote address.
Two events close out the festival Saturday, Nov. 14. CraftNOWCreate, a day of demonstrations and interactive art, will take place at the Kimmel Center's Commonwealth Plaza 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Artists will go head-to-head on potter's wheels in a battle of clay, fiber artists will create a massive tapestry on a giant loom, UArts students will demonstrate their unique costume designs and more.
Book Paper Scissors, an artist's book fair, will feature art books, prints, handmade paper, zines, paper sculpture, jewelry, at the Free Library from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Presented by Philadelphia Center for the Book, the festival is free and open to the public.
Click here for the complete Craft NOW schedule.
