October 15, 2018
The contemporary craft movement is thriving in Philadelphia – and CraftNOW Philadelphia invites you to engage with the handmade throughout CraftMONTH this November. With art exhibitions, panel discussions and family-friendly activities, you can get hands-on while getting to know the diverse community of artists and institutions that make this city the Capital of Craft.
CraftNOW unites makers, museums, universities and more leaders of Philadelphia’s internationally-recognized craft scene to showcase the city’s rich legacy and continuing role as an incubator for arts based in wood, clay, fiber, metal and glass. Through an annual series of events and exhibitions surrounding the Philadelphia Museum of Art Contemporary Craft Show (taking place November 2–4 this year), CraftNOW inspires locals and visitors alike to celebrate Philadelphia’s innovations in the world of the handmade.
Located throughout Philadelphia
Explore the impact of craft at more than 20 CraftNOW exhibitions throughout Philadelphia, from Center City establishments like The University of the Arts to converted factory spaces like Globe Dye Works in surrounding neighborhoods. The November CraftMONTH First Friday in Old City is the perfect opportunity to catch featured shows at the historic neighborhood’s many art institutions, including The Clay Studio, whose Making a Difference: Social and Political Activism in Clay exhibition inspired the 2018 CraftNOW theme.
Friday, Nov. 2 | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
University of the Arts Gershman Hall
401 South Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Art lovers and community-minded activists won’t want to miss the CraftNOW Symposium on Friday, November 2. The free afternoon of talks with world-renowned artists and curators centers around the Making a Difference theme and addresses the ways craft and making can spark positive change and social cohesion in today’s divisive political climate. Keynote speaker Roberto Lugo, a potter and spoken-word poet, will share how his experiences growing up as a poor kid in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood influence his vibrant ceramics, on display at Wexler Gallery in Old City.
Saturday, Nov. 3 | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kimmel Center
300 South Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
You become the artist on Saturday, November 3, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during CraftNOW Create at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Try your hand at loom weaving and paper cutting with help from pros at Philadelphia’s top studios, and experience demonstrations of glassblowing, 3-D printing and more expert craft-making. The kids will love making buttons and bringing their own clay characters to life in mini stop motion movies!
Sunday, Nov. 4 | 2 p.m.
Center for Architecture
1218 Arch St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
On Sunday, November 4, enjoy the final day of the Philadelphia Museum of Art Contemporary Craft Show while shopping for one-of-a-kind works from 195 of the most dynamic craft artists in the United States. At 2 p.m., take a break across the street at the Center for Architecture and Design for a special presentation of the film I Am Known As An Artist about the life and work of American craftsman Wharton Esherick. The screening includes a question-and-answer session with director Carolyn Coal.
