Beautiful spring weather set the scene for incredible arts and crafts shopping in the open air at the 34th Annual Outdoor Crafts Festival at Bruce Museum this weekend.
For 2019, this popular annual event featured more than 70 crafts artists from all over the country who had their creations in wood, wearable and decorative fiber, metalwork, leather, paper arts, glass, ceramics, jewelry, and more on display and available for sale. Among the exhibitors this year, there was a strong showing in jewelry and wearables (for both adults and infants) PLUS a number of artists specializing in handbags, purses, and bags.
There were also demonstrations. Potters Erika Nowak and Drew Darley from Round Trip Clayworks in New Britain drew plenty of onlookers as they worked their trade for viewing benefit of attendees.
Delicious food was made available by the Thai Taste, Kettle Korn, and Wendies Weenies food trucks.
Much different than shopping in a store, the Bruce Museum’s 34th Annual Outdoor Crafts Festival afforded attendees the opportunity to to meet many of the top award-winning national craft artists who actually created the work for sale. This experience adds an additional meaningful layer to the art being collected. The opportunity to learn about the processes used to create the work. An opportunity to ask questions, take photos, shake hands and bring home a piece of art with a personally significant story and memory attached to it.
Living Greenwich photographer Pam Grunow was on hand at the event to capture some images.
Click any image below for a larger view:
And here is a second photo gallery – with photos courtesy of Scott Smith (of the Bruce Museum):
Click any image below for a larger view:
2019 Participating Artists:
- Faye Anderson, Chatham, MA – Metalwork http://www.funktionalsteelart.com
- Daniel Bailey, West Hartford, CT – Wood furniture http://www.HrtwdDesigns.com
- Jane Bartlett, Fairport, NY – Wearables http://www.janellenb.com
- Dan Battat, Holyoke, MA – Glassware http://www.battatglass.com
- Larry Benjamin, Tobyhanna, PA – Wood furniture http://www.sagamorechair.com
- David Benyosef, Somerville, MA – Blown glass http://www.BenyosefGlass.com
- Peter Bowe, Stratford, CT – Wildlife sculpture
- Megan Brogden, Wilton, CT – Wearables http://www.meganbrogdenstudio.com
- Sue Brown Gordon, Greenfield Center, NY – Jewelry http://www.gordonfinearts.org
- James Brunelle, New Brittain, CT – Raku ware http://www.stepstothetemple.com
- Seth Carlson, Collegeville, PA – Jewelry http://www.sethmichaelstudio.com
- Diana Cesaro, Avon, CT – Wearables http://www.diana-by-design.com
- Gerard Conti, Milford, MA – Home accessories http://www.kleardesigns.com
- Nancy Dietlin, Norwalk, CT – Pet accessories http://www.hoadin.com
- Patricia DiSantis & Rich Borden, East Haddam, CT – Silk scarves http://www.facebook.com/shibumisilks
- Linda Doucette, Millville, PA – Felt art http://www.lindadoucette.com
- Forrest Doyle, West Hartford, CT – Cutting boards http://www.woodbyforrest.com
- Tegan Frisino, Glens Falls, NY – Weavings http://www.comfortclothweaving.com
- Wayne Gao & Michelle Chang, Rowland Heights, CA – Mixed media
- Lisa Jane Grant, Cumberland, Maine – Jewelry http://www.lisajanegrant.com
- Karen Hibbs, New Haven, CT – Mixed media glass http://www.hibbsartglass.com
- Nicole Hughes, Pawling, NY – Serving ware http://www.nikitafineart.com
- Katherine Hutton, Somers, CT – Woven neckwear http://www.kmhutton.com
- Mary Jaeger, Brooklyn, NY – Wearables http://www.maryjaeger.com
- Peter Jones, Camden, ME – Ceramics http://www.pjcaver.com
- Ilona Kaim, Brooklyn, NY – CE http://www.ceramisu.com
- Diane & Ed Kenny, Mountaindale, NY – Wearables http://www.clozs.com
- Heather Kidson, Westwood, MA – Silk wearables
- Drew Klotz, Weston, CT – Kinetic sculpture http://www.DrewKlotz.com
- Beverly Leo, Manchester, CT – Fiber handbags http://www.etsy.com/sho/fussynotions
- Kathy Litchfield, Warwick, MA – Weavings http://www.firecrowhandwovens.com
- Dawn Lombard, Milford, PA – Jewelry http://www.DawnLombard.com
- Nancy Marland, Swampscott, MA – Jewelry http://www.nancymarland.com
- Loren Maron, Ossining, NY – Ceramics http://www.lorenmaron.com
- Deolinda Moro, Brookfield, CT – Jewelry http://www.silverstonedesigns.biz
- Nurit Niskala, Londonderry, NH – Jewelry http://www.NuArtJewelry.com
- Erika Novak & Drew Darley, New Britain, CT – Ceramics http://www.instagram.com/roundtripclayworks
- Ursula Perry, Shokan, NY – Mobiles http://www.woodstockmobiles.com
- Christine Peters, Damariscotta, ME – Jewelry http://www.christinepetersjewelry.com
- Susan Pillay, New York, NY – Baby wearables http://www.susanpillay.com
- Irene Pluntky-Goedecke, New York, NY – Jewelry
- Dahlia Popovits, Boston, MA – Wearables http://www.dahliahandmade.com
- Marcia & Carla Press, Troy, NH – Hats http://www.meshugenahhats.com
- Lisa Pribanic, Tenafly, NJ – Garden chimes http://www.bellflowercreations.com
- Michael Radigan, Pittsford, NY – Glass wares http://www.facebook.com/concordartglass.com
- Monica Rak, New Haven, CT – Wearables http://www.pjcamtel.com
- Heidi Robb & Pete Benson, Ann Arbor, MI – Wood puzzles http://www.cherryarbordesign.com
- Melissa Rocklen, Jamaica Plain, MA – Mobiles http://www.rocklendesigns.com
- David Rosenberg, Fairfield, CT – Found object lamps http://www.another-bright-idea@weebly.com
- Marty Schwartz, Wrentham, MA – Leather bags
- Kathleen Scranton, Coventry, CT – Book purses http://www.beezbyscranton.com
- Lanni Sidoti, Armonk, NY – Jewelry http://www.JewelrybyLanni.com
- Bounkhong Signavong, Secaucus, NJ – Wearables http://www.laodesignonline.com
- Chloe Sikirica, Hastings-On-Hudson, NY – Ceramics http://www.chloesikirica.com
- Janet Sikirica, Dobbs Ferry, NY – Felt wearables http://www.janetsikiricafiberarts.com
- Martha Simpson, Windsor, CT – Silk wearables Instagram: MarthabS14
- Jim Sprinkle, Charlottesville, VA – Turned wood http://www.maderabowls.com
- Virginia Stevens, Cranston, RI – Jewelry http://www.virginiastevensdesigns.com
- Richard & Lolita Trincere, Sunnyside, NY – Beaded bags
- Lydia Tucci, Norwalk, CT – Jewelry http://www.lydiatucci.com
- Cindy Walsh, Framingham, MA – Outerwear http://www.redroverclothing.com
- E. Douglas Wunder, Kutztown, PA – Jewelry http://www.edouglaswunder.com
- Jonathan Zamet, Babylon, NY – Ceramics http://www.jonathanzametpotter.com
Click here to learn more about Bruce Museum: https://brucemuseum.org
Photos (1st Gallery) by Pam Grunow
Photos (2nd Gallery) by Scott Smith, Bruce Museum
Writing by Eric Taubert