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ACV News Room
Want to share some news, or simply read a few quick news flashes? Either way this is a good place to begin. Our web site is extensive and has lots of fine images and a wealth of details concerning our standing programs, but our News Room is the way to encounter the latest news effecting Virginia's fine craft artisans. Use the category filter button above to search for our latest news postings concerning your primary interest area. For example, use the "County" category to filter news about specific localities. We encourage you to send news to us concerning your city, village, or county. You need not be a member. Our job is to report the craft news concerning Virginia. So, let us know about news worthy efforts in your part of the Commonwealth such as new and important web sites, shows, exhibitions, grants, and outreach efforts. Between our News Room and our weekly electronic Light Table newsletters we think you'll quickly learn to value the work we're doing to reach a growing target audience. To make a News Room submission, or sign up for Light Table, please contact, news@artisanscenterofvirginia.org today--they're both free!
Pam Monger is multi-talented. She is a biology instructor at Blue Ridge Community College, and a quilt maker with a studio called Pieces of the Valley. From time to time Pam opens her studio to the public and other artisans by invitation. During a recent exchange Pam said, "Some of our friends lived in China for several years. While there, Jean Life fostered a relationship with some jewelry designers. On May 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, Jean set up her jewelry display in my studio. Jean specializes in saltwater and freshwater pearls, but also carries agate, amber, onyx, lapis, coral, crystals, fluorite, jade, malachite, quartz, tiger's eye, and turquoise. The pieces are lovely and she has quite a following." Pam has opened her studio in the past and will again this month, "During our show last autumn, we also invited a stained glass artist, Rhonda Meredith, a wreath designer, Paula Pucket, and a fine woodworker, Jim Smith. Our studio will be open May 31st this year when Elkton holds its 2nd Annual Chili Cookoff. It was a huge success last year and the word is that it will be bigger this year. Little did we know that there are folks that travel this great nation going from chili cook off to chili cook off." Editor's Note: To discover more about Pam please visit Pieces of the Valley. A quick Google search for 'Chili Cookoff' yielded the International Chili Society which lists similar area events such as the Waynesboro Chili Blues and Brews District Chili Cookoff and the Virginia State Chili Cookoff.
May 15 is the last chance to apply to be part of a new exhibition--so you must act soon. Elizabeth Moss, Director of Programs and Exhibitions posted a new web page this week to explain the nature of this particular exhibition which will take place in the new state gallery Waynesboro from July through September. There is no jury fee! Inclusion in the exhibition is free. You can not ask for much more to get your work placed in a fine gallery setting and have the opportunity for it to sell. Please click here to read a note from Liz Moss, and to download the exhibition application. Please click here to read a note from the executive director Michael Dowell to find out why the Alleghany Craft Network represents an important moment in Virginia. A note from Stephen: A free listing in the Alleghany Craft Network directory is not an application for the exhibition. Those listed in the directory must also submit an exhibition application with additional images to the Waynesboro address by May 15th. You do not need be a member of the Artisans Center to participate in the free listings, or the free exhibition. The Artisans Center has indicated they will do their best to place as many pieces as possible in the exhibition based on space constraints. This is a great opportunity, so please take full advantage and act soon.
In a recent phone conversation with Kim Clanton he spoke about his hand-blown glass work. During the chat Kim also mentioned that his work recently received some notable praise in the form of being included in the 2008 Journal, New Glass Review 29. The journal is part of an annual series published by the Corning Museum of Glass (CMOG). Certainly the ratio of applications to acceptance letters underscores Kim's pleasure of being included in the new book. Tina Oldknow is the Curator of Modern Glass at CMOG and wrote, "A total of 921 artists and companies from 42 countries sent 2,600 images of their work for consideration." Ms. Oldknow said the jury met in November 2007 and describes a review and selection process that would sound familiar to artisans who submit slides to juried craft shows. She goes on to state, "Because only 100 pieces are published in the Review, the selection is very rigorous. I was happy to inform Kim that one of his pieces was selected by the jury for inclusion in New Glass Review 29." Violet Wilson, Administrative Assistant of the CMOG Curatorial Department indicates that the new review is being printed in Germany now and should be available in late May 2008. To see other titles available from the museum please visit the Corning Museum of Glass web site. To see a sample of Kim's glass work see his listing in the Augusta County section of the Alleghany Craft Network directory.
A beautiful book, Rockbridge Artists & Artisans has the Rockbridge County area covered "lock-stock-and-barrel" which, according to the authors means that, "everything is taken care of." The phrase emerges from the tradition of making the American Longrifle. This book is an historical accounting of 18th & 19th Century fine art and craft and includes chapters on gun making, textiles, furniture, pottery, ironwork, quilts, and much more. The book is sure to appeal to those with a fine library and an appreciation of history and well wrought handwork. Rockbridge Artists & Artisans is co-authored by Barbara Crawford and the late Royster Lyle, Jr. and is a fine hardback publication which includes color and B&W photographs. Ms. Crawford is a Professor of Art & Art History at Southern Virginia University and a fine artist whose paintings can be seen at Nelson Fine Arts Gallery, a cooperative gallery in Lexington. At the time of publication of the book she served on the Board of Governors of Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, and is a member of the Advisory Board for the Artisans Center of Virginia. The book Rockbridge Artists & Artisans was published in 1995 by the University Press of Virginia, Charlottesville. To take a look inside the book Google one of the online services such as Amazon.com. And be sure to click here to ...Read more
Peggy Shifflett owns and runs Cottage Curio, an Appalachian arts and crafts store which features workshops and demonstrations ... including traditional cooking. Dr. Peggy Shifflett is also an author and retired Professor of Sociology and Chair of Sociology and Anthropology at Radford University. Her book the "The Red Flannel Rag" received the 2005 Elmer Lewis Award for the preservation of Shenandoah Valley folk lore. While Peggy's store is located in Salem, her family is from Hopkins Gap, Virginia located 15 miles Northwest of Harrisonburg. That puts her stories squarely in the rural area of the Alleghany Craft Network. Peggy tells us, "I have brought together a historical view of the use of crafts in rural Appalachian life by chronicling my childhood experiences in two books as well as by opening a shop that carries the crafts made by modern-day Appalachian crafters. The Red Flannel Rag: Memories of An Appalachian Childhood describes life in Hopkins Gap in the late 19th and early 20th century when crafters were an important part of everyday survival. In my second book, Mom's Family Pie: Memories of Food Traditions and Family in Appalachia, I devote a full chapter to the "tools" of cooking, many of which were hand made. I describe and picture the "sauerkraut stumper" and "apple butter stirrer" carved from poplar wood among many other tools for survival that we now consider crafts. My book pictures the stages in repairing a chair with white oak splits starting with the tree to the finished product. I wanted to bring these crafters to life again in my store. I carry reproductions of many of the crafts that I grew up with in Hopkins Gap, Virginia. Once a month, I invite a traditional Appalachian cook to my store to make a recipe from my second book, Mom's Family Pie. You can find wash stands, jelly cabinets, rag rugs, and hand made baskets in my store, Cottage Curio in Salem." Click here to read Peggy's blog and learn more about her work including her calendar of events at Cottage Curio. ...Read more
Karen Brown, a graduate of James Madison University, learned to make baskets while living in the mountains of western Virginia. Karen says, "I have been making baskets and teaching basket classes for the last twenty-five years. After over thirty years of teaching elementary school grades 1-7 and facilitating the gifted and talented students in the Aspire Program* in the Alleghany Highlands, I retired to spend more time pursuing other endeavors. I am now able to spend more time collecting grapevine, honeysuckle, twigs, bark and other pliable materials to weave my creations while overlooking the beautiful Allegheny Mountains. I use Alleghany County black walnuts to stain the basketry and a coating of linseed oil to provide a protective coat to the reed." Karen who is inspired by nature divides her time between family, friends, gardening, the Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center (AHACC), and teaching and creating baskets. She says, "We have many interesting classes being offered at the AHACC in the next few months. Of course, I think the basket classes will be most interesting and fun. I am offering two opportnities to make each basket on the list. All the materials and tools will be provided. You only need to bring a bag lunch." To receive a complete list of basket classes please contact Karen at karen.s.brown@gmail.com. Look for Karen's listing and an image of her work in the Alleghany Craft Network directory. To find out about other classes being offered in Clifton Forge at the AHACC write to ahartcraft@ntelos.net, or call 540-862-4447. Editor's note: In a follow-up conversation, Karen added, "The Aspire program was an all day pull out program for Alleghany County's identified gifted students in grades 4-7. It was a very exciting program and wonderful for the students who needed to be stretched and challenged." Contact the Alleghany County Public Schools web site for more.
Not too long ago Claudia and Walter Wittmann moved to Staunton from Atlanta. The couple are both talented in their own way and are now listed in the Alleghany Craft Network directory. When they first moved to the area Claudia was invited to teach a class the Valley VoTech School in Fishersville. The subject matter concerned her plaster renovation work. Licensed in Switzerland for this trade, she now does occasional repair work on interior ornate plaster for friends. In an ongoing exchange about her needlework Claudia writes, "Maybe Fine Fiber Arts would best describe what I do now. I specialize in knitted lace, shawls, stoles , tablecloths, etc., but can filet crochet, make sweater, socks, etc. I also have started to design some patterns and will do repair work if I can figure out the pattern, for crochet items as well as knitting. You may want to look at my flicker account to see some of the pieces that I have done. One of my favorite pieces which I have kept for myself is 'Springtime Shawl' (pattern by Marianne Kinzel)." Walter adds, "We bring our Swiss heritage and craftsmanship to Helvetica Designs specializing in custom-designed furniture since 1995. Claudia and I have lived and worked on projects in New York City (1989-90). Atlanta (1990-2000), and Staunton, Virginia 2000-present). I have been a licensed joiner for over 23 years including four years as an apprentice in Switzerland. While in Atlanta I collaborated with students who attended the Portfolio Center . Students continue to present their furniture design concepts to me and I help them materialize their concepts. I am also listed in a new firm as an associate at Circle Design Studio, LLC of Staunton."
As we begin our approach toward two important deadlines, the online Directory has exceeded a new milestone of 190 listings. Once the last submissions are processed in the summer and word is broadcast across the country about the final installment we are confident that those seeking craft will use the resource. Click here to read what people are saying about the work in progress. Deadlines: If you have not yet obtained your free listing in the online Directory, or applied to the special exhibition please act soon. The exhibition deadline is May 15, and the listing deadline is midnight, July 1. For details, please call 434-978-4109, or write to network@artisanscenterofvirginia.org. And don't forget, participants qualify for a registration discount to the Artisans Center of Virginia's first annual conference which occurs April 25-27.
Please click here for a recent article with images about the Maple Festival that occurs over a two weekend period in Monterey, Virginia. The event includes many family activities including multiple locations for pancake breakfasts, crafts, and more. Editor's note: If you know of an upcoming festival you would like to see listed in the Alleghany Craft Network directory please contact us. The nine counties included in the project include: Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Botetourt, Craig, Highland, Roanoke, Rockbridge and Rockingham. The deadline for inclusion in the Directory is July 1. However, the special exhibition for artisans has a submission deadline of May 15. |
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