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 White Plains, NY - The Westchester Craft Show, a national leader among juried contemporary American craft shows, returns to the Westchester County Center in White Plains for its 16th year on October 16-18.
For this one weekend, the County Center turns into a huge and wondrous art boutique, where a select group of American artists exhibit and sell couture art-to-wear, exquisitely designed furniture and high-style decorative accessories. Many of the items sold at the Westchester Craft Show are one-of-a-kind or limited edition pieces.
"We are delighted to once again put art lovers in touch with the world of American fine craft," said Betsy Kubie, founder of Crafts America LLC, and organizer of the show. "This is a great time to shop America's best and to celebrate the creative genius of our nation's most talented artists. Area residents have an exclusive opportunity to purchase from artists whose work is represented in major public and private collections. These top artists travel from all over the U.S. to present their collections to this sophisticated and savvy marketplace for only one weekend a year."
Every artist at this event has been selected from a highly competitive pool of established and emerging craft artists by a panel of distinguished judges. Highly trained in the traditions of skilled craftsmanship and techniques, these contemporary artists adapt new technical ideas into their work and create beautiful and original finished pieces.
This year the show features 20 jewelry artists, 18 clothing artists, 14 ceramic artists, 8 furniture designers, and 8 fiber decorative artists, as well as more than 40 other artists who create extraordinary works in glass, leather, mixed media, metal, wood, paper and basketry.
On Friday, October 16, show attendees will have the opportunity to hear two special guest speakers. This year's talks, included in show admission, will have a current and very relevant eco-friendly theme.
At 11:30 a.m., ceramic artist Dan Finnegan, whose woodland studio is located in Fredericksburg, VA, will speak about how he uses green techniques and recycled materials in the creation of his functional ceramic pieces.
At 1:30 p.m., Susan Cozzi, an ASID interior designer based in West Palm Beach, FL, will discuss the concept of "slow design," which she describes as "a true and deliberate design philosophy." Cozzi encourages her clients to decorate their homes with furnishings made by artists who use natural or recycled materials from the U.S.
Crafts America LLC, of Greens Farms, CT, has been a top independent presenter of craft shows nationally since 1987. In addition to the Westchester show, the company organizes two other prestigious shows each year, one in Washington, DC, and the other in West Palm Beach, FL.
Sponsors of the Westchester Craft Show are Hudson Valley Magazine, Westchester Magazine, Westchester Home, AmericanStyle and American Craft.
Admission to the Westchester Craft Show is $12 for adults and $10 for senior citizens. Show hours are Friday, October 16, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, October 17, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, October 18, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Westchester County Center is located at the intersection of Routes 119 and 100 at the Bronx River Parkway, exit 5 off I-287, within easy walking distance of the White Plains train station. Further show information is available by calling Crafts America at (203) 254-0486, the Westchester County Center at (914) 995-4050 or by visiting www.craftsamericashows.com.
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