Stowe Foliage Arts Festival Highlights American Craft Week

When ​autumn​ ​approaches,​ ​that’s​ ​when​ ​the​ ​craft​ ​festival​ ​season​ ​begins​ ​in​ ​earnest.​ ​Craftproducers​ ​​ celebrates​ ​American​ ​Craft​ ​Week​ ​in​ ​Vermont​ ​with​ ​​ 41st^{​ ​​}​ ​Annual​ Stowe Foliage Arts ​Festival​. ​The show​ ​will​ ​be​ ​held​ October 11-13 ​at Topnotch Field on the Mountain Road, Route 108, in Stowe, Vermont. It’s a rain or shine event: several large heated tents will house all the exhibits.

According​ ​to​ ​organizers​ ​of​ ​American​ ​Craft​ ​Week,​ ​“While​ ​other​ ​industry​ ​associations​ ​have​ ​long​ ​touted their ​ ​products,​ ​the​ ​craft​ ​industry​ ​has​ ​lacked​ ​a​ ​single​ ​way​ ​to​ ​be​ ​highly​ ​visible.​ ​Crafts​ ​enrich​ ​our​ ​homes,​ ​wardrobes,​ ​offices​ ​and​ ​public​ ​spaces.​ ​​ ​The crafts industry​ ​contributes​ ​to​ ​our​ ​nation’s​ ​economy​ ​and​ ​the​ ​fabric​ ​of​ ​our​ ​national​ ​history.​ ​Craftwork​ ​is original,​ ​beautiful​ ​and​ ​enduring.” As​ ​one​ ​craft​ ​artist​ ​put​ ​it,​ ​”this​ ​is​ ​the​ ​creative​ economy!” 

The ​ Stowe show​ ​features​ ​175​ ​artists​ ​and​ ​artisans​ ​displaying​ ​and​ ​selling​ ​traditional​ ​and​ ​contemporary crafts ​ ​and​ ​original​ ​art​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​a​ ​specialty​ ​food​ ​section.​ The exhibitors are a fascinating group of people. “Meet the artists! Hear their stories! And buy their work!” says producer, Tim Cianciola. In fact many customers start and finish their holiday gift buying at the show.

​While​ ​craft​ ​shopping,​ ​customers​ ​are​ ​delighted with great food, live music, and Vermont craft beers served by Idletyme Brewery, all inside a heated dining tent.    

Besides​ ​savoring​ ​Vermont​ ​food​ ​and​ ​drink,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​many​ ​craft​ ​demos.​ ​​Craftproducers​ ​​is​ ​proud​ ​to feature Matt Brown, currently residing in Lyme, NH and New Haven, VT, ​as​ ​one​ ​of​ ​its​ ​demonstrating​ ​exhibitors.  Matt explains, “I have been working the craft of color woodblock printmaking since January, 1993. Spending time with Japanese prints in my home, visiting Japanese prints at the homes of friends and neighbors,  at museums, and through books, was largely how I learned in the early formative years.” Brown uses the hanga method: (Hanga is woodblock printing using water as a medium). Festival-goers can witness Brown at work in his booth, actually creating original pieces.

Also, in the Japanese vein, Vermont potter, Richard Foye brings his mesmerizing Raku demonstration to the Festival. Another demo involving fire will feature Harry Besett, a glassblower from Hardwick, VT. Last but not least, Jeffey Gale, will be hard at work crafting amazing traditional wood baskets, treasured by serious collectors..                   

In a nutshell,​ ​the Stowe Foliage Arts​ ​Festival​ ​will​ ​be​ ​held​ ​ ​October​ 11-13 ​ ​at Topnotch Field. ​Hours​ ​are​ ​10-5​ ​daily,​ ​Friday​ ​through​ ​Sunday.​ ​Adult​ ​admission​ ​is​ ​$10,​ ​children​ ​are​ ​free.​ ​Rain or​ ​shine-inside​ heated Camelot tents.​ ​​ ​Free​ ​parking.​ ​No​ ​pets. ​ ​Complete​ ​information​ ​is​ ​available​ ​at Craftproducers.com.

CONTACT:​ ​​Tim​ ​Cianciola​ ​802-316-5019 ​or​ ​tim@craftproducers.com

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