January 17, 2019
WAYNE >> Wayne Art Center will host Craft Forms 2017, the International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Crafts, from Dec. 8, 2017 − Jan. 27, 2018. This eagerly anticipated exhibition is dedicated to enhancing the public’s awareness of fine contemporary craft while providing a venue for established and emerging artists to share their creative endeavors. Craft Forms is internationally recognized as one of the premiere contemporary craft exhibitions brought to the Philadelphia region for over 23 years. The finest works of ceramics, wood, fiber, metal, glass, mixed medium and 3D printing are featured, supporting the Center’s mission of expanding the public’s awareness of fine contemporary crafts and significantly benefiting all educational and outreach programs for children and adults.
One of the highest museum-quality craft exhibitions in the United States, Craft Forms consistently draws upward of 5,000 visitors during its two-month exhibition. More than 250 guests, including art collectors, supporters of Wayne Art Center and the Craft Forms 2017 juror and artists who have traveled as far as Taiwan, will celebrate the opening of this annual exhibition and companion show at the Craft Forms Preview Party on Friday, Dec. 8, 2017 from 6 to 10 pm. The exhibitions and special events continue to attract local, regional, national and international visitors throughout the duration of the show.
Craft Forms’ status as a fine craft exhibition grows each year in large part due to the expertise of the acclaimed jurors. Nora Atkinson, the Lloyd Herman Curator of Craft of the Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, is this year’s Craft Forms Juror. A seasoned curator, published writer and respected lecturer, Atkinson selected a collection of 96 pieces of artwork by 94 artists from 780 artwork submissions by 429 artists representing metal, glass, ceramics, fiber, wood, digital and mixed media by artists from around the world.
“We are honored to have Nora Atkinson’s involvement this year. Her endorsement is greatly valued by all of those involved in the execution of this highly anticipated exhibition that celebrates the diversity of so many talented contemporary craft artists around the world,” said Nancy Campbell, executive director and founder of Craft Forms.
Wayne Art Center also will present this year’s companion show, Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Women in Glass, curated by Dr. Arlene Silvers. A glass educator and collector extraordinaire, Silvers is best known for her glass curatorial efforts with the National Liberty Museum in Center City. Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Women in Glass will run concurrently with Craft Forms and will feature over 75 works by over 22 invitational glass artists. The exhibition will survey female glass artists, from the “Grand Dames” of the ’70s to the “Young Turks” of the 21st century, and will show many achievements of women working with glass, from the male-dominated Studio Glass Movement of the 1960s to the present.
In addition, Vidinghoff Gallery will feature Patrick Lee’s “Excursions” that will explore pushing the painting abstraction in his work through color, shapes and drawings. The Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Outer Gallery will highlight Wayne Art Center faculty member, Val Rossman and her students in a show of paintings titled “Exploration/Inspiration/Abstraction.”
Wayne Art Center acknowledges the sponsors and patrons for their generosity and support of Craft Forms. Presenting sponsors are West Laurel Hill Cemetery and Funeral Home, Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, First Priority Bank and Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass.
After the opening night, the Craft Forms Juror’s Lecture by Atkinson will discuss how she selected the 96 works, define where craft has been in the past and explain how materials and technology are playing a significant part in the creation of emerging and established craft artists’ works. Curator for Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Women in Glass, Dr. Arlene Silvers, will speak about why she chose the artists and their work for this invitational glass exhibition. The Juror and Curator Lectures and Meet the Artists Talk from Craft Forms and Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Women in Glass will speak about their work in the shows, as well as their artistic backgrounds, on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, from 1 to 4 p.m. The Lectures and Meet the Artists Talks are free and open to the public.
Gallery hours are Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information, phone 610-688-3553 or visit www.wayneart.org and www.craftforms.org.
On Friday, Dec. 8, from 6 to 10 p.m., enjoy an evening with the Craft Forms Juror, International Artists, Patrons, Business Sponsors, Board, Committee Members and Guests to celebrate the much anticipated Craft Forms 2017 and the glass exhibition of Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Women in Glass. Live jazz by Dave Posmontier, specially mixed martinis, delicious wines by Little Black Dress, and culinary delights by Jimmy Duffy’s Catering will create a lively atmosphere with over 250 attendees. For tickets, call 610-688-3553 or purchase on line at www.craftforms.org. Tickets range from $75 to $500.
On Saturday, Dec. 9, from 1 to 4 p.m., listen to Nora Atkinson and Arlene Silvers and selected craft artists from around the United States discuss the Craft Forms and Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Women in Glass works and the artists behind the creations.
On Wednesday, Jan. 10, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., join the select few to experience two private Center City residences that rival museum-quality glass collections. Owners will discuss their glass collections and how they acquired the works over their lifetimes. A private lunch will be included at a fine dining restaurant in Center City.
On Thursday, Jan. 18, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., join 56 guests for a sit-down four-course dinner prepared by Jimmy Duffy’s Catering. Each plate will be paired with wines to compliment the cuisine and a well-known sommelier will discuss the selected wine during each course. During the evening, world renowned glass artist, Toots Zynsky, recipient of the 2017 James Renwick Alliance Masters of the Medium Award, will discuss her distinctive heat-formed filet de verre (glass thread) and how her work inhabits an interweaving of painting, sculpture and decorative arts. Live entertainment will complete the candlelit evening.
World renowned Ries sculpts glass cold by cutting, grinding and polishing monolithic forms from optic crystal. Wayne Art Center will be selling $10 raffle tickets until Jan. 18 when the lucky name will be drawn at the wine pairing dinner. The lucky winner will receive the Ries glass sculpture valued at $5,700.
Emily Bell of Slow Food Philadelphia presents The Art of Eating: A lecture and dinner, “Le Pâquis” featuring food and stories from M.F.K. Fisher’s written works. On Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., join 30 guests to hear Emily Bell discuss the forerunner to Julia Child, M.F.K. Fisher. A tasting of cuisines from M.F.K Fisher’s book will be the delight of the evening.
The Wayne Art Center is located at 413 Maplewood Avenue in Wayne, Pennsylvania. For further information, call 610-688-3553 or visit the website at wayneart.org.