May 2016 update: The Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair will take place on May 13-15th 2016 (i.e. this weekend!) on Rittenhouse Square in Center City Philadelphia. Saturday afternoon and Sunday look to be the best days weather-wise. Come on down!
Here’s my review of the first Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair held on Rittenhouse Square in 2013.
Today was one of those days when I’m especially patting myself on the back for insisting suggesting that we sell our house in the Philadelphia suburbs and downsize to an apartment on Rittenhouse Square. Today was the first day of the three day Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair, being held for the first time on the Square in partnership with the Friends of Rittenhouse Square and with the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department.
This gathering of 140 artisans sponsored by the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen is bittersweet for me. The twice yearly Fine Art Show on Rittenhouse Square was one of my father’s favorite events. An artist and art teacher, even until shortly before we lost him at age 84, Dad would spend hours working his way around the Square, chatting with the artists at each booth and inevitably running into old friends and former students. He would have loved the work and the vibe I experienced today.
Each artisan has a booth dedicated to his or her craft. Items ranging in price from $10 to thousands of dollars are for sale, but the event easily stands on its own as a fine craft exhibition even if one is not looking to buy (although, obviously, purchases are very welcome). Fine crafts in the following ten media are represented: clay and ceramics; fiber; glass; jewelry; leather; metal; mixed metal; paper; photography; printmaking and wood.
The show will be open tomorrow (Saturday) from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. and on Sunday, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Today, visitors were clearly enjoying the warm temperatures and the Square. It is finally truly green with flowering azalea bushes and was full of people resting on park benches or on the grass, dogs and their people out for a stroll and accomplished street musicians. Many were dining al fresco both in the Square and at the surrounding restaurants and coffee shops, most of which have outside seating.
Here is a sampling of what you will see if you make your way to Rittenhouse Square this weekend.
If you can’t make it to the Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair on Rittenhouse Square this weekend, you are in luck because the Guild will present another fair at the Square on October 11th through 13th, 2013. You can find driving, parking and public transportation directions at the Guild’s website along with suggestions for other things to do in the area.
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I’m passing this on to my sis-in-law as they have recently moved into the area!
Thanks. It is worth seeing and there are other things to do in the area. If they don’t make it for this Fine Craft Fair, another is scheduled for October.
Unfortunately a bit of a drive from Europe, so I won’t make it :> but looks like a great gathering of things to buy! Such fairs are always a great place to shop and fill your house with nice stuff!
Yes. It might be difficult to get here from Europe by tomorrow, but perhaps you could start planning now to fly (sail) over for the October show. We’d love to have you visit The City of Brotherly Love (and Sisterly Affection).
Great post. We have the same LOVE sign here in Dongguan, China :-).
On the other hand, the trees and flowers in the suburban neighborhood you left behind are just gorgeous this week, and the weather has been perfect for dog walking. (I’m just saying… )
Been there. Done that. 😉
Nice. How did the artists feel about being photographed and “featured”
I asked their permission and gave them my card.
I would have loved to see it this weekend but I have previous commitments.
Lu, I actually thought of you as I walked around. Mark your calendar now for the weekend of October 11th.
And what great weather we had this weekend for it, though I imagine the wind wasn’t helpful. Thanks for sharing this, I wish I would have gone!
I love art shows and have missed the Art in the Park show that the Boise Art Museum holds in early September of every year. Now that I’m moving back, I look forward to it. Whenever I visit new places, I always keep an eye out for these types of shows.
It is always an added bonus when you’re visiting somewhere and find out that your visit has coincided with some unique event/festival/fair/parade that they have there. Maybe someday, I’ll get it together to actually plan to be somewhere for something.
Hey Suzanne, A great big thank you for the fantastic coverage of Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen’s Fine Craft Show around Rittenhouse Square, it was a great event for us. We sold the lamp featured in your photo of our work early Saturday morning, coincidence? Plus we survived the nearly 40mph wind gusts on Sunday… glad the lamp was gone before then.
Best,
peg and peter saenger
Saenger Porcelain
Newark, DE
See you in October!
Thank you. As I listened to the wind howl, I was thinking that all the canvas on the booths would make excellent sails.
Suzanne, it looks like so much fun. While I’d love to be back east, I do enjoy our little neck of the woods. Our festival season started last weekend and occurs every other weekend during summer. We have musical acts on the courthouse lawn 5 nights a week. It really is delightful. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could clone ourselves to have all these different wonderful experiences.
Thanks, Cathy. Maybe I’m just paying more attention, but it seems that many communities are using festivals to increase civic engagement. I hope you’ll back east and join us one of these days.
The Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen returns to Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square with its second annual May fine craft fair, May 10, 11, & 12. This event brings 145 fine craftsmen from across the country and Canada to downtown Philadelphia. It is free and open to the public. Hours are Friday, 11 am – 7 pm; Saturday, 11 am – 7 pm; and Sunday 11 am – 5 pm. Philadelphia jeweler Rona Fisher is one of 145 craftsmen at this weekend’s Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen Fine Craft Fair. The event runs May 10, 11 & 12 in Rittenhouse Square. It is free and open to the public. Hours are Friday, 11 am – 7 pm; Saturday, 11 am – 7 pm; and Sunday 11 am – 5 pm.
I’m not sure those dates are correct. May 10th is a Saturday and May 12th is a Monday in 2014.
Beautiful things!
And inspiring. Sharing a table at a crowded restaurant here in Guanajuato one night, I found myself sitting with a quilting group. They invited me to join them. (I’ve never quilted and barely sew.) It would be a cool thing to learn if I ever get my Spanish up to snuff…
Beautiful 🙂
I’ve always wanted to see this popular art festival, it looks amazing!
That quilt is amazing and messes with the eyes.
Lucky you!
I had an artist friend in PA who always tried to get me to attend, will try to do it this fall. Thanks for the reminder, Suzanne.
Marcia, please let me know if you make it in October. We live right on Ritrenhouse Square and I’ d love to meet you in person.
Eye candy for days!! And lucky you just has to walk across the street and voila!
I’m always fascinated by what people can make by hand in the artistic sense, Suzanne. It takes such a steady hand and patience! 🙂
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