Be There When Music Fills the Air at the Celebration of Craft
klykins@tntech.edu
Office of Communications & Marketing
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (March 24, 2010) — Plan now to spend Saturday, April 10, at the 12th Annual Celebration of Craft hosted by TTU’s Appalachian Center for Craft overlooking Center Hill Lake near Smithville. The Celebration is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free.
Bring the family and enjoy hands-on craft projects for kids, live music, craft demonstrations, fine craft sales, a silent auction, gallery discounts, and more.
The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Appalachian Center for Craft of Tennessee and supports educational outreach programs serving thousands of children in the Upper Cumberland.
“We invite the community and region to enjoy a range of experiences from craft demonstrations, live music, hands-on craft activities for kids, to unique shopping opportunities, gallery discounts and a silent auction,” said Gail Gentry, FACCT outreach coordinator. “Admission to the Celebration is free and the event will occur regardless of weather conditions.”
Experience artists working in the Craft Center’s professionally equipped studios during the narrated craft demos in blacksmithing, ceramics, fibers and textiles, glass blowing, metalsmithing and woodworking.
Take in the wonderful musical offerings by Gypsy Pompe, a contemporary jazz swing band, will perform 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and The Ballinger Family Band takes the stage from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. The music is sponsored by TTU Center Stage.
Children of all ages have the opportunity to participate in hands-on craft projects including, handbuilding with clay, photograms, stamping and dyeing fabric scarves, and tiny tot necklaces. Projects are led by Craft Center students with assistance from community volunteers. These hands-on opportunities are sponsored by Wal-Mart.
And, back by popular demand is Build-a-Bowl for Habitat for Humanity. Visitors may hand build a ceramic bowl and donate it to Habitat for Humanity. The bowls will be glazed and fired by the Craft Center and then presented to the local Habitat group for use in the fall’s Cooking on the Square event. Build-a-Bowl is sponsored by Synergy Mind Body Fitness Studio.
The FACCT Silent Auction, displayed in Gallery One, offers a wide selection of art and fine craft available for bidding. The work generously contributed to the auction is produced by Craft Center and regional artists and proceeds directly support the Craft Center’s art outreach programming.
Take a moment to stop by FACCT’s art advocacy and information booth and thank your state legislators for their support of arts activities and programming in Tennessee. The booth will be located in the lobby and offers commemorative event T-shirts, aprons, tote bags, and hand-marbled silk scarves for sale – all sales go toward the outreach programs.
“The Celebration of Craft is the perfect event to highlight the incredible art resources available to the community through the Craft Center and a variety of other regional arts organizations,” said Karla Clarke, FACCT president and general manager of the Marriott Fairfield Inn & Suites in Cookeville. “This year, in addition to the wonderful array of things to do and see, information about events and programs will be available from groups including, Off The Beaten Path, Highland Rim Chapter of the Tennessee Association of Craft Artists, Upper Cumberland Arts Alliance, and the Art Prowl.”
The Gallery at the Craft Center is one of the premier retailers of fine craft in the Southeast and offers 10 percent discounts to all visitors the day of the celebration. TTU employees receive 20 percent off.
The Visual Arts Society, TTU’s student art organization, invites you to visit its annual spring sale of new work during the Celebration of Craft. Items range from jewelry, pottery, hand-blown glass, textiles, woodwork, and more.
The walkway café, the on-site restaurant at the Craft Center, will be offering a range of options for lunching and munching.
The Appalachian Center for Craft is conveniently located approximately six miles from Interstate 40 at Exit 273 (Smithville/McMinnville). From I-40 take Hwy. 56 South; turn left immediately after crossing Hurricane Bridge. This 1.2 mile drive leads to the Craft Center parking lots and facilities.
For information about the 2010 Celebration of Craft and the educational outreach programs, call 931-372-3051 or visit www.tntech.edu/craftcenter.
