January 27, 2019
Craft Forms Preview Party 2018 MLMN – PDF
Ideas, shapes and sizes take form at Wayne Art Center
By Joan Bang
For Digital First Media RADNOR>>
While downtown Philadelphia and its environs has a wealth of art museums, schools that teach the subject and patrons dedicated to either procuring more works to view or making sure that what’s already established is fully safeguarded, there’s a place along the Main Line that’s just as well established and cared for. It’s named the Wayne Art Center (WAC) and has been around since the Great Depression hit the USA.
Though it arose through humble beginnings, it sure has grown since then — in more ways than one.
Now housed in a tucked away spot off of Maplewood Avenue right beside the Radnor Trail (with easy on/off access for walkers to pop in and see an exhibit), WAC has become a “jack-of-all trades” for those who want to experience the satisfaction that comes from viewing not only what others are producing in art forms but also what they could be indulging in as well.
What’s intriguing about WAC is that it isn’t just about paintings that hang on walls but the myriad of ways in which to express one’s visual creativity. From ceramics to clothing and paintings to pottery, this center has it all.
Another aspect that’s appealing to those who frequent the establishment is its top notch kitchen center where anyone from kiddies to grannies can come and immerse themselves in learning how to update their culinary cuisine talents.
For several years, the center has held a winter “wonderland” of creativity titled Craft Forms. Artisans from around the country, along with a few from other parts of the globe, arrive to show their unique pieces of art made out of glass, wood, iron, metals and fabrics. Also on display and “ripe for the picking” when it comes to holiday gifts are precious and semi-precious pieces of jewelry.
The 24th annual Craft Forms runs through Jan. 26, featuring 109 works in ceramic, wood, fiber, metal, glass, mixed media and 3D printing.
A preview party was held Dec. 7, with guests enjoy ing heav y hors d’oeuvres, martinis, live entertainment and a silent auction.
As winter wends its way to spring, WAC ramps up its initiatives with classes and workshops that can drive away the “blues,” giving the “greens” of spring and the Plein Air Festival more thoughts.
