Wayne Art Center is excited to announce the 28th anniversary of CraftForms, the International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Fine Craft and its’ 14th annual companion show, InGrained: Furniture, Sculpture and Woodturning by Pennsylvania Artists. The exhibitions will be open from December 2, 2023 through January 20, 2024.
Dedicated to enhancing the public’s awareness of fine contemporary craft, CraftForms 2023 provides an exquisite venue for established and emerging artists to share their creative endeavors with the Wayne Art Center community and the greater Philadelphia area. The exhibit features artists from 29 states and four countries, including Nigeria, Taiwin, Mexico and Israel. Works include basketry, ceramics, decorative fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, paper, wearable art and wood. With the guidance of a growing list of esteemed jurors, CraftForms has received notable recognition from the broader craft culture, both nationally and abroad.
Wayne Art Center is delighted to welcome juror Jean McLaughlin, the former Director of North Carolina’s Penland School of Craft. As a life-long advocate for artists, McLaughlin is currently exploring her own creative voice and giving back as a volunteer, consultant, writer and curator.
In conjunction with CraftForms 2023, Wayne Art Center will host InGrained, an exhibition showcasing works by 24 exceptional Pennsylvania artists, including loaned works by master craftsmen Wharton Esherick and George Nakasima. Curator Mark Sfirri is a highly regarded furniture maker, wood sculptor, and the former Director of Bucks County Community College’s Fine Woodworking Program. InGrained will be on view in the Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Gallery.
Also on display in the Vidinghoff Lobby Gallery will be Attraction to Abstraction, Wayne Art Center’s annual juried exhibition of large abstract works. Juror Marianne Mitchell has shown works nationally and internationally, and is currently on the faculty at Wayne Art Center.
The success of CraftForms 2023 is made possible through the dedicated efforts of the CraftForms Committee and the support and generosity of local business sponsors, patrons, and event attendees. Funds raised benefit Wayne Art Center’s diverse array of arts education, outreach and exhibition programs for individuals of all ages, incomes and abilities.
CraftForms 2023 Schedule of Events
CraftForms 2023 Preview Party
Friday, December 1, 6-9 pm
CraftForms’ Juror & InGrained
Curator’s Talk & Meet the Artists
Saturday, December 2, 1-4 pm
Holiday Shopping Weekend
Friday, December 8, 5-8 pm,
Saturday, December 9, 10 am-5 pm
Sunday, December 10, 11 am- 4 pm
Mira Nakasima Lecture
Wednesday, December 13, 5:30-7 pm
Woodturning Demo with Janine Wang
Saturday, January 6, 2024 1-2:30 pm
InGrained Lecture with Mark Sfirri & Miriam Carpenter
Wednesday, January 10, 2024, 5:30-7 pm
WAYNE ART CENTER ANNOUNCES FALL EXHIBITIONS AND ART PROGRAMS
Wayne Art Center is brimming with activity this fall as eight new exhibitions grace the galleries and nearly 200 classes, workshops, demos, lectures and tours will be offered to adults, teens and children. From September 10 through October 7, the prestigious annual Faculty Exhibition will feature the work of over 70 Wayne Art Center faculty members and workshop instructors in drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, mixed media, jewelry and photography in the Davenport Gallery. In addition, the 2nd National Open Juried Philadelphia Pastel Society on display in the Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Gallery will include 70 invited works created by artists throughout the United States.
(C.A.M.P.F.I.R.E.S.O.N.G. Song By Eva Hozinez)
From October 16 through November 11, visitors can enjoy three impressive exhibitions. The 2023 Wayne Art Center Members’ Fall Juried Exhibition will highlight over 100 of our most talented members’ work in the Davenport Gallery. This exhibit will be accompanied by Philadelphia/Tri-State Artist Equity’s 74th anniversary juried exhibition, For the Love of Art in the Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Gallery. A third exhibition, located in the Vidinghoff Lobby Gallery, will include a selection of photographic images from Healing Visions, Meg Boscov’s recent book that explores nature as a source of healing and spirituality. Exhibition receptions are scheduled for October 25 and October 29 and a November 11 artist talk will be open to the public.
(Shifting Light by Abby Ober)
The final exhibitions of the year include CraftForms 2023, the 28th International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Fine Craft, InGrained: An Exhibition of Pennsylvania Furniture, Sculpture and Woodturing and Attraction to Abstraction. From December 2 through January 20, 2024, CraftForms 2023 will showcase an eclectic collection of museum-quality work by established and emerging artists in the Davenport Gallery. InGrained will showcase work by 22 exceptional Pennsylvania artists, as well as loaned works by master craftsmen Wharton Esherick and George Nakashima in the Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Gallery. Attraction to Abstraction will feature large abstract paintings by WAC’s adult students and community members in the Vidinghoff and art center lobby galleries.
In addition to these incredible exhibitions, adult, teen and children’s arts education classes will be offered in a variety of mediums, including drawing, painting, pastel, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, photography, stained glass, mixed media, jewelry and culinary classes. Numerous workshops, lectures and tours are also on the schedule. Fall adult classes start Monday, September 18, and the Youth and Teen programs begin on Monday, October 3.
Since its founding in 1931, Wayne Art Center, a non-profit organization, has been dedicated to enriching the community through the arts. Wayne Art Center remains steadfast in its mission to afford artists and the broader community an interdisciplinary venue to explore, share and learn, while fostering a sense of community for arts education and appreciation.
Come see why Wayne Art Center is considered the Best Art Gallery and Best Art Instruction by readers of Main Line Media News. Check out the spacious and naturally lit studios, elegant art galleries, beautiful gardens and Gallery Shop. For further information, please visit wayneart.org.
WAYNE ART CENTER CELEBRATES THE MYSTERY OF BEAUTY THROUGH RECENT PAINTINGS BY PAUL DUSOLD
WAYNE, PA – September 1, 2022 − Wayne Art Center will present an exhibition of recent paintings by artist Paul DuSold opening with a gallery reception from 3-5pm on October 16. This exhibit will remain on view through November 12, 2022.
Set in the grandeur of the art center’s Davenport Gallery, Endymion’s Dream – The Mystery of Beauty will include more than fifteen life-size paintings created by DuSold as an expression of an artist’s relationship to the inspiration of beauty. The theme of this work is connected to the mythological figure of Endymion [pronounced: en-DIM-ee-uhn], a shepherd, and his love for Diana, the goddess of the moon. About this series DuSold shares “It is the theme of our human need to transcend separateness through artistic
expression of love and the eternal mystery of beauty.”
The human figure plays a vital role in the work found in this exhibition. The artist states that he develops each painting starting with the visual relationship of the figure in its pose with respect to the placement of other figures and within the overall composition of the painting paired with a painter’s respect for light, color, shape and value. DuSold’s appreciation for the history of the nude figure in Western Art is undeniable. About these works, he considers the figure to be a metaphor within the paintings whereas the female figure represents the majesty of natural beauty and the male figure represents the artist’s creative experience and the search for expression through art. An interview with the artist that touches on the challenges of developing figures within the landscape, the progression of this series and the metaphor within these works can be found online with Main Line Television and on the art center’s website. Visit: Endymion’s Dream The Mystery of Beauty by Paul DuSold , Philadelphia Artist on Vimeo.
Paul DuSold is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. He is a representational, figurative painter whose subjects include still-life, portrait, figures and landscape. He teaches painting and drawing at the Woodmere Art Museum and the Fleisher Art Memorial. An artist’s gallery talk at Wayne Art Center is scheduled for Saturday, October 22nd at 11am in the Davenport Gallery. Registration is required. For information about enrolling, visit wayneart.org or call the art center. There is a $5 registration fee for this event. Registered WAC members attend free of charge.
The art center is pleased to feature its annual Fall Members Juried Exhibition in the Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Gallery, as well as Seasons of Light and Verse – Photography and Poetry – An Exhibition by Paul F. Page and d.c. page in the Vidinghoff Lobby Gallery while DuSold’s works are on view in the Davenport Gallery. Wayne Art Center invites the community to stop in Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm, and Saturday 9am-4pm to view these unique and impressive exhibitions. Entry to WAC’s galleries is free and open to the public though a $5 donation is suggested. Artwork is available for purchase. For more information about exhibitions, classes and workshops, please visit wayneart.org.
Wayne Art Center Fall 2022 Art Classes Begin September 19
Classes are Filling Quickly
Enrollment is Still Open
Wayne, PA – September 9, 2022. Wayne Art Center is proud to announce the opening of the Fall 2022 Session for adults, youth, and teens. After several years of limited scheduling, Wayne Art Center is featuring a robust roster of classes and exhibitions. If you would like to brush up on your skills, or learn something new, we offer classes in a variety of mediums for all levels; including drawing, painting, pastel, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, photography, stained glass, mixed media, jewelry, culinary and more. If you are short on time or want to focus on a specialized technique, we offer workshops presented by Wayne Art Center’s talented and committed faculty. Our experienced instructors are ready to guide you through the creative process to reach the next level. Don’t wait too long as classes are filling up quickly. Both in-studio and online classes begin Monday, September 19.
Wayne Art Center’s Youth and Teen program opens October 26 and includes drawing, painting, ceramics, and culinary classes presented by our talented and nurturing faculty. Children and teen workshops are open for enrollment too!
Come see why we were voted “Best Art Center” and “Best Art Instruction” by the readers of Mainline Media News and “Best Art Gallery” by Main Line Today Magazine. Check out our spacious and naturally lit art studios, our elegant art galleries, beautiful gardens and Gallery Shop, the perfect place to find that unique gift. Visit the Wayne Art Center and enjoy the Best of the Main Line. For further information and detailed class descriptions, www.wayneart.org.
To learn more about the Wayne Art Center Fall 2022 classes, workshops, exhibitions, and upcoming events please visit www.wayneart.org or call 610-688-3553.
WAYNE ART CENTER ANNOUNCES RICH AND DIVERSE EXHIBITIONS FOR FALL 2022
WAYNE, PA – September 6, 2022 − Wayne Art Center cordially invites the community to visit the art center galleries to enjoy WAC’s current exhibitions. Through October 5, Wayne Art Center celebrates three outstanding exhibitions including the prestigious annual Faculty Exhibition in WAC’s Davenport Gallery, Seeing the World Anew – A Fine Art Photography Invitational in the Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Gallery and Sophisticated Simplicity in Watercolor – Paintings by Mick McAndrews & Students in the Vidinghoff Lobby Gallery. A reception for these exhibitions will be held on Friday, September 23 from 5-7pm with complimentary refreshments. This event is free to attend and open to the public. Donations are greatly appreciated.
On view in the Davenport Gallery and online at wayneart.org, the 2022 Faculty Exhibition features the work of over fifty Wayne Art Center faculty and workshop instructors in drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, mixed media, jewelry and photography. Nancy Campbell, Executive Director of the Wayne Art Center acknowledges “We are honored to display the works of our many talented faculty members who teach a variety of classes for all ages and ability levels. Each year, we are amazed at the variety of work created by our faculty and the skill they show. This exhibition is also a great way for students to choose a class based on the style of the work on view.”
In addition, Wayne Art Center is pleased to announce the opening of Seeing The World Anew – A Fine Art Photography Invitational. This breathtaking exhibition in the Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Gallery features the work of six photographers from the Wayne Art Center community as it celebrates local contemporary photography and the joy of “seeing the world.” Exhibiting artists Meg Boscov, Jim Conner, Laura Ducceschi, Jean McKinney, Pam McLean-Parker and Christopher Swisher will be in attendance during the September 23rd reception.
Also on view through October 5th is Sophisticated Simplicity in Watercolor – Paintings by Mick McAndrews & Students. This exhibition explores the magic of watercolor partnered with technique and a reverence for design as found in the work of instructor Mick McAndrews and eleven of his Wayne Art Center watercolor students. McAndrews will conduct a watercolor demonstration in the Vidinghoff Lobby Gallery amidst the work on exhibit on Wednesday, September 28th from 5-7pm. Registration is required.
Wayne Art Center looks forward to exhibitions to follow this fall as well. Set in the grandeur of the art center’s Davenport Gallery, Endymion’s Dream – The Mystery of Beauty will include more than fifteen life-size paintings created by Philadelphia artist Paul DuSold. Through his work, DuSold explores the expression of an artist’s relationship to the inspiration of beauty. An interview with the artist that touches on the progression of this series and the metaphor within these works can be found online with Main Line Television and on wayneart.org.
Beginning in mid-October, the art center is pleased to also feature Seasons of Light and Verse – Photography and Poetry – An Exhibition by Paul F. Page and d.c. page in the Vidinghoff Lobby Gallery and its annual Fall Members Juried Exhibition in the Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Gallery. Philadelphia artist and educator Michael Gallagher servers as juror for this year’s members show. Wayne Art Center invites all to mark their calendars for December 2 for the 27th Annual CraftForms Preview Party. Jeannine Falino, independent curator, museum consultant, lecturer and writer serves as juror for CraftForms 2022 and will award 10,000 in prize awards to exhibiting artists. The ticketed gala event held the first Friday in December will open the art center’s annual international juried exhibition of contemporary fine craft as well as its two companion shows including an invitational exhibition featuring works in which artists combine glass with other mediums as well as Attraction to Abstraction, an exhibition featuring large abstract paintings juried by Stuart Shils.
Visit this fall to experience what artists are making locally, regionally, nationally and internationally at Wayne Art Center to be amazed and inspired.
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Wayne Art Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the community through the arts. Since its founding in 1931, Wayne Art Center has established itself as a vital cultural resource, welcoming artists from all over the world who share their passion and commitment to the visual arts. With a wide range of youth and adult classes and workshops, artist demonstrations and lectures, local, national and international exhibitions, and special events, Wayne Art Center remains steadfast in its mission to afford artists and the broader community an interdisciplinary venue to explore, share and learn, while fostering a sense of community for arts education and appreciation.
Wayne Art Center is located at 413 Maplewood Avenue in Wayne, Pennsylvania. For more information, call 610-688-3553 or visit the website at www.wayneart.org Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9am – 5pm and in the fall, the art center is also open Saturdays, 9am – 4pm.
WAYNE, PA – May 20, 2022 − Wayne Art Center enthusiastically celebrated the return of its annual plein air festival this spring. The 14th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival kicked off Monday, May 9 and continued through Saturday, May 14, 2022. One of the premier plein air events in the country, Wayne Art Center’s 14th Annual Plein Air Festival call for artists, attracted more than 100 entries from painters across the United States, with just 31 artists juried into the festival by year’s juror Kathryn Stats. Traveling to numerous locations within 35 miles of Wayne during the second week of May, artists painted “en plein air” (in the open air/outside) to create work, which is now all on exhibit and for sale to the public. Work from the 2022 Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival will remain on display from May 15 through June 25, 2022.
This year, juror Kathryn Stats came to Wayne from southern Utah. She is a member of Plein Air Painters of America. An award winning artist, she received a Gold Medal in the 2021 Oil Painters of America’s Annual Salon Show. Her paintings have been shown in galleries nationally and internationally and her instructional videos and in-person workshops reach students around the globe. Ms. Stats selected $20,000 in cash awards and presented those awards at the 14th Annual Plein Air Collector’s Preview Party on May 14. While in Wayne, she offered a juror’s demonstration on May 15 and conducted a three-day workshop from May 16 through May 18.
Festival activities began the morning of Monday, May 9 at Willowbrook Farm in Malvern as artists registered and had their canvases “stamped,” to identify each painting produced during the festival. Artists were invited to spend the day at Willowbrook Farm to paint on location among the fields, pathways, courtyard, stone barn, horse stables, spring house, pond and gardens there in Malvern. Throughout the week, artists visited iconic and breathtaking locations in Delaware, Philadelphia, Chester and Montgomery Counties where they captured the natural beauty and character found in and around Wayne, Pennsylvania in their paintings.
About this year’s festival and exhibition, Wayne Art Center’s Executive Director Nancy Campbell shares: “We were pleased to welcome 31 nationally acclaimed plein air artists to Wayne to compete in Wayne Art Center’s 14th Annual Plein Air Festival. It is truly astonishing that 280 paintings were created in just 5½ days as artists captured the essence of our area’s beauty. On Friday, May 13th, painters ventured out to paint the “local treasures” our community is known for. Ardrossan, Chanticleer, Valley Forge Park, and The Willows Preserve are just a few select locations.
Through the generosity of our many friends, volunteers, patrons and business sponsors, the Wayne Art Center’s Plein Air Festival has evolved into one of our community’s most highly anticipated events. Funds raised ensure that Wayne Art Center continues to provide a diverse range of exhibition and arts educational opportunities for individuals of all ages and abilities.”
Wayne Plein Air has become an exciting, annual tradition in Wayne. Community support of this event comes in many forms. From serving as an artist’s host to hands-on help with the exhbition itself, Wayne’s Plein Air Festival is an engagement with community in every way. Many residents opened their homes to the visiting painters who took up temporary residence in the area. Regarding hosting an artist during the festival, Plein Air Festival Chair Deb Craley claims “To be a part of the global Plein Air art movement and to support one of the top US festival venues at the Wayne Art Center has been a most gratifying expereince. Hosting an accomplished artist who has survived a vigorous selection process not only deepens one’s involvemnet in the event, but also provides insights into the lives and passion these artists have for their work.”
The festival and its artists are supported by the efforts of the art center’s Plein Air Festival committee in invaluable ways during festival week as well as during the opening event. Donations from local businesses and individual sponsors make Wayne Plein Air possible. Support from generous sponsors not only allows Wayne Art Center to host the festival but contributes to the organization’s outreach, educational and exhibition programs year round. PNC Private Bank is the presenting sponsor of the 14th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival & Exhibition.
Local artists participated too! In this year’s Plein Air Community Paint Out, 27 artists who are 18 and older and of all skill levels created paintings in and around Wayne from May 9-12 and then delivered those paintings for inclusion in the Plein Air exhibition. Young artists will also paint en plein air at Wayne Art Center on June 4 in this year’s plein air pizza box event.
The festival week concluded with a Collectors’ Preview Party & Sale on May 14th where guests had the opportunity to meet the artists in a festive and elegant setting and purchase artwork before the exhibition opened to the general public. All work created by the 2022 Plein Air Artists as well as paintings by this year’s Community Paint Out artists are currently on view and open to the public. Visitors are welcome to the Wayne Art Center Galleries through June 25. A $5 donation for guests is suggested for visitors.
2022 Wayne Plein Air Artists
Best in Show Poetry in Bloom by Cynthia Rosen of Vermont
1st Place Morning in Manayunk by Tim Kelly of Maryland
2nd Place Tennis Court Garden by Edmond Praybe of Maryland
3rd Place Dessert First by Valerie Craig of Pennsylvania
Wayne Art Center Award Farm by Charlie Hunter of Vermont
Plein Air Magazine Half-Page Award Pasture by Henry Coe of Maryland
Plein Air Magazine Quarter-Page Award Glen Mills Station by Neal Hughes of New Jersey
Best Local Treasure Award Ardrossan Farm by Mick McAndrews of Pennsylvania
Best Nocturne Award Evening by David Lussier of New Hampshire
Best Depiction of Light Award Willowbrook Backlight by Christopher Leeper of Ohio
Best Street Scene Award L.K. Burket & Bro. by Troy Tatlock of Wisconsin
Best Water Feature Award Little Trickle by Charles Newman of New Jersey
Best Architecture Award Cold Day at Train Station by Quiang Huang of Texas
Method Lights Award Cellar Door by Marc Anderson of Wisconsin
Vasari Award Barnlight by Beth Bathe of Pennsylvania
JFM Enterprises Frames Award Sunrise Song by Barbara Berry of Pennsylvania
SourceTek Award Brandywine Landscape by Brain Keeler of New York
Winsor Newton Award Down Under by Ken Karlic of Maryland
Golden Artists Colors Award Bucket of Truth by Randall Graham of Pennsylvania
Gamblin Award Shed Willowbrook Farm by Thomas Buchs of Wisconsin
Rosemary & Co. Award Knox Headquarters by Eileen Eder of Connecticut
Jullian Easle Award Sweet Comfort by Kathie Odom of Tennessee
Raymar Award Willowbrook by Alison Menke of Puerto Rico
Blick Award 1 Lukens Steel by Fred Jackson of Pennsylvania
Blick Award 2 Lawn Chairs in a Tub by Allen Kriegshauser of Missouri
Blick Award 3 Meet Me at the Coop by Elise Phillips of Pennsylvania
Blick Award 4 Cheesesteak & Swiss by Antwan Ramar of Florida
Merion Art & Repro Award Valley Creek Bridge by J. Stacy Rogers of Delaware
Ampersand Award Giants of the Forest by Palden Hamilton of Maryland
Panel Pak Award Latchford Hall by John Slivjak of Pennsylvania
Jack Richeson & Co. Award Flood Damage by Sam Wyatt of Vermont
About Wayne Art Center:
Wayne Art Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the community through the arts. Since its founding in 1931, Wayne Art Center has established itself as a vital cultural resource, welcoming artists from all over the world who share their passion and commitment to the visual arts. With a wide range of youth and adult classes and workshops, artist demonstrations and lectures, local, national and international exhibitions, and special events, Wayne Art Center remains steadfast in its mission to afford artists and the broader community an interdisciplinary venue to explore, share and learn, while fostering a sense of community for arts education and appreciation.
Wayne Art Center is located at 413 Maplewood Avenue in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 9am-5pm and Saturdays 10-4. A contribution of $5 to view the 14th Annual Plein Air Exhibition is suggested.
Wayne Art Center 14th Annual Plein Air Festival Schedule of Events
Saturday, June 4; 1-2:30 pm *Pizza Box Plein Air: Children ages 6-11 gather in Wayne Art Center gardens to learn about the plein air method and create their paintings, using pizza boxes as easels.
Tuesday, June 7; 6-8:30 pm *French Provincial Dinner: Register online at wayneart.org to attend a French culinary workshop with Chef Patrick Gauthron and explore Seafood Bouillabaisse-Pear, Endive and Walnut Salad and Chocolate Fondant and Gelato.
Thursday, June 9; 5-7 pm *Art Night Out: Join WAC for a Happy Hour among the Plein Air galleries.
Plein Air 2022 Artist Demos:
Wednesday, May 25; 5-7 pm *Demo with Mick McAndrews
Wednesday, June 1; 5-7 pm *Demo with Valerie Craig
Wednesday, June 8; 5-7 pm *Demo with Elise Phillips
Wednesday, June 15; 5-7 pm *Demo with Randall Graham
May 15- June 25 *The Plein Air Exhibition remains on view.
Video by John Thornton
26th Annual CraftForms Holiday Shopping Weekend
October 2, 221 — Wayne Art Center presents its annual Holiday Shopping Weekend Friday, December 10 5-8pm , Saturday, December 11, 10am to 5pm and Sunday, December 12, 10am to 3pm. More than 20 local artisans and merchants showcase distinctive and original crafts as visitors shop and enjoy a variety of culinary delights. Wayne Art Center’s Gallery Shop features more than 100 artists who create jewelry, apparel & accessories, home décor in wood, glass, textiles and wax, as well as unique gifts, cards and books.
Shoppers will also enjoy Craft Forms 2021,26th International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Craft, one of the premier contemporary fine craft exhibits in the United States. Featuring 93 works in ceramic, wood, fiber, metal, glass, mixed media and 3D printing, Craft Forms 2021, attracts nearly 5,000 visitors each year. This year’s companion show, The Process of Becoming- The Jewelry Collection of Carolyn L.E. Benesh, features one hundred pieces from Carolyn’s personal collection and celebrates a love of the handmade object while exploring the relationship between collector and artist. Attraction to Abstractions features abstract paintings by current Wayne Art Center embers and will hang in the Vidinghoff Lobby.
Wayne Art Center is located at 413 Maplewood Avenue in Wayne, PA, and offers 30,000 square feet of state-of-the-art, fully accessible facilities, beautiful gardens, free private parking and an adjacent five-mile trail, all within walking distance of public transportation.
For more information about Craft Forms 2021 or The Process of Becoming – The Jewelry Collection of Carolyn L.E. Benesh!, visit www.craftforms.org.
Schedule of Events
CraftForms 2021 Preview Party December 3; 6-9pm
CraftForms Meet the Artists & Juror’s Talk &
Process of Becoming Talk December 4; 1pm
CraftForms 2021, The Process of Becoming &
Attraction to Abstraction Exhibitions December 4, 2019-January 29, 2021
Holiday Shopping Weekend December 10-12
Wayne Art Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching our community through the arts. Since its founding in 1930, Wayne Art Center has established itself as a vital cultural resource, welcoming artists from all over the world who share their passion and commitment to the visual arts. With our wide range of youth and adult classes and workshops, artist demonstrations and lectures, local, national and international exhibitions, and additional unique events, Wayne Art Center remains steadfast in its mission: to afford artists and the broader community an interdisciplinary venue to explore, share and learn, while fostering a sense of community for arts education and appreciation.
Wayne Art Center is located at 413 Maplewood Avenue in Wayne, Pennsylvania. For more information, call 610-688-3553 or visit the website at www.wayneart.org.
CraftForms 2019, 25th International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Fine Craft
WAYNE ART CENTER CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF CRAFTFORMS
WAYNE, PA – August 1, 2019 – Wayne Art Center is pleased to announce the 25th Anniversary of CraftForms, one of the premier contemporary craft exhibitions in the United States. This year’s companion shows, Westward Ho! A Look at Contemporary Craft from the Southwest and Attraction to Abstraction, a collection of abstract paintings from Wayne Art Center artists, round out the Center’s exciting exhibition season, with all works on display from December 6, 2019 – February 1, 2020.
CraftForms is dedicated to enhancing the public’s awareness of fine contemporary craft and has evolved from a modest exhibition of local craft artists to a broadly recognized exhibition that draws talent from all over the globe. Acclaimed for its ability to attract both emerging and established artists as well as highly esteemed jurors, CraftForms showcases the best of contemporary craft in a region richly known for its “craft capital”.
This year, Wayne Art Center welcomes Juror Jane Milosch, Executive Director, Smithsonian Provenance Research Initiative in the Office of the Under Secretary for History, Art, and Culture, Smithsonian Institution. Ms. Milosch selected 88 works from an international pool of 700 entries in ceramics, wood, fiber, metals, glass, mixed media, works on paper, and 3D print technology. CraftForms’ status as a fine craft exhibition continues to grow, in large part, under the expertise of the acclaimed jurors aligned with the show.
Westward Ho! A Look at Contemporary Craft from the Southwest, features work from artists residing in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming. Curator, Gail M. Brown has assembled a diverse collection of works that both echo and interpret craft history and celebrate current issues and technology.
Attraction to Abstraction features abstract paintings by current Wayne Art Center members.
Schedule of Events
CraftForms 2019 Preview Party – December 6, 6-9pm CraftForms Meet the Artists & Juror’s Talk – December 7, 1pm
WestwardHo! Meet the Artists & Curator’s Talk – December 7, 2:30pm
CraftForms2019, WestwardHo! & Attraction to Abstraction Exhibitions – December 7, 2019-February 1, 2020
Holiday Shopping Weekend – December 14 & 15, 10am-5pm
Collectors Panel – January 11, 1-3pm
Designer Open House – January 17, 5-7pm
Patron Wine Pairing Dinner – January 23, 6-8 pm
Wayne Art Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching our community through the arts. Since its founding in 1931, Wayne Art Center has established itself as a vital cultural resource, welcoming artists from all over the world who share their passion and commitment to the visual arts. With a wide range of youth and adult classes and workshops, artist demonstrations and lectures, local, national and international exhibitions, and special events, Wayne Art Center remains steadfast in its mission: to afford artists and the broader community an interdisciplinary venue to explore, share and learn, while fostering a sense of community for arts education and appreciation.
Wayne Art Center is located at 413 Maplewood Avenue in Wayne, Pennsylvania. For more information, call 610-688-3553 or visit the website at www.wayneart.org or www.craftforms.org.
WAYNE ART CENTER HOSTS ANNUAL SHOPPING WEEKEND
WAYNE, PA – November 1, 2019 — Wayne Art Center presents its annual Holiday Shopping Weekend Saturday, December 14, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sunday, December 15, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. More than 30 local artisans and merchants showcase distinctive and original crafts as visitors shop and enjoy a variety of culinary delights. Wayne Art Center’s Gallery Shop features more than 100 artists who create jewelry, apparel & accessories, home décor in wood, glass, textiles and wax, as well as unique gifts, cards and books.
Shoppers will also enjoy Craft Forms 2019,25th International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Craft, one of the premier contemporary fine craft exhibits in the United States. Featuring 90 works in ceramic, wood, fiber, metal, glass, mixed media and 3D printing, Craft Forms 2019, attracts nearly 5,000 visitors each year. This year’s companion show, Westward Ho! A Look at Contemporary Craft from the Southwest, features work from artist residing in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming. Attraction to Abstractions features abstract paintings by current Wayne Art Center embers and will hang in the Vidinghoff Lobby.
Wayne Art Center is located at 413 Maplewood Avenue in Wayne, PA, and offers 30,000 square feet of state-of-the-art, fully accessible facilities, beautiful gardens, free private parking and an adjacent five-mile trail, all within walking distance of public transportation.
For more information about Craft Forms 2019 or Westward Ho!, visit www.craftforms.org.
Schedule of Events
CraftForms 2019 Preview Party December 6; 6-9pm
CraftForms Meet the Artists & Juror’s Talk December 7; 1pm
Westward Ho! Meet the Artists & Curator’s Talk December 7; 2:30pm
CraftForms2019, Westward Ho! &
Attraction to Abstraction Exhibitions December 7, 2019-February 1, 2020
Holiday Shopping Weekend December 14 & 15; 10am-5pm
Wayne Art Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching our community through the arts. Since its founding in 1930, Wayne Art Center has established itself as a vital cultural resource, welcoming artists from all over the world who share their passion and commitment to the visual arts. With our wide range of youth and adult classes and workshops, artist demonstrations and lectures, local, national and international exhibitions, and additional unique events, Wayne Art Center remains steadfast in its mission: to afford artists and the broader community an interdisciplinary venue to explore, share and learn, while fostering a sense of community for arts education and appreciation.
Wayne Art Center is located at 413 Maplewood Avenue in Wayne, Pennsylvania. For more information, call 610-688-3553 or visit the website at www.wayneart.org.
WAYNE, Pa (CBS) – Many families live, work and learn here along the Main Line. CBS3’s Vittoria Woodill had the chance to visit one of the places where people are able to learn not only about art but about themselves.
Joy by definition is the feeling of great pleasure. As you wander around the sun filled classrooms of the Wayne Art Center, you can tell by the focus of the student artists that working on their artistic skills isn’t exactly work at all.
“So many people find so much pleasure and satisfaction in being a part of this community,” Wayne Art Center executive director Nancy Campbell said.
It’s a community filled with passion to bring light to as many art mediums as possible.
No matter your age or skill level, the people at the Wayne Art Center make you aware of your inner artist.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Kitty McQuaid, Marketing and Communications Manager
610-688-3553 kitty@wayneart.org
WAYNE ART CENTER WELCOMES THIRTY-TWO ARTISTS TO 13TH ANNUAL WAYNE PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL
WAYNE, PA – April 15, 2019, − The 13th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival kicks off Saturday, May 13 and continues through Sunday, May 18, 2019. One of the premier plein air events in the country, Wayne Art Center’s 2019 Plein Air Festival call for artists, attracted more than 100 entries from painters as far away as California, with only 32 individuals juried into the festival by year’s juror Joe Paquet. Traveling to numerous locations within 25 miles of Wayne over five days, artists swiftly paint “en plein air” (outdoor painting) to create a trove of work, which is then placed on display and for sale to the public. Work from the 2019 Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival is on display May 20 through June 29, 2019.
“The vast, picturesque landscape and vibrant community I’ve previously experienced during Wayne Art Center’s Plein Air Festival offer an extraordinary opportunity for plein air painters,” says Joe. “The talent of those who apply to the event consistently is among the most impressive I’ve encountered. It was a challenging process for sure, but those selected are truly exceptional.” Mr. Paquet comes to Wayne from St. Paul, Minnesota, is an emeritus member of The Plein Air Painters of America, and is a highly acclaimed plein air artist himself.
Festival activities begin Monday, May 13 as artists arrive at Wayne Art Center to register and have their canvases “stamped,” identifying the paintings produced during the festival. Then, it’s off to outdoor locations ranging from the Naval Yard to Chanticleer Gardens to Valley Forge and anywhere in between. On Monday afternoon an artist can be found painting Boathouse Row then Tuesday that same artist might work along the Willistown countryside. “There is just so much to paint in this region!” explains Tim Kelly, 2018 Wayne Plein Air “Best In Show” winner, who was invited to participate again this year. “I enjoy painting architecture and cityscapes, while my counterparts visit area gardens to focus on flora, or venture out in search of landscapes and bodies of water. So not only do we artists enjoy an abundance of subject matter to choose from, the result is an enormous body of work that appeals to a diverse audience.”
Wayne Plein Air has become an exciting, highly-anticipated annual tradition in Wayne. Many residents open their homes to the visiting painters, who take up temporary residence in the area. In 2018, more than 100 local businesses and individual sponsors donated more than $120,000 in support of Wayne Plein Air, which not only allows Wayne Art Center to host the festival but contributes to the organization’s outreach, educational and exhibition programs year round.
For the 2019 Wayne Plein Air Festival, organizers set out to involve more members of the community than ever before. “One of our goals with this year’s festival is to educate even more of the community about the art of plein air painting and offer opportunities for artists of all ages to become part of the festivities,” explains Nancy Campbell, executive director of Wayne Art Center. “With the help of our dedicated and engaged Plein Air Planning Committee, we have scheduled more community-targeted events than ever before, including paint-outs for teens and children, led by our experienced faculty; artist workshops and demonstrations with highly-regarded artists; and exciting culinary events hosted by chefs from popular local restaurants. I have no doubt this will be one of our most successful plein air festivals yet!”
In years past, Wayne Plein Air Festival artists have produced more than 250 new paintings during the festival week. The festival concludes with a Collectors’ Soirée and Sale where guests have the opportunity to meet the artists in a festive and elegant setting and purchase artwork before the general public. The trove of work derived from the juried artists and community events is displayed at Wayne Art Center and remains for sale to the public May 20 through June 29. The exhibition is free and open to the public.
2019 Wayne Plein Air Artists
Marc Anderson, WI
Natalia Andreeva, FL
Beth Bathe, PA
Barbara Berry, PA
Lon Brauer, IL
Michele Byrne, PA
Valerie Craig, PA
Mary Ellen Goetz, PA
Palden Hamilton, MD
Qiang Huang, TX
Neal Hughes, NJ
Shelby Keefe, WI
Brian Keeler, NY
Tim Kelly, MD
Douglas Kingsbury, PA
Jim Laurino, CT
Patrick Lee, PA
Christopher Leeper, OH
Georganna Lenssen, PA
David Lussier, NH
Mick McAndrews, PA
Charles Newman, NJ
Abby Ober, MD
DK Palecek, WI
Elise Phillips, PA
Kari Ganounr, Ruiz, NY
Jason Sacran, AR
Mark Shasha, MA
George Van Hook, NY
Jill Stefani Wagner, MI
Stewart White, MD
Tara Will, MD
About Wayne Art Center:
Wayne Art Center has been enriching the cultural needs of the community since 1930. From its modest beginnings as the first art center on the Main Line, the Center has grown into a dynamic nonprofit organization, providing instruction in all phases of the visual and performing arts.
Nearly 500 classes and workshops are offered annually to more than 4,000 students of all ages and abilities. Wayne Art Center’s high caliber and committed faculty support the fine reputation the Center has achieved through the years. The galleries at Wayne Art Center attract more than 35,000 visitors a year for exhibitions, lectures, and special events.
2019 Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival Schedule of Events
*Events marked with an astrix are open to the public for registration and would be appropriate for your calendar listings as well as editorial coverage.
Sundays, April 28 and May 5; 10 am–3 pm each day
*Teen Paint-Out: Artists ages 12-17 gather at designated locations to paint plein air under the guidance of a Wayne Art Center instructor. Teen art is collected and placed on display at Wayne Art Center during Plein Air Exhibition (May 20-June 29).
The Willows Park (April 28)
David’s Episcopal Church (May 5)
Monday, May 13; 7 am
Artist Registration: The 13th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival kicks off as the 32 accepted artists arrive at Wayne Art Center to have their canvases stamped and officially become part of the festival during this high-energy event.
Monday, May 13– Saturday; May 18
13th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival: Artists paint within 25 miles of Wayne. Wayne Art Center will announce a social media promotion that encourages the community at large to look for Plein Air artists as they are painting in the area and “tag the artist” using their Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Monday, May 13; 6–8 pm
Artist Welcome Dinner at Willowbrook Farm: Festival artists, sponsors, volunteers, and board members come together to celebrate the artists’ arrival and enjoy a casual but festive evening getting to know each other.
Wednesday, May 15; evening
Art Intake 1: Artists deliver their earliest festival paintings to Wayne Art Center and, exhibition installation begins.
Friday, May 17; evening
Art Intake 2: Artists bring their final festival paintings to Wayne Art Center, and exhibition installation concludes in time for Saturday’s Collectors’ Soiree and Sale.
Contact: Joyce Prichard
Phone: 610-213-6968
E-mail: joyce@wayneart.org
WAYNE ART CENTER’S HONORS STRING ORCHESTRA PRESENTS “AN EVENING OF MUSIC FOR STRINGS”
Wayne, PA, March 26, 2019 – Wayne Art Center’s Honors String Orchestra presents a concert on Monday, April 8, 7:30 p.m. at Wayne Art Center, 413 Maplewood Avenue, Wayne, PA. The performance is free and open to the public.
Under the direction of conductor and Wayne resident Joyce S. Prichard, music will include a Handel Concerto Grosso , Prelude by Gerald Finzi, Variations on Greensleeves, Holst’s Song Without Words, Toccata by Eberlin, and Allegro Moderato from Symphony No. 3 by Saint-Saëns.
Wayne Art Center Honors String Orchestra is comprised of talented young adult string players who auditioned for selection. Students from Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, Haverford High School, Harriton High School, Jack Barack Hebrew Academy, Marple Newtown High School, Radnor High School, Archbishop Carroll High School, Upper Merion School District, and St. Joseph’s Preparatory School were selected for the advanced performing group.
For information about summer auditions for the 2019 – 20 Wayne Art Center Honors String Orchestra, contact joyce@wayneart.org.
3 Foodie Events to Put on Your Calendar This February
Girl Scout Cookie pairings and romantic Valentine’s Day events are must-dos this month.
BY KEN ALAN
Valentine’s Day Date Night at Wayne Art Center
On Feb. 7 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Wayne Art Center is hosting a Valentine’s Day Date Night, where spouses, partners, friends and solo foodies can enjoy a hands-on cooking demonstration prepared by culinary instructor Karen Bentz. Later, you’ll enjoy a sumptuous four-course dinner (set non-vegetarian menu) paired with pours from Chaddsford Winery.
Preview Party in celebrating the opening of Craft Forms 2018 and the opening of CAST: Art & Objects Exhibition. Enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, chocolate delights, signature martinis, fine wines and live music.
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.
Wayne Art Center turns to nature for inspiration
Summer is the perfect time to disconnect from devices and reconnect with the outdoors. Now in its 35th year, Wayne Art Center’s 2019 Summer Arts Camp offers a wide range of classes to do just that!
This year’s theme, Nature and Art: Connecting with Our World, invites artists ages 3 to 16 to explore the world around them for creative inspiration. Each week, campers investigate new habitats and the art they have inspired to create their own unique pieces that reflect their discoveries.
With nearly 200 classes to choose from, parents can tailor the camp experience for their child.
Grouped by age, campers are presented with a variety of media as they build skills in drawing and painting, ceramics, collage, sculpture, jewelry making, fashion design, photography and more!
Nestled in Wayne along the Radnor Trail and home to seven of its own gardens, Wayne Art Center offers an ideal location for outdoor exploration, while light-filled, air-conditioned classrooms provide safe and comfortable surroundings for campers.
There is no limit to the exciting opportunities students can expect. Campers enrolled in Welcome to the Jungle week might learn about rainforests and study works by Henri Rousseau before sculpting an elephant from clay or painting a trio of tropical birds. During Magnificent Mountains, jewelry students might study precious gems and stones before creating their own wearable art, while younger students explore Paul Cézanne’s work before constructing their own volcanoes.
“Our team of educators establishes the weekly themes, then each teacher applies his or her expertise and vision to develop unique projects that encourage students to experiment, take creative risks and enjoy the art process while engaging their imaginations,” says Nancy Campbell, executive director for Wayne Art Center. “Offering so many classes throughout summer inspires our faculty to dig deep as they work to keep repeat campers engaged and differentiate projects to meet each artist at their individual level.”
Additional options like Creative Drama and Summer Stage allow campers to develop confidence, enhance reading skills and practice public speaking. Culinary classes emphasize hands-on learning through engaging activities such as storytelling and games and educate students about healthy food choices, nutritional facts
and food hygiene.
“In addition to learning how to cook and handle food, students strengthen math skills through measurement, as well as reading and time management skills as they follow and prepare various recipes,” explains Chef Birgit Eichinger. “Cooking is one of the most important life skills a child can develop, and to do it in a fun, relaxed environment is a wonderful gift parents can provide their children.”
On Friday each week, campers are encouraged to invite friends and family to an exhibition at Wayne Art Center, where the artists share their work from the week and celebrate their accomplishments.
For more information about Wayne Art Center’s 2019 Summer Art Camp, visit www.wayneart.org or call Tessa Downs, children’s programming director, at 610-688-3553 ext. 208.
WAYNE ART CENTER CELEBRATES THE ARTISTIC TALENTS OF RADNOR TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS THROUGH EXPRESSIONS OF RADNOR
WAYNE, PA – January 15, 2019 − Wayne Art Center presents Expressions of Radnor, an annual exhibition that showcases the talent of Radnor residents in all media, on view from February 19 through March 16, 2019. Awards will be presented by juror Stephanie Lieberman during the Opening Reception on Sunday, February 24, from 3 to 5 p.m., where visitors are invited to meet the artists and observe the works. The Opening Reception and Exhibition are free and open to the public.
Stephanie Lieberman is an award-winning landscape and animal painter, and a graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. She enjoys wide gallery representation throughout the United States and has been featured in numerous publications including American Art Collector and Atlanta Style & Design.
“Expressions of Radnor is one of my favorite exhibits at Wayne Art Center, because it lets us connect directly with Radnor artists and brings members of our immediate community together to celebrate them,” says Nancy Campbell, executive director of Wayne Art Center. “Because our large, light-filled galleries present work so beautifully, many artists enter Expressions in Radnor year after year. It’s exciting to see how artists grow and work changes over time.”
Expressions of Radnor is open to all artists who are legal residents of Radnor Township. Artists are eligible to submit up to two pieces of original artwork in any medium, including oil or acrylic painting, watercolor, pastel, photography, printmaking, mixed media, ceramics, stained glass or sculpture. The entry fee is $10.00 per piece and covers administrative and installation costs.
Artists should drop off entries at Wayne Art Center on Friday, February 8 from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm or Saturday, February 9 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. For more information or to receive a prospectus please call Wayne Art Center at 610.688.3553 or visit the website at www.wayneart.org/exhibitions.
Established in 1930 as the first art center on the Philadelphia Main Line. Wayne Art Center offers instruction for all ages in the visual, performing and culinary arts. Each year, nearly 5,000 students enroll in 500 classes and workshops, and more than 1,500 children register for our Summer Arts program. We are proud to serve students in the greater Main Line area, including Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties. Our exhibitions, lectures, and gallery shop attract more than 15,000 visitors annually.
Experience Fine Contemporary Craft from Around the World without Leaving the Main Line
Depending on your own experiences, the word “crafting” might conjure a multitude of images. Perhaps you remember the holiday ornaments you made as a child, or the first macaroni necklace your son brought home from preschool. Both are valid works of art with indeterminable value. But fine crafters take a naked piece of wood, a tattered sheet of metal or even a collection of discarded plastic toys, and after hours, weeks or even years or manipulation, create fine works worthy of international recognition.
For the 24th year, Wayne Art Center brings Craft Forms, one of the premier contemporary fine craft exhibits in the United States, to the Main Line. 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. Featuring 109 works in ceramic, wood, fiber, metal, glass, mixed media and 3D printing, Craft Forms, attracts nearly 5,000 visitors each year.
Craft Forms’ status as a fine craft exhibition continues to grow, in large part, under the expertise of the acclaimed jurors aligned with the show. This year, Wayne Art Center welcomes Perry Allen Price, Executive Director, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, as Craft Forms juror. With an extensive background in contemporary craft, serving first as curator of exhibitions and collections for Fuller Craft Museum in Massachusetts, then as director of education for the American Craft Council, Mr. Price was well positioned to select the pieces that comprise this year’s Craft Forms exhibit. More than 400 artists submitted works to be juried, from as far away as New Zealand and close to home as Radnor, Pennsylvania.
“We are honored to welcome Mr. Price’s participation this year. His passion for and deep connection to the world of contemporary craft were evident throughout his thoughtful and extensive jurying process and have resulted in what we believe is one of the most unique collections to date. In addition to highlighting artists’ talent, Craft Forms 2018 easily reminds guests of the beauty that transpires when individuals from many backgrounds come together,” said Nancy Campbell, Executive Director and Founder of Craft Forms.
In 2014, Wayne Art Center began adding a second exhibition to run concurrently with Craft Forms. Companion shows have featured functional craft used in everyday life, works of fiber and textile, pieces that incorporate digital and technical processes, and glass. This year’s companion show, CAST: Art & Objects, highlights the omnipresence of cast objects in the world around us and includes more than 80 original works.
Curated by Jen Townsend and Renée Zettle-Sterling, authors of CAST: Art & Objects Made Using Humanity’s Most Transformational Process, the show includes work from 86 contemporary artists who contributed to the book. “We’ve been looking at photos of this work for the past four years, so it was a real thrill to open the boxes and see it in person,” says Townsend, a jeweler and metalsmith originally from Radnor. “Casting has given us everything from statuary to toilets, from bricks to wedding rings – its influence on our world is hard to overstate.”
Three additional exhibits are on display through January 26th at Wayne Art Center. The Vidinghoff Lobby features Geometry in Color, large geometric abstract paintings by local artists; a small works exhibit adorns the walls of the Kitchen Gallery, and WAC faculty member Marlene Adler student prints hang in the Ethel Lobby.
“We are tremendously grateful to the sponsors and patrons for their generosity and support of this year’s Craft Forms exhibit,” says Campbell. “The positive impact of art on people’s lives could not be accomplished at Wayne Art Center without the continued community support of all our sponsors, especially our presenting sponsors, West Laurel Hill Cemetery and Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies.”
Contacts:
Nancy Campbell, Executive Director
610-688-3553 ext. 204
nancy@wayneart.org
Patti Hallowell, Coordinator of Exhibitions
610-688-3553 ext. 211
patti@wayneart.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WAYNE ART CENTER PRESENTS CRAFT FORMS 2018 AND COMPANION SHOWS
WAYNE, PA – November 1, 2018 – For the 24th year, Wayne Art Center brings Craft Forms, one of the premiere contemporary fine craft exhibits in the United States to Wayne, Pennsylvania. 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. Featuring 109 works in ceramic, wood, fiber, metal, glass, mixed media and 3D printing, Craft Forms 2018, attracts nearly 5,000 visitors each year.
Craft Forms’ status as a fine craft exhibition continues to grow, in large part, under the expertise of the acclaimed jurors aligned with the show. This year, Wayne Art Center welcomes Perry Allen Price, Executive Director, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, as Craft Forms juror. With an extensive background in contemporary craft, serving first as curator of exhibitions and collections for Fuller Craft Museum in Massachusetts, then as director of education for the American Craft Council, Mr. Price was well positioned to select the 109 pieces that comprise this year’s Craft Forms exhibit. More than 400 artists submitted works to be juried, from as far away as New Zealand and close to home as Radnor, Pennsylvania. “We are honored to welcome Mr. Price’s participation this year. His passion for and deep connection to the world of contemporary craft were evident throughout his thoughtful and extensive jurying process and have resulted in what we believe is one of the most unique collections to date. In addition to highlighting artists’ talent, Craft Forms 2018 easily reminds guests of the beauty that transpires when individuals from many backgrounds come together,” said Nancy Campbell, Executive Director and Founder of Craft Forms.
Wayne Art Center is equally excited to present this year’s Craft Forms companion show, CAST: Arts & Objects, which highlights the omnipresence of cast objects throughout the world and features 87 original works from contemporary artists and crafts people.
Craft Forms 2018 and CAST: Art & Objects run December 8, 2018 through January 26, 2019. Both exhibits kick-off with exciting events to preview and unveil this year’s astounding collections. Following Craft Form’s opening night celebration, Mr. Price offers a Juror’s Lecture, Saturday, December 8, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., to discuss his selection process and highlight exhibited works. Craft Forms 2018 artists will also share information about their submissions. Later that day, from 2:30 to 4 p.m., curators for CAST: Arts & Objects, Jen Townsend and Renée Zettle-Sterling, authors of CAST: Art & Objects Made Using Humanity’s Most Transformational Process, discuss the genesis of their book, as well as how the process of casting – forming a material into a mold – has transformed our world. CAST artists also discuss the mediums and methods applied to create their pieces. The afternoon concludes with a book signing with Ms. Townsend and Ms. Zettle-Sterling.
Three additional exhibits run throughout Craft Forms 2018. The Vidinghoff Lobby features Geometry in Color, large geometric abstract paintings by local artists; a small works exhibit adorns the walls of the Kitchen Gallery, and Wayne Art Center faculty member Marlene Adler student prints hang in the Ethel Lobby.
Wayne Art Center is tremendously grateful to the sponsors and patrons for their generosity and support. The positive impact of art on people’s lives could not be accomplished at Wayne Art Center without continued community support Wayne Art Center recognizes presenting sponsor, West Laurel Hill Cemetery, as well as leading sponsors Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies and First Priority Bank.
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.
PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Wayne Art Center is seeking a part-time Registrar to work at the Front Desk several evenings a week and rotating Saturdays. Good interpersonal relations and customer service skills are required. The ideal candidate would have excellent interpersonal and communication skills while being the first direct link between the community, administration, students and faculty. We are looking for someone with good computer skills and the ability to quickly learn our contact database and student registration system. The candidate should be flexible, able to multi-task and willing to perform a wide variety of studio-school related tasks.
Walk into the Wayne Art Center and you get the feeling that you’ve entered a large, airy space where adults and children alike feel at home.
Over the last 30 years Nancy Campbell, the executive director, has shepherded the center from a tiny two-room school house, into the large, vibrant space it is now.
Campbell, 65, discovered she had a knack for developing educational programs when she was a student at the University of Northern Colorado and a professor recommended her for a part-time job at a small multi-art center. She was so successful that the center hired her after she graduated. Campbell, who grew up in Lower Merion, stayed in Greeley, Colo. for 10 years, where she worked at an antiques shop and learned about stained glass, eventually starting her own stained glass business. During that time, she married James Campbell, who also went to Harriton High School, but the pair had never met while in high school.
Campbell had decided to transfer from George Washington University after a year and was taking classes for a semester at Villanova, when she met her future husband when she was with friends at a convenience store in Bryn Mawr. It turned out they were taking the same Shakespeare class.
James Campbell later joined her in Colorado where he had a house building business and continues as a builder in this area today. When their son, Seamus, was a young child, the couple decided to come back east to be near their families, and Campbell said that she also missed living on the Main Line.
When Campbell, a Berwyn resident, returned to the area she took a job at the Timothy School. She was looking for a summer teaching job and came to the Wayne Art Center (WAC), which at that time was tiny and unpromising in appearance; she almost turned around and left without going in. When the former director left, she recommended Campbell for the position in 1987.
At her first board meeting, the board was discussing expansion. The board members had a small addition in mind but when she learned that due to zoning rules they would not be able to add on again, Campbell recommended that they think about what they might need in 10 years rather than going with a small addition.
“The first time, I had never read a plan before,” she said. “My whole time I learned by doing,” Campbell said.
She helped raise nearly $1 million after being told by consultants that the most they could hope for was $250,000, she said.
They ended up hiring a lawyer and getting a variance, she said. As WAC’s popularity continued apace they needed more space and they jumped at the chance to buy the neighboring Masonic Hall Association, which gave them a parking lot and a driveway onto Conestoga Road.
But the buildings needed to be combined and renovated. So that entailed another capital campaign, this time raising $5 million for the project, Campbell said. In retrospect, Campbell said that she was glad that the expansion occurred before the great recession because after that the 2008 recession occurred and “everything dried up.”
Nowadays, WAC has more than 6,000 square feet of contemporary exhibition space more than 20 shows run each year showcasing the work of local, regional, national and international artists in a variety of media.
Perhaps, the most famous show is the annual Plein Air Festival, now in its 12th year, where artists set up easels and create paintings outdoors. Campbell said that they learned about the Plein Concept and in 2005 visited the Sedona, Ariz. Plein Air Festival, which has become a “Mecca,” with its beautiful red rocks and the nearby Grand Canyon and colorful cowboy town of Jerome. Campbell said they wanted to bring Plein Air to Wayne because the countryside and buildings are also very attractive.
“We should try this in our area,” Campbell said. “It is so beautiful. There are so many painting opportunities.”
This year 32 artists came, some from as far away as California. The artists live in volunteers’ houses for five days, often leaving “at the crack of dawn,” and not coming back until dark, said Campbell. “This year there was not one rainy day.”
“The opening gala was amazing,” she said. The Plein Air paintings are on display at the Wayne Art Center through June 30 and WAC is offering a variety of classes and events in conjunction with the event.
In addition to the galleries, WAC has studios for art and music classes, a kitchen for culinary classes and seven lovely landscaped gardens.
There are 200 students enrolled in Suzuki violin lessons; and some 5,000 children and adults enrolled in various classes. More than 35,000 people come to WAC each year, whether for classes, lectures or special events. There are special art programs like Meet Me at WAC, for elderly dementia patients, and Broaden Your World for people with traumatic brain injury.
WAC also partners with the Timothy School for autistic children in Berwyn and St. Augustine’s Academy for Girls in Norristown. There is also an after school program for needy Wayne Elementary students at St. David’s Episcopal Church, Campbell said.
If that weren’t enough, WAC also offers corporate leadership and team building programs that area companies, including Vanguard take advantage of. And, WAC also has “great relationships” with area university’s art programs, she said.
“We’ve always been open to opportunities for programs that are beneficial to the community,” said Campbell. “We have a strong relationship with Radnor Township and Campbell is on the board of the Wayne Business Association.” WAC also offers a summer camp and enrolls about 1,600 kids in various classes from robotics to culinary arts.
There are about 20 exhibits at WAC each year, she said.
Campbell said her position is a “24/7” job. She has to be available if needed. While the kilns are now electric, before that she would often get late night calls because someone forgot to turn off a kiln.
Campbell traces her love of the arts from her childhood. She took piano lessons from the age of 5 and continued with piano in college.
Her father, Dr. William Whiteley, now 99, was a neurosurgeon at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, but his hobby was photography. Every summer he’d take the family on a vacation out west where he could photograph the scenery.
“He got me interested in photography,” Campbell said. He also played the organ and “he encouraged us to study music.” She also got interested in sewing while in high school and did an internship with special needs children then.
Also, her grandmother had a millinery business in Philadelphia. Campbell would spend time in the shop sewing, playing with mannequins and making hats. That grandmother was “also an oil painter and she used to let me paint with her in her kitchen. She introduced me to painting which I think was instrumental in developing my interest in art. She had all of her portraits and landscapes paintings displayed throughout her house and I used to stare at them endlessly. She was also very independent and entrepreneurial for the time and also that must have had some influence on me.”
After deciding to transfer from George Washington University, Campbell said that she was seeking a college out west where could combine her various interests, including special education, speech therapy and piano. Her dad forbade her from applying to the University of Colorado in Boulder because he’d heard there was a major drug problem there. So she opted for the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley and a profession recommended that she work at the art center. The first program that she developed was quilting for adults, she said. She had to go out in the community and find someone to teach it, she said.
James Michener taught at UNC and also wrote the book and television movie, “Centennial,” which was inspired by the area surrounding the college.
“I visited the site where they shot the movie and they basically transformed a remote town in the eastern plain about 30 miles east of Greeley that consisted of only a café and some gas pumps into a thriving western town,” she said. A neighbor was an extra and took Campbell out to see the film being made and “I always felt fortunate to have been exposed to that experience,” she said.
Villanova resident Jim Cobb, vice president of the WAC board, said, “Nancy and I have worked together for 20 years. I’ve seen her cry once. She laughs and smiles. She’s quite a lady.”
Campbell said that Cobb, a retired Arco vice president of government affairs, has been a big help with fundraising. Cobb is a WAC student as well, taking classes in sculpting and oil painting. One of his large abstract canvasses hangs in the lobby. His wife, Phyllis, is also sculptor, working in stone, he said.
Nestled in a quiet, residential neighborhood, just minutes from the Blue Route and bustling King of Prussia, is a jewel box of a building filled with vibrant artwork and classrooms alive with people immersed in creativity.
The Wayne Art Center got its start in a carriage house in 1930 during the height of the Depression as a place for community members to find joy and beauty in art. That mission continued when it moved to its present location on Maplewood Avenue in Wayne in 1955, and flourished when Nancy Campbell took over the helm as executive director of the non-profit art center in 1987.
“I looked in the phone book for art centers,” said Campbell from her office. “I drove in here and saw the building [a pedestrian-looking cinder block structure] and almost drove right out. But, thinking maybe I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, I went in and met the director.”
Campbell was offered a class to teach and, serendipitously, the director announced she was moving on and recommended Campbell for the top spot. Shortly after arriving, Campbell helmed the task of raising $1 million toward an expansion project which enlarged the original 2,600-square-foot building to 9,000 square feet. Within five years, the art center outgrew that space.
“We bought the Masonic Hall next door after a lot of fundraising and, in 2007, connected both buildings to grow to 28,000 square feet,” said Campbell of the dynamic design that spills natural light into halls, classrooms, and galleries. “Everything started to evolve once we built the space.”
Today, the center offers some 500 classes to roughly 5,000 students of all ages. A state-of-the-art kitchen is used for culinary classes, classrooms are where everything from painting and printmaking to photography and ceramics are taught, and galleries and the lobby are often utilized for drama and music classes, as well a gathering place for lectures.
Early May is devoted to the Plein Air Festival, a week during which artists from around the country descend on the Main Line and into Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware counties, as well as Philadelphia to paint outdoors, capturing on canvas the region’s bounty of farms, fields, historic structures, and quaint main streets. The stunning results are on view at the art center through June 30.
Workshops, camps, a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater at West Laurel Hill, and even Yoga in the Gallery are planned for summer into fall.
In December the 25th annual CraftForms exhibition draws up to 30 craft artists from the United States and as far away as Asia to compete in a juried show that, while compact, rivals the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show in talent.
Thirty years into her run as director, Campbell said she and her team have plenty of ideas to draw new members, visitors, and supporters. “We offer a beautiful facility with fantastic instructors and extensive programming in a welcoming atmosphere,” Campbell said of this gem of the Main Line.
Visit www.wayneart.org for a schedule of exhibits, classes, gift shop and gallery hours, and other related information.
“This summer, Wayne Art Center will guide campers on a creative journey, Travel through Art; Around the World in 60 Days! Over 200 diverse arts classes will be offered throughout 12 weeks of Summer Art Camp, which are geared to every age and level of artistic ability. Flexible schedules feature full and half-day classes that accommodate busy families as well as early care, after care and lunch bunch in the beautiful Children’s Garden. Clean and well-equipped contemporary studios inspire campers with abundant natural light and views of Wayne Art Center’s gardens that also serve as beautiful outdoor studio spaces.
Participants will discover the intricate artwork and pyramids of Egypt, the colorful jewelry and patterned textiles of Kenya, and the landscapes and natural wonders of Cape Town. Campers will explore British culture, the rich landscapes of Ireland, and the Great Wall of China! To the tile making and weaving of Persia, to the minimalist lifestyle and monochromatic colors of Scandinavia, this summer is sure to open children’s eyes, ears, and hearts to the cultures and art from around the globe.
As Wayne Art Center Camp classes are small, each child will feel encouraged and challenged by an experienced faculty who will nurture your child through the joys of the creative process. As an added bonus, over 50 enthusiastic teen volunteers and interns are on hand to assist teachers in the studios.
Early childhood art programs are designed to stimulate the minds of budding artists and foster their love of art. Dynamic STEAM inspired classes for children ages 6-12 focus on building skills in drawing, painting, cartooning, ceramics, cooking, jewelry, robotics, fashion design…and more! Performing arts classes in drama and dance are designed to enhance reading skills, confidence, and public speaking, while the Teen Studio provides diverse opportunities for teen artists, ages 13 and older; to improve core art skills that help expand their creative repertoire.
Wayne Art Center’s Summer Art Camp, now in its 34th year, is not only a wonderful opportunity to learn about the history of art and artmaking, but offers a venue to develop new friendships and learn about the importance of building a strong community through the arts.
At the conclusion of each week, campers are invited to showcase their creative accomplishments for family, friends and fellow campers at a Friday Art Show. The popular Summer Visual and Performing Arts Entertainment Series will feature a diverse group of visiting artists who share their cultural experiences with campers throughout the summer.
Located just minutes from downtown Wayne and adjacent to the Radnor Trail, Wayne Art Center is convenient and allows for an all-inclusive experience to explore the arts and stimulate a well-rounded lifestyle for the entire family. Whatever your child’s interests, make the Wayne Art Center the perfect destination for your Summer Art Camp experience this year.
For information on Wayne Art Center’s 2018 Summer Art Camp, visit www.wayneart.org or call Tessa Downs, Summer Art Camp Director at 610-688-3553, ext. 208.”
Congratulations on your 30th anniversary at The Wayne Art Center Nancy! It must be a fulfilling feeling to look back on so many accomplishments through the years and see how far the art center has come. What brought you here 30 years ago, and more importantly what has kept you here?
I was exposed to the arts at an early age and as I became more involved in creative pursuits, I realized their importance and intrinsic value. Upon accepting the position as Executive Director of the Wayne Art Center (WAC) in 1987, I saw a rudimentary art center and envisioned the possibilities of what it could become. I envisioned something that could be built for the future when the challenge presented itself, I therefore dedicated myself to a long term commitment to see this vision through.
What has been most rewarding about working at The Wayne Art Center?
The people I have met and whom the Wayne Art Center has touched has been the most rewarding aspect of my involvement here. There have been so many talented members, volunteers, teachers, staff and artists who have helped Wayne Art Center achieve its long term goals. The biggest reward of my tenure at WAC has been helping to bring enjoyment to others and providing our community with opportunities to learn, create, and find camaraderie through the arts.
You must be so proud of the many achievements that have occurred through the years. Is there one in particular that really stands out to you?
There have been several accomplishments along the way, overseeing two successful, multi-million dollar fund raising campaigns and building expansion projects has definitely been one and subsequently, being recognized as one of the most vibrant art centers in our region is another. Establishing a major international contemporary craft exhibition, Craft Forms, has showcased collectible museum-quality contemporary works of art to our community in December for the past 24 years. Bringing the Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival to Wayne in May has introduced our community to an ever-changing group of national plein air artists who capture the history and beauty of our area through landscape painting.
Do you have any new plans or visions in place for the future at The Wayne Art Center?
Helping the Wayne Art Center remain relevant and vibrant in the ever changing demands of our lives and being able to move forward with the times and still remain true to our roots is of utmost importance. Through my commitment, I am thankful for the opportunity to have been able to build a cultural resource that is a viable part of the future of the arts, the Wayne Community, and the Philadelphia region.
“Wayne Art Center is proud to present Art Quilt Elements 2018, an International Juried Contemporary Quilt Exhibition, which will be on display at Wayne Art Center from March 16 – April 28, 2018. The opening reception and artists’ talk will run from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on Saturday, March 17 in both state-of-the-art Davenport and Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Galleries. During the reception’s awards ceremony over $3,000 in cash awards will be presented.
This eagerly anticipated exhibition, celebrating its thirteenth anniversary year, is dedicated to enhancing the public’s awareness of contemporary art quilts while providing a venue for established and emerging artists to share their creative endeavors with the public audience. ArtQuilt Elements has earned a rapidly growing reputation as one of the nation’s most recognized art quilt exhibitions. The finest works are featured, supporting Wayne Art Center’s mission of expanding the public’s awareness of fine contemporary craft, and significantly benefiting all educational programs for children, teens and adults. This year’s artists represent over 26 states and abroad, including Japan.
The jurors, Mi-Kyoung Lee – Program Director of Craft + Material Studies for the University of the Arts, Marsha Moss – Public Art Curator and Consultant, and Paul Smith – Independent Curator selected 48 works from a collection of almost 400 entries for this biennial exhibition that is dedicated to providing a professional venue for this genre of quilt-making. The featured artists’ work employ a diverse range of techniques to communicate their visions and storytelling through various hand and machine-making methods. Many of the artists create their own surface design effects through painting, printing, dyeing and mark making, while others collage their pieces from commercially produced fabrics which are then translated by fabric layering and stitch-making.
Wayne Art Center graciously thanks the major sponsors of Art Quilt Elements 2018: West Laurel Hill Cemetery and Funeral Home, First Priority Bank, and Mistyfuse/Attached Inc. These donations benefit Wayne Art Center’s educational, ever-growing outreach and exhibition programs. With these funds, awards will be presented to artists to continue their efforts and research in this textile field. In addition, a 100-page catalog will document this biennial international exhibition and is available for purchase at Wayne Art Center or on-line at www.artquiltelements.org.
WAYNE ART CENTER WILL HOST A VARIETY OF SPECIAL EVENTS RELATED TO ART QUILT ELEMENTS 2018
Opening Reception: Saturday, March 17, 3:00 – 5:00 pm. Meet the Artists: Saturday, March 17, 3:00 – 4:00 pm. Gallery Tours: Every Wednesday 12:30 pm. Meet in the Vidinghoff Lobby. Paper Quilting: Family Workshop, www.wayneart.org to register. Quilted Bags: Family Workshop, www.wayneart.org to register.
Wayne Art Center has been enriching the cultural needs of the community since 1930. From its modest beginnings as the first art center on the Main Line, the Center has grown into a dynamic nonprofit organization, providing instruction in all phases of the visual and performing arts. Nearly 500 classes and workshops are offered annually to more than 4,000 students of all ages and abilities. The Center’s high-caliber and committed faculty support the fine reputation the Center has achieved through the years. The new Davenport Gallery and the Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Gallery attract over 35,000 visitors a year for exhibitions, lectures and special events. Wayne Art Center is located at 413 Maplewood Avenue in Wayne, Pennsylvania. For further information, please contact Nancy Campbell, Executive Director and Karen Louise Fay, Director of Exhibitions and Events about Wayne Art Center’s Art Quilt Elements 2018 and all the educational, exhibition and rental programs that the magnificent facility offers the community. Call 610-688-3553 or visit the website at wayneart.org and artquiltelements.org.
Gallery Hours are Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm; Saturdays, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. Free admission. There is a suggested $5.00 contribution to view Art Quilt Elements 2018. Full color catalogs are available for purchase for $20 at Wayne Art Center and on-line at www.artquiltelements.org”
“Wayne Art Center is the largest and one of the finest organizations of its kind in the Philadelphia
region. Its phenomenal success and stellar distinction is largely due to the creativity and superlative leadership of Executive Director Nancy Campbell. As she celebrates her 30th year at the helm of the eminent and
beloved art center, we take a walk back over diverse paths that brought her there. It is a route punctuated with adventures and a series of fortunate fates…”
Congratulations on your 30th anniversary at The Wayne Art Center Nancy! It must be a fulfilling feeling to look back on so many accomplishments through the years and see how far the art center has come. What brought you here 30 years ago, and more importantly what has kept you here?
“Wayne Art Center is proud to present Art Quilt Elements 2018, an International Juried Contemporary Quilt Exhibition, which will be on display at Wayne Art Center from March 16 – April 28, 2018. The opening reception and artists’ talk will run from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on Saturday, March 17 in both state-of-the-art Davenport and Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Galleries. During the reception’s awards ceremony over $3,000 in cash awards will be presented.
