| Kathy Liebler
Director of Public Information
|
C O M M I S S
I O N N
E W S R
E L E A S E
Contact: Kathy Liebler 717-939-9551 Ext. 2850 April 26, 1996
TURNPIKE TO SHOWCASE PENNSYLVANIA-MADE CRAFTS
ATTENTION -- PENNSYLVANIA CRAFT ARTISTS: The Pennsylvania
Turnpike in conjunction with Pennsylvania-Made Crafts, Inc., the
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Center for Rural
Pennsylvania, are establishing two crafts centers scheduled for
opening in mid-summer. The sites selected for the centers are
the welcome centers located in the North Neshaminy Service Plaza,
Bucks County and the Zelienople Service Plaza, Beaver County.
Turnpike officials are announcing a jury selection process,
open to all Pennsylvania resident craft artists, to choose works
which will be displayed and sold at each craft center. The
crafts will include traditional, folk and contemporary works in
such mediums as clay, metal, wood, glass and leather.
William Capone, the Turnpike's deputy executive director of
marketing said, "We're delighted with this opportunity to raise
public awareness and appreciation for Pennsylvania's renowned
crafts heritage. We're encouraging craft artists across the
commonwealth to enter the jury selection process and participate
in this exciting venture."
Alice L. Eakin, president of Pennsylvania-Made Crafts, Inc.
said that craft artists wishing to apply for the jury selection
process must request and complete an application. APPLICATIONS
CAN BE OBTAINED BY CALLING PA-MADE CRAFTS INC., 412-695-1155. If
eligibility requirements are met, applicants will be scheduled to
bring their work to one of five jury sites for review. Eakin
emphasized that craft artists do not need to be high volume
producers to participate.
"We want to assure our customers that the centers will feature
the highest quality crafts available for purchase," Capone said.
"At the same time the centers will help craft artists earn a
living, continue their artistic development and gain respect from
their communities as solid contributors to the local and
statewide economy." Capone said that several million
Pennsylvania travelers and out of state travelers visit the North
Neshaminy and Zelienople sites each year.
The sites and dates for jury selection are: Pittsburgh
Center for the Arts, April 30; Meadville Council on the Arts,
May 3; Southern Alleghenies Museum, Altoona Extension, May 7;
Harrisburg Farm Show Complex, May 11 and Philadelphia Arts
Alliance, May 14. Additional Information can be obtained by
calling 412-695-1155.
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P.O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676 Phone: (717) 939-9551 Fax: (717) 986-9649