Community Arts Center's Fine Arts and Crafts Festival

Community Arts Center’s thirteenth annual Fine Arts and Crafts Festival takes place on Saturday, September 26, 2015, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Myers Avenue in Swarthmore, PA, a new location for the event. Festival-goers have the opportunity to buy high quality original art directly from the Tri-State area’s best artists and artisans. Presented by Wendy Cotton and Len Orlando and The Swarthmorean, this free event features over 45 exhibiting artists, artist demonstrations, an art raffle, kid’s activities, live music, great food, and local non-profit booths. Proceeds from the Fine Arts and Crafts Festival support all the programs at the non-profit Community Arts Center in Wallingford including free exhibitions, concerts, and its extensive outreach program, ARTto go, which provides arts experiences throughout the Delaware Valley.

Presented by Wendy Cotton and Len Orlando and The Swarthmorean, and sponsored by Aqua, Bryn Mawr Trust, Cider Mill Landscapes, Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union, PECO, Plush Mills, PNC, Power Home Remodeling Group, The Safeguard Group, Swarthmore Co-op, and Swarthmore Town Center, CAC’s Fine Arts and Crafts Festival selects participating exhibitors through a jury process and presents original (no mechanical reproductions) art and craft work in acrylic, ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, oil, pastel, photography, pottery, printmaking, sculpture, and watercolor. Attendees can meet and buy art directly from the over 45 participating artists plus get a look at art in the making with Dale Roberts – encaustic, Bridget Hughes – handbuilt ceramics, Carol Hemsley – mosaics, and Shari Sikora – ceramic animals.

The festival features a variety of live music throughout the day along Myers Avenue with performances from Jerry Getz; Swukestra; Dean Maola ; Herb Mondros; Clair Oaks; Midniters ; Last Chance; Friday Revival.

Festival-goers can even learn about the local non-profit NIA Center, Kate Furness Library and Media Chamber Chorale and get information on their efforts and community programs.

In between shopping, parents and kids are encouraged to visit one of the children’s activity tables to participate in fun art projects including tie-dying, a CAC favorite.

Throughout the day, there’s also the opportunity to purchase food from the Swarthmore Co-Op’s outdoor grill, as well as other local Swarthmore restaurants.

In celebration of the festival, the Friends of the Festival Taste of the Town fundraising event takes place on Thursday, September 24th beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the CAC’s Duke Gallery. With the purchase of a $75 ticket, guests can enjoy an open bar, live jazz by the Hot Club of Philadelphia, and sample delicious food from 320 Market Café, Hobbs, Jeffrey Miller Catering, Lotus Farm to Table, Margaret Kuo’s Media, Shere-e-Punjab, Swarthmore Co-op, Swarthmore Pizza & Restaurant, Bamboo Bistro, Da Shin Bistro, Stephen’s on State, and more restaurants to be announced. After sampling the various dishes, guests can vote for the best taste in town. To purchase tickets to the Taste of the Town event, visit the CAC website at http://communityartscenter.org/ or call the office at 610.566.1713.

The Community Arts Center is located at 414 Plush Mill Road in Wallingford. For a complete list of participating artists, the schedule of music acts and other information visit the festival website at http://fineartsandcraftsfestival.org/ or http://communityartscenter.org/.