Culture Comes to Whitemarsh with Craft Market 2011

When the held its first craft market in the 1960s, the event served as away to showcase the combined work of the group’s members.

Nearly 50 years later,and art sale highlights the work of over artists from Plymouth-Whitemarsh and beyond.

According to Julia Cottrell, a longtime organizer for the craft market, the event has grown since its humble art show beginnings.

“We used to have it in the farm house, but after a while it got so big that we had to move it [to a bigger space,]” she said. “This year, we have over 45 artists from around the region displaying and selling their work.”

According to Cottrell, this year’s event will feature a mix of ceramic art, paintings, jewelry, homemade crafts, glasswork and woodwork. She says the market serves not only as the center’s biggest show but also as a way for people to see what the art center has to offer.

“There really is a community aspect to this that goes beyond the art,” she said. “Students get to see their work on display and there is a general nice feeling that runs through [the market.]”

Dean Sher, one of the center’s founding members, says that the market has become a point of pride for the center.

“Careers have been started here,” she said. “People take classes here and use it as a jumping point to something bigger and that is great to see.”

is running from Friday through Sunday at the Cedar Grove Park barn. Its hours at 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit the center’s website or call 610-825-0917