Peters Valley plans carving demonstrations

LAYTON — Peters Valley is excited to announce live demonstrations by Brett McLain, the founder of Freehand Custom Carvings — a self-described “artist collective organized around the principals of freedom, creativity and spirit”.

McLain creates hand-carved and ornamental wood carvings and sculpture using a chainsaw. He has been creating wood-carved sculptures for more than 18 years. Along with his uniquely crafted sculptures, Freehand Custom Carvings invites artists from around the world to work in their studio and showcase their work. The studio and grounds are located in Andover in Northwestern New Jersey. The sculpture garden is on display all year round for individuals to enjoy and purchase.

There will be live demonstrations of hand-blown glass at the Peters Valley Fine Craft Fair by artisan Kalen Erion, founder of Glass Routes. Glass Routes, based in East Fallowfield, Pa., takes the world of glass and forged metal sculpture on the road for demonstrations and educational programs, creating a truly "unique retail experience, limited only by the imagination". The mobile studio is the brainchild of Erion who has found a way to take art to the world. Glass Routes offers various demonstrations and educational programs to suit the needs of their audience. Individuals are welcome to observe demonstrations and can purchase works created in person, before their own eyes.

John and Elizabeth Best are a husband and wife fine craft team and 2 of the 150 exhibitors who will be showcasing their work at this year’s fair; she a nationally known jeweler, he a nationally known glass artist. The Bests have lived in Massachusettes for serveral years now and yet, they return each fall to New Jersey to participate in the Peters Valley Annual Fine Craft Fair. They have both been exhibitors, demonstrators and Elizabeth has juried. Overall, they have participated in the craft fair for 41 years.

“It’s one of the few New Jersey shows we still do,” Elizabeth explains, “I love walking around the show, it’s a pleasure to see these beautiful things. It keeps you improving, doing something different.”

The Bests cite that in all of their years of involvement with the craft fair, the consistency of the jurying, the exceptional quality and standards of the work and comaraderie among the artists and staff is what keeps them returning each year.

“We appreicate what Peters Valley stands for,” John said. “What you’re doing for emerging artists, giving the young artist a chance to show. (Being selected) for the Craft Fair was always something we shot for, it was a goal to get into the show. It is the top Fine Art Craft Fair in New Jersey.”

There will be live and exciting artist demonstrations each day of the fair; including, Blacksmithing, Wood Carving, Silk Dying, Ceramics, music and more.

Admission to the Craft Fair is $9 per person or $12 per person for a two-day pass. Children under 12 years old get in for free. There are $1 off coupons and fair information can be downloaded at www.petersvalley.org.