June 2021 Newsletter

President’s Message:

This message is brought to you by “Nothing but good news” this month. So please, please, keep on reading! Steve Hunter and his show committee hit a home run on May 1. It was a great event. Congratulations! So you may as well put it on your calendar. Reading-Berks Guild will have another Spring Show at Renninger’s Farmers’ Market on May 7, 2022, under the Pavillion. Our 71st Holiday Fine Art and Craft Festival is at Kutztown University on November 6 and 7, 2021. Details are being worked on and everything is falling into place. Don’t forget to get your application in soon. Applications have been coming in and this is sure to be a show you will not want to miss out on. Patrick Donmoyer, Director of the Pennsylvania German Culture Heritage Center called me and said “Hemet Fescht” in September and “Christmas on the Farm” in December are a “go” for this year. If enough craftsmen are interested, they will put up a tent for the craftsmen. If you are interested, please contact the center by phone at 610-683-1589 or by email at www.Kutztown.edu/pgchc. The only cost to craftsmen is 15% of your sales for the day. It is so great to see that things are opening up for all of us. And more great news: Our Pennsylvania State Guild has recently announced that the Chase Center show is happening this year.

So as you can see, there is nothing but good news for our craftsmen. If I don’t see you at our June picnic, have a great summer, enjoy, create and smile. AND I hope to see you at the Goggleworks on Tuesday, August 3 at 7:00 PM in person for our general meeting.

“If a window of opportunity appears, don’t pull down the shade.” Tom Peters

Your President, Barry L. Bennecoff

Shows:

I’d like to thank all the craftsmen who helped to make our first spring, outdoor, show a huge success.

We had 42 craftsmen selling. Sales were very good, and the event went smoothly. We have booked the space for next year. We have room to grow this show with space for 10 more craftsmen. Plan to start your next year of craft sales at this show.

Your show committee did a great job of pulling the spring show together and are now hard at work on the fall indoor show in the Kutztown field house. We are expecting another great show so make sure you are included and get you application in today. Applications are posted on our web page. Get your application in before July 4th and receive a $10 discount!
Show Chair, Steve Hunter

71st Annual
Holiday
Fine Art & Craft Festival

*******************************************

November 6 & 7

Application

Programs:

June is our annual picnic! The picnic is at my house and everyone and their guest are welcomed. For information about the picnic and to sign up for the picnic go to https://rbcrafts.org/our-guild/picnic/ . Please call me, 610-655-554, if you are signing up on Monday evening or Tuesday, as your information may not make the sign-up list in time. Hope to see everyone on Tuesday!

Programs Chair, Matt Vardjan

Media:

This month’s “Your Berks Craftsmen” is starring our May 1 Craft Show at Renninger’s Farmer’s Market. BCTV came out for us that day and helped us kick off our “We’re Back” show and the stars of course are you, our talented craftsmen. As you will see, it was a great day for everyone. So tell all your friends, neighbors and relatives to watch on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at 7:00 PM. If you have Comcast, it is on Channel 15. You can also watch it on your computer. Go to BCTV.org and you can view “Your Berks Craftsmen”. Don’t worry if you miss it on Wednesday (shame on you, just kidding) you can go to our website at rbcrafts.org and it will be on YouTube by the next day or two. We are everywhere thanks to BCTV! So keep watching…
Your BCTV Host, Kay Bennecoff

Standards:

The next jury session is scheduled for Tues, Sept 14, 2021 at the Goggleworks. Members who have belonged to our chapter for a minimum of 3 months are eligible to present their work for jurying. The room will be open at 6:30, and jurying will begin at 7:00. Members will be asked to leave before jurying begins, and can return in 1- 1 1/2 hours for the results. For more information or for an application, go to https://rbcrafts.org/resources or contact Louise at eglassplace@gmail.com.

Standards Chair, Louise Mehaffey

Announcements:

Attention: Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen

Our great friend BCTV is in need of one of your handcrafted items to be auctioned off on their website for their fund-raising event of the year, Octoberfest which is October 28. BCTV is public television and has done an amazing job for all of us over this past year and continues to do so. You can bring your donated craft item to our general meeting in August, September, or October or you can take it to the studio and/or call the studio to have someone pick up your donation. BCTV’s phone number is 610 374 3065. Your donated craft will be photographed and on their website with your provided description and your name as the artist. Remember, BCTV is a great friend and your generous donation will help them reach their goal. Thanks everyone.

Kay L. Bennecoff, Host of “Your Berks Craftsmen”

Allentown Art Museum

Two current exhibitions that may be of interest to Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen members:
“Roots: Sources for American Art and Design” and “Sleep Tight: Bedcovers and Hangings from Around the World” will be on view at the Allentown Art Museum through September 12th.

These exhibitions include global textiles from across four continents and four centuries, such as Gee’s Bend and Pennsylvania German quilts, and Hmong applique work. Roots also includes 5 works of Shaker and contemporary studio craft furniture, including pieces by Wharton Esherick, Jon Brooks, and George Nakashima.

We also currently have an ongoing exhibition of ceramics by Toshiko Takaezu – it’s a very craft-heavy season in our galleries!

You can learn more about our current shows here: https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/exhibitions/on-view/
Claire McRee, Associate Curator
Allentown Art Museum

Events:

General Meetings: (1st Tuesday of Month):

Spring Picnic — June 1, 2021 starting at 6:00 PM

No General meeting in July, 2021

August 3, 2021: General Meeting-7:00 PM (IN PERSON)

Shows:

November 6 & &, 2021: 71st Annual Holiday Fine Art & Craft Festival