Ron Lederer
Over 200 of the finest craft artists from across the country will converge on the lawn of Nashville’s Centennial Park Sept. 25-27 for the 37th annual Fall Tennessee Craft Fair, attracting 40-50,000 new and long-time citizens plus tourists from Boston to Houston and beyond.
Tennessee Craft (formerly known as TACA) is celebrating its 50 anniversary in 2015. The juried Spring and Fall Craft Fairs are a Nashville tradition that continues to flourish as the city undergoes exciting transformations. Visitors can explore a collection of uncommon, handcrafted artwork Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. People enjoy browsing and purchasing the variety of functional and decorative pieces in clay, wood, glass, and fiber.
In the Kids’ Tent, families participate in hands-on craft activities from OZ Arts, Turnip Green Creative Reuse, SmART! Scrap Made Art Supplies, Your Heart on Art, Street Theatre Company, Tennessee State Museum and Watkins Community Education. Nashville Public Library’s Puppet Truck will be performing The Little Rabbit Who Wanted Red Wings at 10:30am and 2:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. Street Theatre Company will also engage audiences with performances and games throughout the day on Saturday. The support and creativity of these organizations and volunteers will help inspire and share knowledge with future artists.
The Demonstration Tent provides insight into how craft is made for curious fair-goers. Visitors experience demonstrations in glass, clay, wood and paper. They will want to make a stop in the Emerging Maker Tent to meet Tennessee Craft members throughout the state who are perfecting their craft and showcasing recent work.
Executive Director Teri Alea said, “An energized group of repeat attendees and more than thirty new artists will appreciate the fair’s supportive community. We invite new Nashvillians to discover what many consider a must-see event that is on par with the highest quality national fairs. Customers tell us the connection they make with artists while learning about their work makes each purchase more meaningful for them, as does witnessing the craft making process in artists’ booths and in our demonstration tent. These encounters help the traditions of handmade craft thrive.”
On Saturday from 9 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., The Metropolitan Airport Authority will generously provide a free shuttle service for visitors. Shuttles will run in 15-minute loops from the HCA Parking Lots located on Park Plaza to the Tennessee Craft Fair. All guests are encouraged to use this service.
As always, this dog-friendly event is free and open to the public. For more information please visit http://tennesseecraft.org/events/craft-fairs/2015-fall-craft-fair/.
Art by Ron Lederer