the cutting edge of craft - handmade arcade

of 5

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pittsburgh's award-winning craft fair announces largest event to date on Saturday, December 2, 2017

• Curated marketplace showcasing 170+ vendors selling high-quality, innovative handmade products

• Largest event to date

• Event links Pittsburgh to international maker movement

• Named one of the “Top 35 Craft Fairs in the World” by BuzzFeed

• Featured in the forthcoming “Moon Guide to Pittsburgh” (Spring 2018)

• Featured in Pop Shop America’s guide to “The Best Fall & Holiday Craft Fairs in the USA” (2016)

• Featured in international publications such as: HuffPo, Thrillist, Condé Nast Traveler

• Ranked in the top 10 “Largest Area Public Shows” as reported by Pittsburgh Business Times

DATE: TIME:

LOCATION:

ADMISSION: PARKING:

WEBSITE: FACEBOOK:

TWITTER: INSTAGRAM:

Saturday, December 2, 201711 a.m. – 7 p.m.David L. Lawrence Convention Center 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd Pittsburgh, PA, 15222FREEPittsburgh Parking Authority is offering free parking during the holiday shopping season at publicly owned facilities. For a complete list of free garages and information visit pittsburghparking.com. (Please note: this does NOT include the Convention Center garage)handmadearcade.comfacebook.com/handmadearcade@HandmadeArcade@handmadearcade

EVENT DETAILS:

HANDMADE ARCADE: THE CUTTING EDGE OF CRAFT

CONTACTS:Jennifer Baron • 412-736-0343 • [email protected] Tricia Brancolini • 412-654-3889 • [email protected]

HIGHLIGHTS:• 170+ Total Vendors

• 66 Brand New Vendors

• 19 Craft Corridor Vendors

• 17 Hands-on Handmade Activities

• 8 Youth Maker Scholarship Vendors

• Limited-edition commemorative merchandise

• Framer’s Market and Activity

• Live stream by Work Hard Pittsburgh

HIGH-RES PHOTOS:http://bit.ly/2xR7LC6http://www.handmadearcade.com/gallery-2/

MEDIA IMAGES:http://www.handmadearcade.com/about/media-images/

of 5

david l. lawrence convention Center handmadearcade.com 12 2 2017

PITTSBURGH, PA—Handmade Arcade (HA), Pittsburgh’s premier independent craft fair, returns on Saturday, December 2, 2017, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. For its largest event to date, the thoughtfully curated market will showcase 170+ cutting-edge, craft-based artists, designers and makers. Pittsburgh’s first and largest independent craft fair since 2004, HA is the region’s leading “shop-small, buy-local event” of the holiday season. One of Pittsburgh’s most anticipated events, HA offers an authentic, engaging and personal shopping experience featuring innovative, affordable and hand-crafted products made by some of the country’s leading independent crafters, who are all on hand to talk with attendees about their creative process, unique product lines and background. Vendors represent a diverse range of craft media and techniques, including first-time sellers, high school students, emerging and national makers, and returning established artists.

A two-time recipient of The People’s Choice Award for Best Arts Event from the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, HA receives more than 400 applications from around the city, region and country. Applications are carefully reviewed by a volunteer committee, which includes guest jurors and artists from Pittsburgh’s arts, retail and entrepreneurial communities.

BUY LOCAL, SHOP SMALL, SUPPORT HANDMADEShop outside of the big box, select one-of-a-kind holiday gifts, and discover a bold conversation piece to hang on that bare living room wall. At Handmade Arcade, the experience of selecting and purchasing handmade products is informed by a strong sense of personality, community and creativity. Featured vendors span the following categories: accessories; artwork; prints; bath and body products; clothing; children’s products; housewares; jewelry; paper goods; toys; and more!

Unique products for 2017 include: wallets made from reclaimed baseball gloves; needle felted wool animal sculptures; abstracted city maps; vibrant glass jewelry cut from hand-blown plates; fanciful animal masks; celebrity plush dolls; organic skincare products; artisan bow ties made from salvaged fabrics; stylish home decor; funky and fine art jewelry; coasters made from recycled vinyl records; wooden lighting fixtures; contemporary photography; handmade shaving supplies; fantastical Tarot Cards; kitschy plaques; custom-engraved wooden six-pack holders; metalwork; robot toys constructed from repurposed wood; bespoke, hand-poured, beer-inspired candles; fiber art wall hangings; and much more! Offering something for every taste and budget, prices for items at Handmade Arcade typically range from $1 to $250. Committed to showcasing handmade, locally produced goods—many integrating upcycled, sustainable, found, locally-sourced and eco-friendly materials and techniques—HA is thrilled to set up shop inside the world’s first green convention center, which is easily accessible by car, bike and public transportation. Part shopping bonanza, part design showcase, part see-and-be-seen social event, HA is a celebration of the make-it-yourself aesthetic. Attendees are active supporters of small, independent businesses and

of 5


are committed to conscientious and thoughtful consumerism. Passionate about using their resources to support independent artists, attendees come to HA to select items that express their individualism, creativity and originality. Handmade Arcade’s longstanding commitment to supporting local makers and the independent craft movement is underscored by that fact that numerous featured vendors have gone on to receive national and international recognition in the press, develop brand new product lines, work on major commissions, and open studio spaces and brick-and-mortar shops in Pittsburgh.

EXCLUSIVE EARLY BIRDIE SHOPPING PREVIEWEarly Birdie ticket holders will avoid the crowds and get a first look at all of the handmade wares. This exclusive opportunity to shop one hour before the event opens to the public takes place from 10 to 11 a.m. Early Birdies will receive a Swag Bag stuffed with crafty goodies, coupons, colorful Hip Modern Soaps, limited-edition holiday cards designed by Jeff Brunner of Hey Beast Studio, and more! Early Birdie tickets are for sale ($15) online at handmadearcade.com, at Wildcard in Lawrenceville and at The Artsmiths of Pittsburgh in Mt. Lebanon. A limited number will be sold.

WHAT'S NEW THIS YEAR?CRAFT CORRIDORHandmade Arcade will debut its brand new Craft Corridor featuring 19 emerging makers and first-time craft fair vendors. Celebrating Handmade Arcade’s grassroots history and mission, Craft Corridor will also feature makers returning after a career hiatus. Craft Corridor is generously sponsored by NEXTpittsburgh.

LIMITED-EDITION COMMEMORATIVE MERCHANDISENew limited-edition commemorative Handmade Arcade merchandise will be for sale at the event’s Welcome Table, including: winter-themed holiday cards designed by Jeff Brunner of Hey Beast Studio and pink grapefruit scented soap crafted by Hip Modern Soap! Attendees can also purchase a t-shirt for $10—choosing from three designs—and learn to screen-print them in the Hands-on Handmade Activity Area! Making a special appearance will be Pittsburgh’s very own Craft-O-Tron Machine, filled with $5 limited-edition items made specifically for HA: 2017.

Attendees can also purchase affordable frames of various sizes and learn to frame 2D artworks in the on-site Framer’s Market and Activity presented by Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council and Tom Cascone from FrameHouse Gallery.

Throughout the day, Work Hard Pittsburgh will be live streaming from the event.

YOUTH MAKER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMThis year’s marketplace will feature eight high school students who are recipients of Handmade Arcade’s brand new Youth Maker Scholarship. Supporting local makers and creative entrepreneurs under the age of 18, the pilot program provides free vendor space for youth to share and sell their original products and be mentored by Handmade Arcade. This year’s scholarship winners are alumni of Startable Pittsburgh, a free eight-week summer program that teaches students ages 16-18 entrepreneurship and maker skills.

of 5


HANDS-ON HANDMADE ACTIVITY AREABe a maker, get crafty and celebrate D.I.Y. culture at Handmade Arcade’s expanded Hands-on Handmade Activity Area! Free to all ages, HOHA invites attendees to participate in inclusive, engaging and innovative art, craft, tech and learning activities led by 17 Pittsburgh-based artists, arts organizations, museums, learning centers and more. Situated adjacent to the vendor marketplace, thoughtfully curated area features short and daylong drop-in projects, demonstrations, mini-tutorials, make-and-take projects, games, and large-scale installations. Designed to bridge the gap between consumers and producers, HOHA engages attendees and vendors alike in a shared creative process, while encouraging the public to consider the role of art, craft and tech in their own lives, increasing awareness about handmade locally produced goods and underscoring the organization’s dedication to cutting-edge crafts, Pittsburgh’s arts and cultural community, and the global DIY maker movement. Hands-on Handmade is generously sponsored by The Artsmiths of Pittsburgh.

2017 activities include: T-shirt screenprinting with Artists Image Resource and Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts High School; Small Precious Objects secret gift exchange with City of Play; Leatherworking, Wood Burning and Macramé with Workshop PGH; Virtual Reality and Origami with Father Ryan Arts Center; Community Blooms with the Union Project; Journal Creations with BatCat Press; Reuse-a-Palooza with Pittsburgh Public Schools, Gifted Center; Frankentoys with Mt. Lebanon Public Library; LED Flowers with Assemble; The Exquisite Corpse with The Ellis School; Block Printed Holiday Cards with PopCraft; Holiday Decorations with Sarah Heinz House; Mask Making with The Westmoreland Museum of American Art; Copper Pendant Necklace Making with Contemporary Craft; Plastic Water Bottle Flowers with Earth Girl, and Vinyl Sticker Creations with Prototype PGH.

ART RAFFLESRaffle tickets will be sold at the event, with proceeds supporting Handmade Arcade’s Youth Maker Scholarship Program, Hands-on Handmade Activity Area, community outreach, and free admission policy.

LISTEN LOCALLocal DJs will provide an upbeat festive shopping soundtrack throughout the day, with sets by DJs Mary Mack, Pandemic and The Garment District.

HANDMADE ARCADE 2017 SPONSORSHandmade Arcade is generously sponsored by: The Artsmiths of Pittsburgh, NEXTpittsburgh, WESA, WYEP, Port Authority, Yelp Pittsburgh, strawberryluna, Work Hard Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Magazine, Artist & Craftsman Supply, Commonwealth Press, Green Mountain Energy, Kerf Case, Matt’s Maker Space, Monmade, Modesto Studios, Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse, Una Biologicals.

of 5


ABOUT HANDMADE ARCADEHandmade Arcade is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides craft artists working outside mainstream and fine arts sectors with opportunities to sell prod-ucts, build community, network and share their artistic practice at an award-winning marketplace. A pioneer in Pittsburgh’s maker movement, HA also implements educational outreach programs that bridge the gap between consumers and creators while increasing awareness about handmade, locally produced craft goods and processes. Pittsburgh’s first and largest independent craft fair, HA was founded in 2004 to provide grassroots, independent craft-based artists with opportunities to show and sell their wares, to create an alternative to traditional craft and fine art fairs in the region and to connect the local indie craft community with the international maker movement. Now in its 14th year, the award-winning event brings young, innovative crafters and progressive do-it-yourself designers to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, to sell and share their handmade,

locally produced wares at a retail experience unlike any other in the region. The highly anticipated event attracts more than 9,000 attendees annually. HA is run by a collective of creatives who have helped to shape and bolster Pittsburgh’s independent craft scene over the past decade. The founders of Handmade Arcade, all local crafters and artists, were inspired to organize a craft fair of Pittsburgh’s own that would tap into a national DIY craft movement and provide a welcoming venue for artists, shoppers and makers to come together. HA’s growth, evolution and success have coincided with the international resurgence of crafting, DIY making and creative entrepreneurialism — as new generations are reclaiming and reinventing craft materials and methods and developing new products.

WEBSITE: handmadearcade.comFACEBOOK: facebook.com/handmadearcadeTWITTER: @HandmadeArcadeINSTAGRAM: @handmadearcade

the cutting edge of craft - handmade arcade

Documents