Sugarloaf Festival at the Garden State Exhibit Center on March 9-11
The Sugarloaf Festival will be held at the Garden State Exhibit Center on March 9th to 11th. Check out the "Sensory Celebration" by 250 artists.
Sugarloaf Crafts Festival Celebrates the Senses In Somerset, NJ
March 9-11 Show Offers “A Sensory Celebration” by 250 Artists
More than 250 craftspeople from around the country will showcase their handcrafted, one-of-a-kind works that will delight all the senses at the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Somerset, New Jersey, Friday, March 9 through Sunday, March 11, 2012, at the Garden State Exhibit Center. The 19th anniversary of this award-winning Festival will feature a new theme, “A Sensory Celebration,” highlighting the fine contemporary crafts and family-oriented experience in Somerset.
At the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival, jury-selected artists will display and personally sell thousands of works in functional and decorative pottery, sculpture, glass, jewelry, fashion, wood, metal, furniture, home accessories, photography and fine art. “A Sensory Celebration” will spotlight the materials and techniques, unique items and non-stop activity that appeal to each of the five senses:
• See – In addition to seeing the work of participating artists, visitors will see the skill and talent that goes into each handmade piece at on-going demonstrations throughout the Festival. Master craftspeople will show their techniques in wheel-thrown pottery, copper spinning, metal sculpture and other mediums. While everything at the Festival can be “seen,” the Somerset Festival will feature a large number of fine artists and photographers whose view of nature and exotic locations offers a unique perspective of the world.
• Hear – Many crafts are made for hearing, from handcrafted musical instruments and wind chimes to twirling mobiles blowing in the wind. The stories behind the artists’ beautiful work are also part of what makes each item so special. Craft lovers will hear about the creativity and inspiration that goes into each one-of-a-kind piece directly from the artists who make them. Other sounds of the show make for fun and pleasurable browsing, including continuous live music by solo guitarist Ed Wright and easy-listening piano-jazz.
• Taste and Smell – The festive experience at the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Somerset is enhanced with gourmet foods available to sample and purchase from more than 25 small-batch purveyors, including candies and chocolates, hearty soups, artisan breads, jams and dips, syrups and olive oils. The wonderful aromas of organic lotions and soaps, and artisanal potpourri will excite guests’ sense of smell.
• Touch – The Festival is a “please touch” experience. Sugarloaf Crafts Festival artists invite visitors to peruse the crafts with more than just their eyes – from trying on luxurious wool outerwear and bejeweled accessories to feeling the textures of handcrafted wood and metal home décor. In addition, children can participate in interactive puppet theater presentations held by Middle Earth Studios.
Hours for the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Somerset are Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 10, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday, March 11 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Admission (good for all three days) is $7 when purchased online and $9 at the door. Children under 12 are admitted free.
The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Somerset will be held at the Garden State Exhibit Center, 50 Atrium Drive, Somerset, New Jersey 08873. Free parking is available on site. For more information, including driving directions and admission discounts, visit http://www.sugarloafcrafts.com or call (800) 210-9900.
High-resolution images of artist work are available at http://www.sugarloafcrafts.com/pr/spring_somerset_photo.html.
###
For more than 35 years, the nation’s most talented artisans have sold their contemporary crafts and fine art at Sugarloaf Craft Festivals. Attracting about 170,000 visitors annually, Sugarloaf is rated by leading publications as one of the top craft experiences in the country.