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Health & Fitness

Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Somerset, 3/21-3/23

When 250 of America’s finest artisans gather at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, N.J.for the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival, Friday, March 21 through Sunday,March 23, some of their beautiful creations will just be getting started – while all of their work on display will be for sale.

Among the artisans selected by a jury to offer their functional art, will be those hard at work creating their next piece. Live demonstrations at the Festival will give visitors insight into the creative processes and inspiration of master craftspeople.

“Visitors see the beautiful end result of what artists create in their studios,” said Deann Verdier, President of Sugarloaf Craft Festivals. “At the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Somerset, we bring that process to visitors through live demonstrations so they can fully appreciate the artists’ talents and see the creations evolve from ideas to completion.

“And those completed works are perfect for springtime use and gift giving,” continued Verdier. “Artists are creating functional, handcrafted items for the garden and outdoor entertaining, and gorgeous gifts for mom, dads, grads and brides-and-grooms.” More than 250 talented American craftspeople, will offer work in ceramics, sculpture, glass, jewelry, fashion, furniture and home décor, leather, fine art and photography.

Artists at the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival exemplify the creativity and technical mastery that are the hallmarks of the American craft movement. A few of the craftspeople demonstrating their talent live at the Festival in Somerset, N.J., are:
·Alan Uchin & Dale Norley: With a combined 65 years of jewelry design experience, the husband and wife team will fashion elegant jewelry from varied textured metals of their own creation combined with rare fossils.

·Marty Silverman: A master of the traditional craft of stone carving, Marty demonstrates using a hammer and chisel to carve contemporary designs from raw stone slabs. At the Festival, he will work on pieces in various stages of completion including sculptures and fountains.

·Alan Burslem: Creates oversized pots and vessels that tower over his potter’s wheel. His style ranges from classic to eclectic, creating work with traditional hand-painted details to abstract splatters of colored glazes to create a kaleidoscope effect.

·John Akkus: Metal shavings fly as John uses a metal spinning lathe to shape and stretch the metal into functional forms. He then etches intricate designs into the copper and brass jewelry, decorative plates and vases, candle holders and keepsake boxes.

The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival is also a great place to stock the pantry with delicious gourmet goodies for spring and summer guests - or indulgent snacking! Artisan food exhibitors will be bringing candies and chocolates, soups, artisan breads, jams and dips, syrups and olive oils for visitors to sample and purchase.

The sounds of easy listening pianist Ngu Mbundi and styling’s of guitarist Chris Wilson, will entertain visitors through the show aisles, and puppet storytelling from Middle Earth Studios makes the show a great weekend destination for families.

The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival will be held Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sunday, March 23 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Garden State Exhibit Center, located at 50 Atrium Drive, in Somerset, N.J.

Admission is $8 when purchased online and $10 at the door, and is good for all three days of the show. Children under 12 are admitted free. Free parking is available on site. For more information, including exhibitor lists, driving directions and admission discounts, visit www.sugarloafcrafts.com or call (800) 210-9900.

High-resolution images are available at http://sugarloafcrafts.com/pr/spring_somerset_photo.html.

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