Arts Council
Kentucky Crafted Artists Debut at Philadelphia Buyers Market

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Six Kentucky Crafted® businesses will market their work in the Kentucky Arts Council's exhibit on the tradeshow floor at the Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft, February 13-16, 2009. 

The Buyers Market of American Craft is the nation's largest wholesale trade show of American craft, providing artists a professional venue to build relationships with qualified wholesale craft buyers.  Approximately 1,500 artists exhibit to more than 9,000 buyers from across the United States and Canada.

"These artists will represent Kentucky well," says Lori Meadows, executive director of the Kentucky Arts Council.  "The quality of work produced by artists and craftspeople selected to participate in the arts council's Kentucky Crafted program are a perfect fit for the niche retailers who attend the Buyers Market of American Craft. These buyers have a strong commitment to selling American craft in their galleries and shops."

The Kentucky Arts Council is the only state agency to exhibit at the Buyers Market of American Craft.

Participating artists are: Erica Kirchner, Creature Comforts by Erica, Prospect; Mark Needham, Good Idea!, Louisville; Dick Scheu, Kentucky Snow, Louisville; Mary Lamb Nehring, Colors to Dye For, Versailles; Marvin Schnoll, Red Oak Crafts, Inc., Louisville; and Ken Roberts, Cadiz.

Kentucky Crafted® is a program of the Kentucky Arts Council that enables Kentucky artists and craftspeople to reach regional, national and international markets through state-sponsored wholesale and retail promotional venues.  Acceptance into the program is based on artistic excellence in design and technique, originality or authenticity (for traditional work), and marketability. There are currently 502 juried visual and craft artists in the Kentucky Crafted® program.

All six artists exhibiting at the Buyers Market of American Craft will also be featured at Kentucky Crafted: The Market.  This award winning annual wholesale/retail marketplace, produced by the Kentucky Arts Council, brings over 250 exhibitors of traditional and contemporary fine art and craft, books, musical recordings, films and Kentucky Proud® food products to South Wing B of the Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, Ky., on February 21-22, 2009. For more information about Kentucky Crafted: The Market, go to: www.kycraft.ky.gov

The Kentucky Arts Council is a state agency in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet that creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. Kentucky Arts Council funding is provided by the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Contact information for participating artists and a brief description of their products are listed below.

Print quality photos are available by clicking on links.

Creature Comforts by Erica
Products: (Metal and Mixed Media) Animal Figures
Photo: www.artscouncil.ky.gov/enews/images/KirchnerErika.jpg

Good Idea!
Products: (Metal) Contemporary Jewelry
Photo: www.artscouncil.ky.gov/enews/images/NeedhamMark.jpg

Kentucky Snow
Products: (Wood) Ornaments
Photo: www.artscouncil.ky.gov/enews/images/ScheuDick.jpg

Colors to Dye For
Products: (Fiber) Hand-Dyed Scarves and Wearable Art

Photo: www.artscouncil.ky.gov/enews/images/NehringMary.jpg

Red Oak Crafts, Inc.
Products: (Wood) Band Saw Boxes
Photo: www.artscouncil.ky.gov/enews/images/SchnollMarvin.jpg

Ken Roberts
Products: (Metal) Wildlife Sculptures From Recycled Materials
Photo: www.artscouncil.ky.gov/enews/images/RobertsKen.jpg