Contemporary Crafts Market March 13, 2010

The Contemporary Crafts Market will return to Fort Mason Festival Pavilion for its 24th season as the West Coast’s premiere event for one-of-a-kind functional and decorative crafts. This year’s Market will feature the distinctive works of over 230 of the nation’s finest artists, ranging from intricate jewelry, unique glassware and ceramics to hand-painted textiles, custom furniture, mixed-media creations and much more. All items on display and for sale have been jury-selected for their exceptional quality.
The Contemporary Crafts Market has been a showcase for burgeoning and established talent for over two decades. Year after year, the market brings together an eclectic mix of artisans, while also allowing visitors to meet the artists behind some of the nation’s finest crafts.
Roy Helms, Contemporary Crafts Market founder, has continually sought to raise awareness of fine crafts as a serious art form by highlighting talented artists who have created a name for themselves and whose works can be found in national and international museums or galleries.
“Each year, the Contemporary Crafts Market provides shoppers and collectors with some of the finest craft pieces from across the United States,” Helms explains. “This year will be no exception, as these artists have provided visitors with a truly extraordinary array of pieces that are perfect gifts for friends and family.”
Joy Imai has been a full-time potter for more than 35 years and has been working with soda firing for the last three years. Imai sprays a solution of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and water into a kiln, creating an “orange peel” textured glaze on the surface. The effect is always a surprise, but the end results are truly unique pieces of pottery.

Imai incorporates many natural elements in her work, inspired by her garden, and includes leaves, flowers, grasses, birds and fish. Her studio is located at the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park, where she’s been in residence for the last 20 years.
Ivy Shuman has been a woodturner for over 20 years, and his work encompasses both functional and artistic forms, including natural edge turnings, classic bowls and vases, flower bowls, business and home accessories, as well as pieces combining turning and carving techniques.
Shuman handpicks all of his woods from the finest domestic and exotic stocks available. Purchased woods are acquired from sources that are environmentally responsible, and each piece of wood is unique in its shape, figure, grain, coloring, and flaws. Shuman works with many woods, but cocobolo, spalted woods, burls of all kinds, and maples are among his favorites.

The Contemporary Crafts Market is held at the Fort Mason Festival Pavilion, located at Buchanan at Marina Blvd. in San Francisco. Show hours are Saturday and Sunday, March 13-14, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $8.00 for adults and children under 12 are free. For additional information, please call (415) 995-4925 or visit www.CraftSource.org.

Official Website: http://www.craftsource.org