Get ready for the 2011 TACA Spring Craft Fair!


TENNESSEE ASSOCIATION OF CRAFT ARTISTS

NASHVILLE TRADITION CELEBRATES FOUR DECADES OF CRAFT IN THE PARK

The Tennessee Association of Craft Artists will hold the 40th anniversary of the TACA Tennessee Craft Fair May 6, 7 & 8 at Nashville’s Centennial Park.

To commemorate this ruby anniversary, visitors will enjoy a special treat with the addition of painters and other traditionally fine artists to this historically fine craft event, joining the more than 160 Tennessee craft artists who will have work on display during the three-day event.

The green grass of Centennial Park will again bloom white as the tents of artists from Memphis to Johnson City prepare for this exciting anniversary.

From platforms on tree-trunks to a footprint covering most of the lawn in front of the Parthenon, this year’s annual kickoff of springtime is not to be missed. In addition to the fine craft artists synonymous with TACA, Tennessee fine artists will be represented by skilled painters and the Demonstration Tent will house exciting opportunities for the public to see the hands behind that favorite mug and the skill of woodturning with live demonstrations. Wood will be transformed by the Tennessee Association of Woodturners, various clay techniques showcased by The Clay Lady’s Studio, paper marbling by Breanna Rockstad-Kincaid and linocut and letterpress printing by Shona Cowart. Visitors will also be delighted by the live demonstrations from The Chestnut Group, a collection of Middle Tennessee plein air painters, who will be onsite throughout the weekend.

Back for a second event, TACA welcomes the Nashville Public Library’s Puppet Truck, delighting audiences with two performances of Hansel and Gretel on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Community partners will be onsite all weekend with art and craft activities for young and old in the TACA Kids Tent, where TACA continues its emphasis on cultivating the creative minds of children. Artists will be present and craft available for purchase from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday. Parking and admission are free and open to the public.

The TACA Craft Fairs are produced by the Tennessee Association of Craft Artists (TACA), an independent, statewide nonprofit organization and recipient of the Tennessee Governor’s Award in the Arts. By maintaining high standards of excellence, the Tennessee Association of Craft Artists is appreciated for producing festivals representing the finest in American craftsmanship. We are proud to be a part of Celebrate Nashville, the #1 Craft Fair in Tennessee as designated by Harris List, and as one of the 200 Best List by the Sunshine Artist magazine.

Founded in 1965, TACA is a statewide, nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging, developing and promoting crafts and craftspeople in Tennessee. Through the use of Craft Fairs, TACA works to expose the residents of Tennessee to the art of fine craft, while providing a forum for creative and personal expression for the artists.

For more information, visit www.tennesseecrafts.org.