The Bucks County Guild of Craftsmen recently hosted its first Members’ Showcase, a remarkable exhibition that brought together artisans and art enthusiasts. Held at the AOY Art Center in Yardley from March 28 to March 30, the event highlighted the exceptional talents of local craftsmen and provided a space for the community to appreciate and acquire original works of art.
Basia Andrusko, Bucks County Guild’s Director at Large and Show Coordinator of this recent showcase, reflecting on the venue choice. She shared, “I am a member at AOY, so I’ve done workshops there and exhibited there. Since I know the people there, we thought it would be a good venue for this show, which it was.”
The showcase featured an impressive variety of handmade works, including pottery, jewelry, furniture, woodwork, glass art, pysanky (Ukrainian eggs), textiles, and paintings. “We had a nice mix of items on display,” Andrusko, a Yardley resident, said. “We had pottery, wood, and furniture. One of our members makes rocking chairs, some sculptural pieces. I write Pysanky Ukrainian eggs. We have five or six jewelers who work in different media. We had one woman who does sculptural wood, which was amazing. We had some watercolor paintings. We had someone who does inkwork. So, we had quite a variety of works on display.”
The event kicked off with an opening reception on March 28, where guests had the opportunity to meet the artists and enjoy light refreshments in a relaxed, informal setting. “On Friday, we had some snacks and the opportunity to meet the artists. Most of the artists were present on Friday night, so people really enjoyed being able to speak to these artisans,” said Andrusko.
The showcase was not juried, allowing members to freely select the pieces they wished to present. A total of 25 members participated, each permitted to submit up to five pieces of work. Of the 120 pieces displayed, around 20 were not for sale, giving some artists the opportunity to exhibit cherished works without parting with them. “As one artist said, ‘I was able to put out my favorite pieces knowing I wouldn’t have to part with them,’” Andrusko shared. The sales from the event were spread across multiple artists, further affirming the diversity and appeal of the works presented.
The exhibit was promoted primarily through social media and local advertising, including yard signs and outreach by the AOY Art Center. “AOY usually has a very good following of people who come to all the events held there, so they advertised it on their email and on their social media,” Andrusko explained. The event attracted approximately 100 visitors over the three days, with Friday night drawing the largest crowd.
“We got such positive feedback from members and guests that we are hoping to repeat it and make it an annual show,” Andrusko noted.
The Bucks County Guild of Craftsmen is a chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, dedicated to fostering an appreciation for fine crafts and supporting artisans in their creative pursuits. The guild provides members with opportunities for professional growth, mentorship, and the exchange of ideas through meetings, programs, and exhibitions.
Currently, the Bucks County chapter has 84 members, including artisans from Bucks County, Montgomery County, and even neighboring New Jersey. The guild encompasses a broad range of crafts, from functional pottery and stained-glass picture frames to sculptural art pieces. “Our Guild tends to be more fine craft-oriented,” Andrusko noted. “What determines a craftsman from an artist is all subjective interpretation. There is a lot of crossover.”
The guild holds monthly meetings, typically featuring educational programs, hands-on workshops, or artist-led demonstrations. They also engage with the community through outreach programs, including collaborations with local schools and colleges. “Every year we go out to a local charter school and do a program with the students,” Andrusko said. Additionally, they provide an annual award for fine craftsmanship to a Bucks County Community College student participating in the college’s end-of-year annual art show. “By reaching out to this younger population, our hope is to recruit some younger members to our guild,” she explains. “Afterall, they are our future craftsmen.”
Membership is open to anyone with a passion for fine crafts, whether they are practicing artists or simply admirers of the craft. Andrusko emphasized, “We are open not only to artists, but also to people who support and appreciate the artists.”
The Bucks County Guild of Craftsmen continues to build a vibrant, supportive community where artists can share their work and inspire one another. The success of this year’s showcase is just the beginning of what could potentially be a growing tradition of celebrating fine craftsmanship in Bucks County.
For more information about the Bucks County Guild of Craftsmen and upcoming events, visit www.bucksguild.org.
