This is HiP’s newest series from contributor Katie van Vliet. It will focus on all things handmade in and around Philadelphia. We’re looking for a companion series about Pittsburgh – email Nick if you’re interested.
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Welcome to Philadelphia, the city that ‘loves you back.’ We’ve got pocket playgrounds and massive stadiums, dance halls and great theaters. Philly is a city of big guys and little guys, and the same goes for the art. Philly boasts one of the greatest collections of Duchamp works at our museum, but some of the most surreal experiences happen walking down the street. In this series, Phocused, I’m going to bring you with me as I navigate the bigs and littles; the ups and downs of the expansive community of art, craft, and handmade in Philadelphia.
Who am I?
I am a multi-tasker; a crafter, a printer, a salesman, a festival planner, a biker, a buyer, a woman, an ARTIST. This Saturday I was at Crafty Balboa, selling etchings, printed ornaments, and printmaking-related jewelry.
Crafty Balboa Holiday, an arts fair in its sophomore year, featured highly curated vendors that represent some of the best of Philly! I was honored to be flanked by two of my faves, GirlsCanTell, a silkscreen studio that prints funny, hand-drawn diagrams onto everyday objects, and Sharif Pendleton, who crafts the Philly’s ‘ill’ laser-cut pendants and other local insignia.
Philly's ill pendant by Sharif Pendleton, $20
In case you missed this fair (there were A LOT in PA this weekend!), you can see the other participating vendors by visiting Crafty Balboa’s blog. They were kind enough to feature all of their vendors to give readers a sneak peek at what was going to be available. The day went by so fast that I didn’t have a chance to really shop, but this journal jumped out at me while making a fast loop. From Huldra Press, and only $34 for a linen bound, vintage ephemera embellished 5″ by 7″ journal thick with handmade paper pages, I couldn’t help myself.
Field Book Journal by Huldra Press
Of course, this is for me, so without any gift shopping out of the way, I think I will be hitting up more of the Philly holiday craft fairs in the next two weeks…
Join me every other Tuesday for a peek into Philly’s art and craft scene. We’ll visit shops, studios, galleries, and perhaps learn a thing or two just traversing about!
Katie VanVliet is a Philadelphia printmaker, and manages The Art Shop @ Moore College of Art & Design. A graduate herself, she markets the artwork and handmade craft of alumnae and students of Moore. She sells her own work at The Art Shop and at craft fairs and exhibitions throughout the city. In her spare time, she founded a cooperative-style printshop, BYO Print, in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philly, that provides affordable facility access to young printmakers in the area.
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Nick Mohler, Weezawear. Weezawear said: RT @handmadeinpa: our newest series starts today – Phocused with Katie van Vliet – here's an introduction – http://bit.ly/fOGsFU [...]