New Event Culminates American Craft Week October 3-19, 2014
The laurels of the already famed La Quinta Arts Festival (which by the way recently won Coachella Valley Weekly’s Best Art Festival 2014 award) escalated to a new level in 2014 when it was awarded the premier ranking of #1 Fine Art Festival and #1 Fine Craft Festival in the Nation by Art Fair Sourcebook. This was the first time ever that a show was able to attain the dual #1 designation.
To expound upon this historic feat, La Quinta Arts Foundation (LQAF), presenter of the #1 Fine Craft show, embraced a new initiative designed to ally with the American Crafts Council in its mission to champion contemporary American Craft through their annual American Craft Week (ACW) campaign, which has become America’s largest celebration of craft and creativity. ACW is a salute to those homegrown American entrepreneurs, the men and women who take their creative vision and create items of great beauty and individuality and creates awareness of the value of hand-made items and offers diverse events at galleries, art studios, museums, and libraries across the country.
With that intent, La Quinta Arts Foundation took the lead in aligning with five community partners to launch a new series of activities to locally commemorate ACW October 3-19, 2014. These partners are: La Quinta Museum, La Quinta Historical Society, Friends of the La Quinta Library, Old Town Artisan Studio, and Sm’art Studio.
Collectively the six partners will offer 20 craft themed events and activities including a museum exhibit and reception, plus a host of workshops for children, tweens, teens and adults — several of which even include refreshments and wine! All of the activities at the Museum, Historical Society and Library are offered free of charge. One does not need to be a resident of La Quinta to participate. A complete listing of ACW activities is available on LQAF.com under Events. As each class is limited in attendance, it is important to RSVP in advance to the specific contact number indicated.
Culminating American Craft Week and kicking off LQAF’s 33rd season is “Splendor in the Glass” at Jackalope Ranch on Saturday and Sunday, October 18-19 from 11:30 am to 4:00 pm. Rabobank is the Premier Sponsor of this new and unique exhibit and sale which showcases glass artisans Walker & Bowes who will transform Lucky’s Lawn into a magical garden of blown glass art collectibles featuring a harvest theme of pumpkins, gourds, fruit and more.
The husband-and-wife team of Michele Walker and Bobby Bowes live and work in San Jose, Calif. Both are graduates of San Jose State University with Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. Their education further consists of time at the prestigious Pilchuck Glass School, and with world renowned Italian glass masters. Walker & Bowes glass exhibitions have been featured in major national museum venues such as Corning Glass Museum, Palm Springs Desert Museum and Santa Clara’s Triton Museum of Art. One piece is honored to be included in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.
Attendees will be offered chances to win a piece of Walker & Bowes art glass; entry forms for the opportunity drawing will be at the Rabobank table on Lucky’s Lawn. The winners will not need to be present at the drawing.
Jackalope Ranch will prepare a variety of tangy BBQ favorites in addition to their popular menu. Patrons are invited to shop for early holiday gifts before lunch or dinner, or relax on the Palapas Patio for Happy Hour and be enchanted by the splendor of the garden of glass. This exclusive event will last only two days and these glass gems are sure to sell out quickly. Admission and parking are both free. Jackalope Ranch is located at 80400 Highway 111, one block east of Jefferson. LQAF.com / 760-564-1244
On an added note: La Quinta Arts Festival continues its extraordinary winning streak, this time capturing top honors from Sunshine Artist Magazine, America’s Premier Art and Craft Show Magazine, in their 22nd Annual 200 Best Shows issue published in September. This issue releases their readers’ annual rankings of the nation’s 100 Best Fine Art & Design Shows in 2014 — with La Quinta Arts Festival ranked #1 — plus the 100 Best Classic & Contemporary Craft Shows.
SAVE THE DATE: 33rd La Quinta Arts Festival, March 5-8, 2015 at La Quinta Civic Center Campus. Information and tickets at LQAF.com
