Craft Center To Stage

Annual Open House

BROOKFIELD — Brookfield Craft Center’s Fall Open House will be held on Saturday, September 10, from 1 to 4 pm. The popular annual event offers the public a chance to see the craft center in action and explore the historic campus overlooking the Still River at Halfway Falls.

Visitors will be invited to view the six teaching studios at the nationally-known school, and meet faculty members who will provide live demonstrations of skills that are taught in the Craft Center’s ongoing education programs. Demonstrations will include work in glass, ceramics, weaving, woodturning, basketry, blacksmithing and jewelrymaking.

“It’s a chance to discover how learning craft skills can enable your personal creativity and imagination,’ said BCC Executive Director Richard Herrmann. “The artists and demonstrations at this free event provide a glimpse into the making of fine craft and the skills that have been passed down for generations.”   

“Jewelrymaking is one of the hottest and most rapidly growing disciplines in the craft world,” explained BCC Education Director Heather Lawless. “Our fine metals studio has undergone some recent renovations to keep up with the demand for instruction, from beginning ‘101’ foundation classes, to professional level workshops. Our well-equipped woodturning and glass studios, housed in the original Brookfield Railroad Station, will likely be two of the busiest spots on campus during our Open House, and weaving, pottery on the wheel and blacksmithing are always popular as well.

Visitors will be able to learn about as well as register for fall classes if they choose to do so during the open house.

Participating open house artists will include blacksmith Matthew, ceramics artists Sarah Bernhardt and Lisa Scroggins, weaver Christine Aulicino, basket artist Christa Shaw, kumihimo (Japanese braiding) artist Patricia Segar, fused glass artist Suzanne Pisano, jewelers Rachel Morris and Raychel Wengenroth, wood turners Buster Shaw and Jim Degen, and wood carver Wayne Smith. 

Attendees can also see the special faculty exhibition in the Craft Center’s retail gallery. “A Legacy of Fine Craft,” on view through September 11, features work by more than 60 current and past teaching artists, and serves to demonstrate the level of talent and creativity of core faculty and visiting instructors.

The gallery is located on the main floor of the historic Mill Building at the center of the campus. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11 am to 4 pm; Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm; and Sunday, noon to 4 pm. 

Brookfield Craft Center, a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1954 with the mission “to teach and preserve the skills of fine craftsmanship and enable creativity and personal growth through craft education.” The craft center is located at 286 Whisconier Road (Route 25) just east of the intersection with Route 202. For more information, and to view the fall curriculum of classes and workshops, visit BrookfieldCraft.org or call 203-775-4526.