Touchstone Center for Crafts

Pennsylvania’s Premier Craft School

724-329-1370
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Building a Pipeline To Participation In Crafts – Touchstone’s Open House Is Going Virtual!

August 21, 2020 by touchstonecenterforcrafts Leave a Comment

Farmington, PA — Touchstone Center for Crafts is excited to announce a grant award from Center for Craft in Asheville, North Carolina. The Craft Futures Fund grant will be used to help fund Touchstone’s Virtual Open House on Saturday, September 26th. With this event, the Center plans to connect with new audiences more widely across communities, increase accessibility, and build diversity – with the hope of expanding the demographics of the craft field.

“Craft organizations across the field are adapting to current realities. Touchstone’s Open House allows anyone from around the world to visit their studios and experience their educational offerings,” says Stephanie Moore, Executive Director of Center for Craft. “The potential to broaden audiences and improve accessibility is incredibly promising.”

“Nothing beats visiting Touchstone’s campus and watching live demonstrations, but perhaps touring our studios virtually, watching online demonstrations, and interacting with artists virtually will actually reach more people than our typical event does” says Lindsay K. Gates, Executive Director at Touchstone Center for Craft. “Starting with our own organization, the Open House has the potential to help attendees understand what to expect of the craft school experience, inform them of the educational and professional opportunities, and inspire them to become involved in the craft community.”

Touchstone is bringing their immersive experience to you direct from the mountains of the Laurel Highlands on Saturday, September 26th. Participants can view campus and studio tours, demonstrations in blacksmithing, ceramics, glass, metals & jewelry, and painting, watch a live stream of the noborigama wood kiln being unloaded, participate in online art activities, and learn how to get involved in this creative community. The event will be held online from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at touchstoneopenhouse.org.

Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corp. (91.3 WYEP & 90.55 WESA) is the official media sponsor for Touchstone’s Virtual Open House. Funded in part by the Fayette County Tourism Grant Program.

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ABOUT CENTER FOR CRAFT Founded in 1996, the Center for Craft (formerly The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design) is the leading organization in the United States identifying and convening craft makers, curators, and researchers, and matching them with resources, tools, and networks to advance their careers. Over the years, the Center has become a vital community resource, serving thousands of visitors annually. As a national 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the field of craft, the Center administers more than $300,000 in grants to those working in the craft field.

For more information on all grants administered by Center for Craft, click here.  www.centerforcraft.org

ABOUT TOUCHSTONE CENTER FOR CRAFTS Founded in 1972, Touchstone Center for Craft’s mission is to advance excellence in the arts and crafts by educating and encouraging individuals to develop technical skills, good design, and innovative expression. We achieve this through an array of media including blacksmithing, ceramics, glass, fine metals, drawing/painting, and other special topic areas. Touchstone’s 150 acre wooded campus is located in the Laurel Highlands, just 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, near Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, Ohiopyle State Park, and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. Touchstone is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering immersive learning experiences in 7 fully equipped studios, workshop scholarships for teens and adults, artist residencies, internships for artists, and professional gallery exhibitions. 

To learn more about Touchstone Center for Crafts please visit www.touchstonecrafts.org.

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Touchstone Center for Crafts
1049 Wharton Furnace Road
Farmington, PA 15437
724-329-1370
touchstonecrafts.org

 

Filed Under: events, news, online event, virtual

Touchstone 2020 Interns

August 20, 2020 by touchstonecenterforcrafts Leave a Comment

Meet Touchstone’s Second Group of 2020 Interns…

 Jessica Howerton

Jessica is a metalsmith who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Metals from Tennessee Tech University’s Appalachian Center for Craft. Her work focuses on the collection and preservation of both childhood memories and found objects. Jessica enjoys making work that encompasses intricate details and simplistic designs.

Instagram: @metalsmithextraordinaire

Live Demo: Tuesday, September 1 
7:00 PM (Eastern)

Julia Castor

Julia is a ceramic artist and a fine art painter from Bucks County, PA. Her work draws inspiration from the natural world and art history, among other things. She is extremely excited and humbled to be part of the Touchstone team this year, and to have the chance to work and grow as an artist on Touchstone’s beautiful campus in the Laurel Highlands.

Instagram: @castor.art.and.pottery

Live Demo: Tuesday, September 8 
7:00 PM (Eastern)

Meghan Burke

Meg is a New Jersey transplant now living in Pittsburgh, PA. She is a ceramic artist specializing in handbuilt wood fired pottery. This is Meg’s fourth season at Touchstone. She is very excited to be back in the ceramics studio at Touchstone and firing the wood kiln once again.

Instagram: @meghanburkestudio

Live Demo: Tuesday, September 15 
7:00 PM (Eastern)


Watch the LIVE Streams on Instagram!
Intern Artist Demos

September 1, 8, & 15 – Tuesdays at 7:00 PM (Eastern)
Throughout the summer, we’ll be checking in to the studios to see what our Interns are working on.

Watch the live demonstrations using the Instagram app or at Instagram.com.

  1. Follow @touchstonecenterforcrafts on Instagram
  2. Tune in at the times listed
  3. Tap or click on our profile picture (teasel logo) to view the live video
  4. Links to the videos will be posted below at a later date

Click to Watch Recordings of Previous Intern Artist Demos…

All of our 2020 Interns will be organizing an exhibition and sale during our Virtual Open House…


Save the Date – Saturday, September 26th

Touchstone’s First Virtual Open House

We’re bringing Touchstone to you! Join us online Sat, Sept. 26th from 11am to 4pm for live demonstrations, campus and studio tours, online art activities and more!

More Information Coming Soon!


Filed Under: ceramics, crafts, events, exhibition, interns, metals and jewelry, online event, virtual

Intern Artist Demonstrations

July 14, 2020 by touchstonecenterforcrafts Leave a Comment

Touchstone Intern Artist Demonstrations

Watch the LIVE Stream on Instagram!

Tuesdays at 7:00 PM (Eastern)
Throughout the summer, we’ll be checking in to the studios to see what our Interns are working on.

Watch the live demonstrations using the Instagram app or at Instagram.com.

  1. Follow @touchstonecenterforcrafts on Instagram
  2. Tune in at the times listed below
  3. Tap or click on our profile picture (teasel logo) to view the live video
  4. Links to the videos will be posted below at a later date
Tuesday, July 14
7:00 PM (Eastern)

Taylor Mezo

Ceramic artist, Taylor Mezo demonstrates jewelry making techniques using clay, different jewelry findings, and how to assemble the pieces once they’ve been fired.
Watch the recording

Tuesday, July 21
7:00 PM (Eastern)

Taylor Fentz

Metalsmith, Taylor Fentz demonstrates some of the processes and techniques she uses to create unique one of a kind jewelry pieces.
Watch the recording

Tuesday, July 28
7:00 PM (Eastern)

Makena Henriksen

Blacksmith, Makena Henriksen demonstrates some of the processes used to create a small metal box.
Watch the recording


Filed Under: artist demonstration, blacksmithing, ceramics, crafts, events, glass, interns, metals and jewelry, online event, virtual

Touchstone to participate in the Festival of Combustion at Carrie Blast Furnace in Pittsburgh

September 24, 2019 by touchstonecenterforcrafts Leave a Comment

On Saturday, September 28th from 1:00-10:00 pm, Join Rivers of Steel for its signature event, the Festival of Combustion—a celebration of industrial arts and American crafts!

Showcasing the creativity and innovation of our region’s artists, makers, and builders, the daylong festival includes hands-on activities, craft demonstrations, live music, tours, an artisan marketplace, food, festivities, and much more.

New this year to commemorate its fifth anniversary, the Festival has expanded evening performances! Rivers of Steel and 91.3 WYEP are excited to present acclaimed Nashville singer-songwriter Nikki Lane headlining the show, with the throwback rock and roll sounds of the Ruen Brothers, an English duo from a blue-collar steel town, getting the evening started.

Fireworks, flame performances, an evening iron pour, and a host of arts activities will also light up the night in the western courtyard of the Carrie Blast Furnaces.

A family-friendly event, new hands-on activities this year include Fiestaware Mosaics and free kids zone workshops for the little ones. Live demonstrations include iron casting, blacksmithing, glassblowing, raku ceramics, welding, fabrication and more!

With craft beer, food trucks, live music, and an artisan marketplace, you won’t want to miss Rivers of Steel’s biggest event of the year!

Click for more information

Filed Under: blacksmithing, crafts, events, glass, press release, special topic workshop

Touchstone Center for Crafts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance excellence in the arts and crafts by educating and encouraging individuals to develop technical skills, good design, and innovative expression.


Touchstone Center for Crafts stands in solidarity with the Black community and condemns all acts of racism, discrimination, and senseless violence. We firmly believe that everyone has a right to dignity, respect, and equality without fear. As an organization, we commit to listen and learn and to grow. We will continue to work to empower people to use art as a means of expression, a way to build community, and a powerful voice for change.


2021 Registration Is Now Open!

Click Workshops to view offerings in each studio

NEW! Artist Residency Opportunities in 2021!

LEARN MORE


In light of the current COVID-19 concerns and need for social distancing, Touchstone’s staff is working a rotating mix of office hours and remote work until further notice. Office voicemail: 724-329-1370 will be checked daily. Staff members can be reached by email: info@touchstonecrafts.org.

Our offices and campus remain closed to the public. Please follow our social media: Facebook and Instagram, and check out our digital offerings on the Virtual Events page. Thank you for your patience as we take precautions for the health and safety of our staff and community.

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