FRANKFORT, Ky – The Kentucky Arts Council will promote craft artists whose work has been selected for the state-sponsored Kentucky Crafted™ program at the New York International Gift Fair, February 1-6, 2008, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. The New York International Gift Fair is one of the world’s largest giftware trade shows attracting over 40,000 buyers worldwide.
“This is a great opportunity for Kentucky artists to come to New York to market their work without the expenses of going it alone,” said Vallorie Henderson, Special Projects Coordinator for Kentucky Arts Council. Henderson coordinates the Kentucky Crafted™ booth (#5304, 5403), in the Handmade section, which will feature products from: Abby Glen Designs, Louisville; Berea College Crafts, Berea; Gail Cohen Designs, Lexington; and Good Idea Inc., Louisville.
Returning will be Jamie Taylor (Abby Glen Designs), a two-family business, whose jewelry designs incorporate some of the finest beads and semi precious stones available.
Veteran exhibitor Peggy Burgio representing Berea College Crafts will present handcrafted items in wood, fiber, wrought iron, and ceramics. The Berea College Student Crafts Program is internationally recognized for excellence in the quality and design of its products.
Also returning will be Gail Cohen (Gail Cohen Designs), who has been designing batik clothing and accessories since 1975. Individually hand dyed on natural fibers, her pieces focus on “comfort” and resort wear in bright colors.
First time exhibitor Mark Needham (Good Idea Inc.) will present bold, one-of-a-kind jewelry designs featuring a variety of techniques and finishes. Each unique, attention-grabbing piece is handmade and signed by the artist.
The Kentucky Crafted™ presence also promotes Kentucky Crafted: the Market, held annually at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville and the 400 craft artists that have been adjudicated into the program on the basis of quality in design and technique, originality or authenticity and marketability.
Kentucky Crafted™ is a program of the Kentucky Arts Council, the state’s arts agency, which creates opportunities for Kentuckians to value, participate in and benefit from the arts. For more information about Kentucky Crafted, go to www.kycraft.ky.gov. Funding for the Kentucky Arts Council is provided by the Kentucky State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Contact information for participating Kentucky Crafted™ businesses exhibiting at the New York International Gift Fair are listed below.
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The Kentucky Arts Council invests in programs that develop vibrant communities, provide lifelong education in the arts and support arts participation. Every $1 in grant funds awarded by the Kentucky Arts Council helps grantees secure $15 in earned income and matching funds from individuals, philanthropic sources and other levels of government.
Abby Glen Designs
Jamie Taylor, Suzanne Bolinger,
Sandy Moss, Lissy Vogt
6500 Glennridge Park Place, Apt. 9
Louisville, Kentucky 40222
(502) 326-0009
jamie@abbyglen.com
AbbyGlen.com
Berea College Crafts
Peggy Burgio
CPO Box 2117
Berea, Kentucky 40403-4117
(859) 985-3220
peggy_burgio@berea.edu
beareacollegecrafts.com
Gail Cohen Designs
Gail Cohen
309 Cassidy Avenue
Lexington, Kentucky 40502
(859) 269-5724
Good Idea Inc.
Mark Needham
5402 Apache Road
Louisville, Kentucky 40207-1612
(502) 893-3802
jewelry@goodideainc.com
goodideainc.com/jewelry.html