7th Annual Sarasota Craft Show Returns to Robarts Arena
December 4-6, 2015
This juried show of premier craft and fine art features works in clay, wood, glass, fiber, mixed-media, jewelry and more by more than 100 of the nation’s top artists.
(Sarasota, FL) The Sarasota Craft Show returns to Sarasota, December 4-6, 2015, at Robarts Arena, 3000 Ringling Blvd., in Sarasota. The event, now in its seventh year, features exceptional works in ceramics, decorative fiber, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed-media, paper, wearable art, wood, painting, photography and sculpture by more than 100 of the nation’s top artists. Tickets are $11 per day; $10 for seniors; $6 for students; and $13 for a three-day pass. Children under 10 are admitted free. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, December 4, and Saturday, December 5, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, December 6. For directions or information about the venue, please call 941-365-0818. For more information about the artists and the event, please call 845-355-2400, or visit www.sarasotacraftshow.com.
Hailed by artists nationwide as one of the more innovative promoters empowering artists and artisans working in the fine arts and crafts industry, Richard Rothbard and his wife Joanna took over management of the event (formerly the American Craft Show Sarasota) seven years ago. Their firm, American Art Marketing, has produced annual fine art and crafts events in the northeast for more than 30 years, including the celebrated Berkshires Arts Festival, the Arts Festival of Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, and American Fine Craft Shows at the Brooklyn Museum, the DC Armory in Washington, D.C., New Jersey and the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut. The Rothbards also own and operate An American Craftsman Galleries with four locations in New York City, including a new gallery in Lincoln Center, and Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
Last year, the Sarasota Craft Show, which relocated to Robarts Arena in 2012, attracted more than 5,000 visitors over the three-day event. Continuing to build on that success, Rothbard and his team have been busy with their rigorous process of selecting the 100+ artists and artisans for the Sarasota show.
“Our artists consider the Sarasota region to be a prime market for their work,” says Rothbard. “With that reputation, some of the best artists in the nation, including many from Sarasota’s own arts community, look forward to this show every year.” He adds: “We feature acclaimed jewelry artists every year, but the 2015 Sarasota Craft Show features several new jewelry designers who are celebrated as among the best in the United States.”
Rothbard notes that the indoor ambience offers a civilized alternative to crowded outdoor art fairs. “It’s a more personal experience,” he says. “You can take your time, visit with the artists, and start a real conversation about their work. And Mother Nature won’t ruin that conversation if she gets in a bad mood, thanks to the controlled, air-conditioned environment. The sun’s not beating down on you—or hiding behind clouds. Artists can show their work in literally the best light.”
Regional artists who will be featured at this year’s show include painter Judy Dempsey; ceramist Geoff Walsh; jewelers Joan Michlin, Skip Ennis, Pam Fox, Katherine Kaya, and Beth Lonsinger; glass artist Susan Gott; and mixed-media artists Su Griggs, Amy Lennard Gmelin, and Elaine Laurent.
“We are always excited to see the high caliber of work being produced by the participating artists from this area,” says Rothbard.
For more information about the Sarasota Craft Show, call 845-355-2400 or visit www.sarasotacraftshow.com. To learn more about Richard Rothbard, visit www.boxology.com or email [email protected].
