Artist market: A Fair in the Park returns in Shadyside
A Fair in the Park is back.
The three-day event hosted by The Craftsmen’s Guild of Pittsburgh celebrates 52 years Friday through Sunday at Mellon Park in Shadyside.
It was canceled last year because of the pandemic.
This year, 75 local and national artisans will be selling handcrafted items such as glass, metal, ceramics, fiber, mixed media, wood, 2D, leather and jewelry.
“It is so wonderful to be back,” said Karen McKee, president of The Craftsmen’s Guild. “The patrons who come to A Fair in the Park appreciate good art. They are looking for something special.”
A Fair in the Park began in 1969 as the Craftsmen’s Guild Craft Show. It was held at Allegheny Center on Pittsburgh’s North Side the first two years before moving to Mellon Park.
There will be a new layout this year as a way to create more space for artists and guests.
According to its website, “while there is no current mask mandate in Allegheny County at outdoor events, we encourage you to decide your comfort level when inside an artist’s booth as social distancing becomes more challenging in an enclosed space.”
A disc jockey will be spinning tunes throughout the weekend. There also will be food trucks. Guests are invited to bring a blanket to picnic on the lawn.
A scavenger hunt will instruct participants to take selfies at various locations in the park. Once finished, they will go to the tent of Artsmiths of Pittsburgh to receive an art box with a sewing project to take home.
McKee, of Plum, will be selling her works of clay that are wheel thrown or hand built. She said her vision as Craftsmen’s Guild president has been to include and support the seven guilds of Pittsburgh. Attending each other’s shows is a way to get to know one another, she said.
The other six are Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Fiberarts Guild of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Print Group, Pittsburgh Society of Artists, Pittsburgh Watercolor Society and Women of Visions, Inc.
In addition to the guilds, there are arts classes held at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.
A Fair in the Park invited Women of Visions, an artisan guild of local African American women founded in 1981, to participate this year. The organization promotes the arts, culture and history of women of African descent.
“They are an awesome group,” McKee said. “They will bring wonderful art. We want to showcase all of the Pittsburgh guilds so that people will know about their cultural presence. We are so excited to have people back for A Fair in the Park. I think people want to get out and the artists will be happy to see people again.”
Hours are 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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