Handmade Arcade celebrates 15 years of creativity

Handmade Arcade turns 15 this year.

That’s a lot of hand-crafted items.

Pittsburgh’s award-winning independent craft fair, Handmade Arcade celebrates the cutting edge of craft by connecting creators and consumers through making, sharing and learning.

Showcasing 250 innovative craft-based artists, designers and makers (including 84 first-time vendors) from all over Pittsburgh, Western Pennsylvania and the United States, Handmade Arcade is the region’s leading shop-small, buy-local event of the holiday season.

This year’s event is 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh. Admission is free.

Items include clothing, artwork, bath and beauty items, jewelry, housewares, children’s products and paper goods .

In 2018, more than 12,000 people attended Handmade Arcade which will also feature a Hands-on Handmade activity area and the Framer’s Market. Hosted by the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, shoppers can purchase frames at discounted prices. Sales benefit the youth maker scholarship.

The arts council provided funding to Handmade Arcade through the Project Stream grant.

Mitch Swain, CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, says Handmade Arcade connects artists to people who want to buy interesting, creative items.

“There are so many creative people in this area,” he says. “Handmade Arcade has really grown. I remember it when it was at the Hunt Armory (in Shadyside). I like that Handmade Arcade supports youth makers and emerging artists. Handmade Arcade promotes independent artists by giving them an opportunity to sell their work.”

Handmade Arcade has continued to strengthen its mission to celebrate the cutting edge of craft by connecting creators and consumers through making, sharing, and learning says Jennifer Baron, director of marketing and outreach for Handmade Arcade.

“We believe that making things by hand can transform individuals and communities, and we think that our supporters do too,” she said. “Handmade Arcade serves as a catalyst for bringing together the maker space and the marketplace — at a time when people are seeking meaningful alternatives to planned obsolescence, anonymous online shopping, corporate chains and big box stores.”

Attendees love that they can meet the makers and learn the fascinating stories behind the innovative products, artwork and goods they are purchasing. They’ve spent more than $450,000 in one day last year to support the local arts economy and craft artists from this region and around the country, she says.

Varied art

One of those artists is Shane Henderson, a New Kensington native, who now lives in Tarentum. He does architectural illustrations and began drawing iconic buildings in his hometown in 2016. He expanded his artwork into other areas to include sports arenas and places of worship. He makes both digital and screen prints at the company he owns with his father Don Henderson Graphic Design & Illustration, based in New Kensington.

Henderson says people in Western Pennsylvania connect with their neighborhoods.

He discovers subjects to draw from taking photos wherever he goes and then works in Adobe Illustrator on the computer. He makes poster-size and miniature prints.

“Pittsburgh has a real appreciation for artists, and they love hand-crafted gifts to give as presents,” Henderson says. “Handmade Arcade is also a perfect venue where you can walk around and see everything pretty easily. They have stayed relevant and both buyers and sellers look forward to it because it has established itself.”

Henderson was introduced to Handmade Arcade through a fellow artist and former classmate at Valley High School, Meghan Tutolo. The New Kensington native who now lives in Forest Hills, Tutolo makes pins, magnets and greeting cards for her company 1flychicken. She will bring stained glass ornaments and sun catchers that are Pittsburgh-themed such as pickles and pierogies.

“They (Handmade Arcade) never overdo one genre or another,” Tutolo says. “Their visual presentation for the shoppers is super thoughtful. They care about the experience for both the maker and the buyer. They are super organized and good at promoting the event.”

Artwork you see promoting the event was done by Ashley Olinger of Stanton Heights, an illustrator who owns YeahYELHSA. She will also be a vendor.

“Fifteen years is an achievement,” Olinger says. “Handmade Arcade has had longevity because they have focus on the emerging maker and they offer a variety of makers. I do a lot of my holiday shopping at Handmade Arcade.”

Artist Nora Thompson of Whitney will focus on her The Rots series for her first appearance as a Handmade Arcade vendor.

“I will have a lot of prints and cards, books, and five new cards that have not been anywhere yet,” Thompson says.

“I have some originals I hope to get in,” she says.

The Handmade Arcade has found a popular niche to attract shoppers looking for non-commercial items for themselves and to give as gifts, she says.

Young makers

Through the Handmade Arcade Youth Maker Scholarship Program, craft-based artists, makers and entrepreneurs ages 16 to 18 learn the value of enterprise, innovation, collaboration and making things by hand. They also have the opportunity to showcase their work at the event.

This year’s Handmade Arcade Youth Maker Alley, which is sponsored by Matt’s Maker Space, will showcase 12 young artists who are scholarship recipients through the nonprofit.

Danielle Engstrom, a Belle Vernon Area High School student, attended a craft show with her father a few years ago as he sold wooden bowls, platters, candle holders and other handmade items he had crafted.

“After that, I decided I wanted to create something of my own and soon after found the craft of turned wooden pens,” she says.

Her father helped her to make and turn wooden blanks from pen kits, and she raised over $750 in 2015 through Kickstarter, exceeding her $500 goal. “I was able to buy my own mini lathe, tools, kits, and more. I now make everything on my lathe in my basement with the tools I purchased,” she says.

Engstrom has branched out to making fountain pens, seam rippers, letter openers, pencils and more.

“I love to change a piece of nature that is somewhat dull and common into something people will cherish and appreciate in their daily lives,” she says.

Another scholarship recipient is Carlee Shreve, a Connellsville Area Senior High School student.

Shreve makes tie-dye clothing and accessories. “I use 5-gallon buckets, water, 100 % cotton white fabric, dye, gloves, and a lot of love for art.I do all of the making and creating in the attic of my family’s house,” Shreve says .

There is a preview party from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 6 and early birdie shopping from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Dec. 7.

Tickets are $20 for the preview party and $15 for the early birdie.

Details: handmadearcade.org