Discover Fine Arts and Craftsmanship Across the State with Pennsylvania's Artisan Trails.
The Pennsylvania Tourism Office has developed five new artisan trails – specialized roadtrips that combine attractions and lodging to bring
visitors to the doorsteps of talented national, regional and local artists,
including an artist who "paints with thread;" funky, independent glass
artists; and an artist who has taught Martha Stewart a thing or two about
Japanese marbling.
The artisan trails program highlights fine arts and craftsmanship
across the state in partnership with unique lodging properties for a full
roadtrip experience. It features signature local artist galleries, studios,
lectures, workshops, exhibitions and demonstrations for arts and crafts
enthusiasts and collectors. Many of the artisans along the trails have
chosen to work among Pennsylvania's inspiring landscape, instead of in the
big cities, pulling inspiration from the surrounding earth, hills, valleys
and streams.
"We've created a special section on visitPA.com to help visitors create
an artisan trail roadtrip," said Mickey Rowley, deputy secretary of tourism
for the Department of Community and Economic Development. "Along with the
various studios, art centers and museums, visitors can find lodging
facilities, as well as other attractions of interest, and special travel
deals."
Launched in March and soon to be featured in National Geographic's new
Appalachian Regional Commission Map, the Route 45 Artisan Trail lives up to
its slogan, "Art thrives on 45," by featuring many studios and galleries
along its 75-mile stretch from Lewisburg to Spruce Creek. Once of the more
notable stops is Penn's Creek Pottery, a studio and shop set in an 1818
grain mill. Visitors can spend the night at a bed and breakfast in the
Susquehanna River town of Lewisburg and explore the Victorian streets
filled with galleries, antiques shops and trinket boutiques. For more
information on Route 45, visit http://www.artthriveson45.com.
The creative culture of Pennsylvania is evident along the Route 15
"Byway of the Arts," a scenic 190-mile drive featuring craft barns, working
artist enclaves and charming villages. For visitors who love American
music, a stop by the Orthey Autoharps Factory in Newport is a must-see, as
it's where the musically famous Carter family (June Carter Cash) purchased
their autoharps. For more information, visit http://www.rt15arts.com.
Focusing on hot glass, stained glass and antique glass, the
Pennsylvania Glass Trail is for the arts enthusiast who is looking for a
hands-on experience. The artisan trail runs along the Rt. 222 corridor from
the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in Reading to the Lehigh Valley. As the
most comprehensive interactive community arts center in the country,
GoggleWorks provides visitors with the opportunity to witness artisans at
work, as well as to create their own masterpiece. Visitors can take classes
in dance, glassblowing, painting, drawing and many other arts. GoggleWorks
is open to the public throughout the year, while the other studios along
the PA Glass trail are open to the public Oct. 12-14 and Dec. 7-9. For more
information, visit http://www.paglasstrail.org.
While the term, "craft," is often used to describe function, the
"Handmade Along the Highway" trail proves that there is much art in these
crafts. Focusing on old world crafts and the tradition of passing down
techniques from masters to apprentice, the artists are fittingly located
along two of Pennsylvania's most historic routes: Lincoln Highway and the
National Road. Treasures like shaker boxes, treenware (the name for kitchen
and other household implements made from wood) and dulcimers are all
available for purchase as keepsakes of a wonderful vacation. For more
information, visit http://www.handmadealongthehighway.org.
The Route 6 artisan trail is where old-time Americana meets hip and
happening arts and culture. Coined "one of America's most scenic drives" by
National Geographic, Route 6 is comprised of a string of small communities,
each with a wealth of talent from sculptors, painters, glass artists,
jewelers, photographers and even furniture makers. Shops, galleries,
museums and murals pepper the path along Pennsylvania's northern tier. For
more information, visit http://www.paroute6.com.
The Pennsylvania Tourism Office, under the state Department of
Community and Economic Development, is dedicated to fulfilling the needs
and aspirations of travelers by presenting them with the information and
resources they need to plan and enjoy the activities, attractions and
destinations that are uniquely Pennsylvania. For more information about
Pennsylvania's tourism industry, go to http://www.visitPA.com.
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