Earlier than Etsy: Handmade Arcade enters 13th year as region’s largest independent craft fair
Jen Primack pays homage to Albert Einstein, depicted on one of the products of her business, Upcycled Designs, during the 2015 Handmade Arcade.
Audra Azoury’s cut steel ornaments present a Pittsburgh theme.
For an idea of what to expect at Handmade Arcade, consider:
“Some people describe it as walking into an Etsy page,” Jennifer Baron said about the popular handmade items-focused website. “But we started before Etsy. And when we started, there were no events in Pittsburgh of this kind.”
Baron, a Dormont resident and Mt. Lebanon High School graduate, is spreading the word as press and marketing coordinator for what has become the region’s largest independent craft fair. Now in its 13th year, Handmade Arcade is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. And it’s free.
“We have more than 150 craft-based artists, designers and makers of all different types,” Baron said, with 41 of them first-timers at the event.
About three-quarters of the vendors are from Western Pennsylvania, selected through careful consideration in a juried process.
“We are highly supportive of the ‘buy local; shop small; buy handmade’ movement,” Baron explained. “But what’s fantastic is that our event is really the only big craft fair where you’re going to be able to see some work by leading national crafters who are traveling to Pittsburgh for the event.”
Traveling north from Peters Township is artist Audra Azoury, who is participating in her fourth Handmade Arcade.
“It’s our favorite event of the year,” she said, and she is making a special item for the occasion: a stainless-steel ornament featuring the event’s distinctive “Scissor Girl” logo, to be presented as a prize to one lucky visitor.
Azoury has become known for her cut steel jewelry and other pieces featuring regional landmarks, especially bridges.
“Not all of my designs are based on Pittsburgh,” she said. “But Pittsburgh is my home, and it’s where I was born and raised. So it’s close to my heart.”
Working on bridging the perceived gap between the city and points south is Kate McGrady, owner of The Artsmiths of Pittsburgh in Mt. Lebanon, she is looking forward to the opportunities provided by Handmade Arcade.
“It’s exciting to be there and talk to the people of the city who might not know what we do,” she said about the Banksville Road business, which showcases the work of local artists and provides plenty of space for exhibits.
The Artsmiths is participating for the first time and going all in by sponsoring the Hands-on Handmade section of the event, featuring an opportunity for visitors to try a variety of artistic pursuits for themselves.
“That’s going to engage a greater number of people,” McGrady said. “Everybody comes there to shop, but it’s nice that they also have these interesting projects to show people what they can do with art.”
Such activities provide for a good way to break up the day.
“What’s great is, you can go back and forth,” Baron said. “You can shop. You can take a break and have lunch at the café in the convention center. Then you can go and make something, and you can shop some more.”
She also touted the opportunity for visitors to meet the people who are making the products.
“Even though our event has grown larger, you get to hear the story behind something that you’re purchasing,” she said. “Also, I love the fact that it’s a social event. It’s not just this anonymous, people-waiting-in-line, in-and-out purchasing of something that’s very corporate. Who knows where it was made and the story behind the ethics.”
For more information about Handmade Arcade, visit www.handmadearcade.com. “Early Birdie” passes are available at $15 for 10 a.m. on event day.