15th Kutztown Folk Festival To Host Oxenfords

Now in its 61st year, the folk festival is a one-of-a-kind experience that gathers together the Oxenfords and some 200 of America’s finest traditional craftsmen, as well as blends the old and the new in comfortable surroundings. This year’s festival has been designated one of the top 100 events in the country by the American Bus Association.

The 2010 Kutztown Folk Festival runs from July 3-11 at the Kutztown Fairgrounds. Hours daily are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For a free brochure, please call 1-888-674-6136 or 610-683-1597.

Renowned for her Early American tole and decorative paintings–and Ray Oxenford, an accomplished traditional tinsmith, will make their 15th straight appearance at the Kutztown Folk Festival from July 3 through July 11, 2010. They will also participate in several other guild, craft and arts shows throughout the remainder of 2010.

Pat Oxenford designs and decorates all types of tinware including trays, document boxes, coffee and teapots, spice canisters and more using authentic 18th, 19th and 20th century designs. She is very much in demand for her work and knowledge and frequently offers toleware and tole painting seminars at the festival. Her specialty is recreating old-world German bride’s boxes and personalizing them for clients for weddings, anniversaries and other occasions. She has done numerous commissions and teaches at the Kutztown, Pa. German Cultural Heritage Center and at the Harleysville, Pa. Mennonite Museum.

At this year’s festival, she will be introducing three smaller versions of her Jonas Weber chests and new Lehnware turnings. She will also exhibit her bride’s boxes, toleware, Weber-style miniature chests, wooden wall shelves, pipe boxes and wall sconces. She will also sign and sell her book, “Heritage Crafts Today—Tole Painting” (Stackpole Books) at their festival booth (A-1) in the A Building.

Pat Oxenford is also featured in photographer Sally Wiener Grotta’s traveling exhibit “American Hands,” a celebration of Americans who are keeping alive the functional skills that helped build the country. It will be offered at various locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.(www.AmHands.com)

Ray Oxenford, who collaborates with his wife and makes all of their wooden items including the bride’s, salt, candle, Bible and pipe boxes and Weber-style chests, has more than 45 years experience in the antiques business, as well as being a tinsmith and woodworker. He creates his own tinware using authentic 18th and 19th century patterns and designs and restores old tinware. The couple often recreates an early tin shop as part of their shows.

The Oxenfords will also appear at these 2010 events:

• The Historic East Berlin 36th Annual Colonial Day on Sat., Sept. 11 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is being held rain or shine on West King Street in East Berlin, Pa.

• The Applebutter Frolic at Harleysville, Pa., on Sat., Oct. 2, sponsored by the Harleysville Mennonite Museum, where Pat Oxenford also teaches and exhibits.

• The 42nd Annual Traditional Craft and Folk Art Sale, South Heidelberg Township Municipal Building, Wernersville, Pa., on Sat., Oct. 16. It runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine.

• The 61st Annual Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen Juried Holiday Craft Festival on Nov. 6 and 7 at Keystone Hall, Kutztown university, Kutztown, Pa. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Visit the Oxenfords’ website at www.paoxenford.com or the festival website at www.kutztownfestival.com.

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