Peters Valley was established as a craft education center in 1970, providing education in blacksmithing, weaving, surface design, woodworking, photography and fine metals.
The goal of its founders was to provide a center of education, promoting contemporary crafts.
Now in its 38th year, Peters Valley has been welcoming students of all ages and walks of life to its facility and has provided a place for the beginner to learn a craft, as well as providing craft artists with a place to learn new techniques and enhance their skills.
Peters Valley utilizes many of the historic buildings, which are part of the “valley”.
We will be working on an archival area of this website for historical information and images during the summer of 2008 ... just keep checking. |
Still today, you will find a comfortable, yet energetic, village tucked away within the thousands of acres of the Delaware Water Gap’s National Recreation Area.
Here we find Peters Valley Craft Center carrying on the traditions and goals of its founders in providing an educational environment in an artisan community.
From mid-fall to early spring, Peters Valley is home to a artists-in-residence working furthering their own craft, and working in their assigned studios away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, while enjoying the camaraderie, knowledge and skills of those who head the studios there.
Spring unfolds with Peters Valley annual open house in May. This is also a commemoration Bevans, the village that pre-dated Peters Valley Craft Center. According to Jimmy Clark, Executive Director, “The Center’s Spring Open House is a free annual event when we open our doors to the general public and offer a unique opportunity to tour all our studios and get an inside view of how our artists work. In addition to craft demonstrations, the day includes live music, food, an art exhibit, and of course a celebration to the legacy of Bevans”.
Peters Valley boasts eight studios which include blacksmithing, ceramics, topical & structural fibers, fine metals, photography and woodworking.
Aside from the intensive courses traditionally attributed to these studios, Peters Valley also offers a terrific range of special topics each year. These may include drawing, sculpture, painting, leather working, glass, and many more enjoyable, stimulating genres of crafts.
Peters Valley has also begun a youth workshop program specially designed for children and teens, teaching fun and motivating artisan skills according to age and interest.
At the end of this cycle is the annual Peters Valley Craft Fair in September at the New Jersey State Fairgrounds. Artists near and far gather to sell the fruits of the past year in a market setting, featuring wandering musicians, homemade food and art-making demonstrations.
When the dust settles and fall creeps in, the valley successfully hosts one more event to celebrate the art culture in Sussex County. The annual Fine Craft Auction & Dinner brings the spoils of nationally renowned artists from all over the United States to a fundraising event which allows guests to have fun growing their own collections, while helping to raise funds used to assist Peters Valley and their goals.
It may grow quiet for a brief moment in the Valley, until once more resident artists return to pondering their work. |
