Eastwood Gallery booth at the National Arts and Crafts Antiques Show, 2024. Photo by Ray Stubblebine
Returning for its 38th year, the National Arts and Crafts Conference and Shows will take place Friday to Sunday, February 21 to 23, at Asheville’s historic Omni Grove Park Inn. The event will feature a rich array of antiques, contemporary crafts, educational workshops and seminars in celebration of the Arts and Crafts movement. “After such a difficult last quarter of 2024 brought on by the effects of Hurricane Helene, the beauty of this show at the historic Grove Park Inn is providing normalcy for not only our local supporters who come every year but also the local artists in the show who look forward to seeing their clients every year,” says director Kate Nixon.
The Arts and Crafts movement, which began in the late 19th century, revolutionized design by emphasizing hand craftsmanship and the use of natural materials. It offered a refreshing departure from the mass production of the Industrial Era, inspiring modest yet beautifully crafted bungalows filled with oak furniture, handmade pottery and metalwork. The Grove Park Inn itself is a hallmark of the style, creating an immersive experience for conference attendees.
Karen L. Hovde, owner of Interior Vision in the Craftsman Style, has been a participant in the show for 32 years. “This unique and prestigious show has been instrumental in the revival of the Craftsman Movement,” Hovde says. Her booth provides inspiration and resources for homeowners and enthusiasts aiming to incorporate this historic style into their living spaces.
Workshops are a cornerstone of the conference, like Hovde’s three-hour session on Friday morning,“Choosing Color for the Interior of Your Bungalow.” Hovde describes the workshop as an “interactive process that will empower you in making choices of color and style development for your home interior.” Participants will create their own room set design boards using color chips, fabric and carpet samples. The session welcomes anyone with a room in mind, offering practical insights that can be applied to any dwelling, not just bungalows. Tickets for the workshop are $125. For those seeking further guidance, Hovde will also lead a one-hour discussion group on Saturday titled “Choosing Paint Color for the Exterior of Your Historic Home.”
This year’s lineup of seminars features topics ranging from the design theory of Denman Ross to the radical porcelain decoration of Chicago’s Florence Pratt Steward. Pre-conference workshops led by master artisans will give attendees hands-on opportunities to craft their own linoleum prints, copperwork, embroidery and metalwork. Guided tours of the Grove Park Inn and a historic Asheville home will provide context and inspiration for those who appreciate the movement’s integration of natural beauty and functional design.
The Omni Grove Park Inn is located at 290 Macon Avenue, Asheville. Learn more and register for the conference at Arts-CraftsConference.com.
This has always been a show that I have hoped to come to “someday”.