Peters Valley 29th Annual Craft Fair

Peters Valley 29^th Annual Craft Fair September 25 & 26, 1999 Rain or Shine 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Admission: $5 Children under 12 free No pets Digital Images and Story by Kathryn Craig
The Greek House (above) at one time housed the photography studio. However, it is presently undergoing renovations and will soon house a coffee/tea meeting room for students.	Nestled in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Peters Valley attracts the crème de la creme of the nation’s and even the world’s best artists. Probably named for early settler, Peter Van Ness, the village dates back to the Dutch copper mining days of the mid-1600’s. However, the tranquil and beautiful setting was almost lost as part of the controversial Tocks Island Dam project in the ’60s. Peters Valley was one parcel of land acquired by the government to create a 12,000-acre lake for the project. The little village was condemned and the 15 families that resided in the valley moved on. The 20 buildings and structures on the property then fell into disrepair and Peters Valley became a ghost town. However, after realizing the village was worthy of saving, the National Parks Service with the cooperation of several state agencies such as the NJ State Council of the Arts, developed a pilot program and a new direction in the parks’ recreational program was born.
During the summer, short courses and one-day workshops are conducted in such fields as blacksmithing, fine metals, ceramics, fiber design, photography, weaving, woodworking and more. Students, from beginner to advanced, come from all over the country to attend the concentrated programs that focus on individual attention and creative expression.
There are seven active studio areas at the Valley, which include the woodworking facility at Thunder Mountain and the Ceramics Studio.	The annual craft fair held at Peters Valley’s is the major fundraising event that attracts over 14,000 visitors. The comfortable and friendly setting provides the public with an opportunity to see and buy original crafts and converse with the artists. Peters Valley is funded in part by grants from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, A Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Talented artists from around the country will exhibit beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces of art that include: jewelry, basketry, ceramics, weaving, fiber arts, glass, photography, metal, leather, wood, paintings, prints, sculpture and much, much more. For more information on Peters Valley Craft Education Center, check out their website.	Blacksmithing instructor, Corrina Mensoff of Atlanta, Georgia, discusses metalworking skills with a student. Instructors, students and artists travel from across the country to take part in the unique and creative expression of the arts explored at Peters Valley.

Be sure to check out the SussexCounty.Com Calendar for more area events for craft lovers.