39th Annual Putney Craft Tour Named Top Ten Vermont Winter Event; Special Preview Exhibition Opening October 5 at the Latchis Gallery in Downtown Brattleboro

PUTNEY, VT - September 25, 2017 - For the fourth year in a row, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce has named the annual Putney Craft Tour as a Top Ten Winter Event (2017/18). The tour has also been approved as a Vermont Arts Council 2017 event. Also of note, the tour is the oldest continuing craft studio tour in North America.

This year for the first time, twelve Putney Craft Tour artists will participate in a special exhibition for the month of October at the Latchis Gallery in downtown Brattleboro. This exhibition is the first time the Putney Craft Tour artists have previewed work in downtown Brattleboro. The show presents a unique opportunity to purchase works directly from the artists either at the gallery or at the 39th Annual Putney Craft Tour slated for Thanksgiving weekend (November 24, 25, and 26 from 10-5p).

Artists participating include Judy Hawkins, Nancy Calicchio, Colleen Grout, Ken Pick, Dena Gartenstein Moses, Jesse Fox, Jeanne Bennett, Edel Byrne, Phil Pellerin, Fiona Morehouse, Ryan Burch and Bob Burch. All of these artists are recognized for their dedication to their craft. Their work represents a broad range of artistic expressions and techniques from bicycle making to fine art painting, handwovens, glass, ceramics and jewelry.

An opening reception is planned for Thursday, October 5 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Refreshments will feature Putney Winery's "Putney Bubbly," along with award-winning cheese from Parish Hill Creamery. Many of the artists will be available during the opening to discuss their work.

The tour traditionally takes place on the long Thanksgiving weekend November 24, 25 and 26, 10-5p and gives shoppers, visitors and collectors another reason to be thankful. Local community, tour goers, and tourists are invited to celebrate the love of food in addition to the love of cultural activities during Putney Craft Tour's Craft, Culinary and Performance Weekend. For the last four years the Putney Craft Tour, Next Stage Arts Project and Sandglass Theatre have joined forces to present and publicize a special Thanksgiving Weekend of Arts. The tour invites area restaurants to participate by creating a Putney Craft Tour lunch or dinner "special."

The tour will also raise funds for the Putney Foodshelf for the fourth year, an effort started by Nancy Calicchio, an artist on the tour.

"The Putney Craft Tour is more than a once a year event. Many of the studios are open year round, some by appointment, and the tour wants to be a resource for the community in ways that it can. Using our art to support our neighbors and young people in need is a way for us to give something back. Each studio on the Putney Craft Tour will showcase an object for sale with the proceeds going to the Foodshelf," says Calicchio.

The Putney Craft Tour invites visitors to this craft rich area of Vermont to meet the 24 working artists on this year's tour including five new members. Visitors can see blacksmiths, glass blowers, potters, jewelers, weavers, woodworkers - even artisan cheesemakers, a custom bicycle maker, winemakers, encaustic art, farm art, and drums, rattles, lidded containers, masks and more made from gourds. Part of the fun is meandering through the beautiful Vermont countryside, following the map to find these prominent craftspeople and view the works where they are conceived and created. Visitors may start at The Gleanery Restaurant, 133 Main Street, Putney for info, maps, and a preview exhibition of the artisans' works. www.putneycrafts.com www.facebook.com/putney-craft-tour