Celebrate Craft at the 46th Annual Spring Tennessee Craft Fair in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Join Nashville’s community celebration of craft at the 46th Annual Spring Tennessee Craft Fair 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 5-6 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 7 on the lawn of Centennial Park.

The public is invited to make this summer’s weddings, graduations, birthdays and holidays special by selecting unique handmade gifts from local artists. Support the local economy, learn about fine craft, and connect with the Nashville community.  Of those selected by the jury, 75% of the 205 artists are representing Tennessee.

Tennessee Craft Fairs are top-tier shows that bring together craft artists with regional and national reputations to share their best work. Featured craft artists include:

TOM TURNBULL (Nashville, TN) is a craftsman with a passion for meticulously hand-made pottery. His exquisitely beautiful work comes from his belief that pottery is extremely personal, and he uses his skill in this ancient medium to make that human connection.

VICKIE VIPPERMAN (Kingston Springs, TN) designs and weaves every piece of clothing, accessory and contemporary wall art herself in her home studio in middle Tennessee. She uses silk, cotton and bamboo yarns to make functional fabrics that exude quality, style and comfort. Vickie is working on a new vest design and color combinations to bring to the spring fair.

DANIEL CORBAN’S (Orlinda, TN) furniture pieces are handmade one at a time from exceptional domestic hardwood with colonial and Shaker influences. Essentials include mortise and tenon and dovetail joinery, as well as, a hand-rubbed lacquer finish for lasting beauty. Corban debuts his tiger maple corner chair at the spring fair along with new mahogany pieces.

KRISTI HYDE (Atlanta, GA) makes every piece of botanical jewelry herself, and no two pieces are ever exactly alike. Kristi casts her original sculpted pieces in precious metals and finishes them by hand. Kristi’s jewelry pieces are modern heirlooms influenced by urban life and infused with a wild feminine spirit. Expect to see new orchid leaf cuffs and sculpted chain bracelets encrusted with gems.

Attendees can visit the Emerging Makers tent when browsing through the craft fair. This is a unique opportunity for new artists to gain "real-world" experience by showing their work at this prestigious show of professional artists.

Future artists can visit the Publix Kids’ Tent, featuring a variety of hands-on activities allowing young artists to explore culture and community through craft. Working with skilled artists and using a wide array of materials and techniques, children can create their own individual artworks and can contribute to a collaborative mural. Fair visitors of all ages are invited to participate in the mural and become part of the dialogue on social media using #myTNcraftcommunity.

As always, this event is free and open to the public with free parking and a free shuttle service on Saturday and Sunday. Shuttle will run in 15-minute loops from the HCA Parking Lots located on Park Plaza to the Tennessee Craft Fair. All guests are encouraged to use this free service that is generously provided by the Metropolitan Airport Authority. You can get to Centennial Park on Metro Transit Authority bus routes: West End #3, Charlotte #10, and University Connector #21.

For more information, visit www.tennesseecraft.org/SpringFair.   

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About Tennessee Craft

Since 1965, Tennessee Craft (previously TACA) has worked to continue and create Tennessee’s fine craft tradition. With more than 500 members throughout the state, Tennessee Craft serves as the premier connecting point for local, independent makers and their audiences through Craft Fairs, exhibitions, professional development and educational programs.