Award-Winning Guild Tole Artist Pat Oxenford and Tinsmith Ray Oxenford Making 14th Appearance at Kutztown Folk Festival

Douglassville, PA—Award-winning Guild Artist Pat Oxenford (www.paoxenford.com), Douglassville, who is renowned for her Early American tole and decorative paintings, and Ray Oxenford, an accomplished traditional tinsmith, will appear at the Kutztown Folk Festival from June 27 through July 5, 2009—their 14th straight appearance.

Pat Oxenford, one of the most in-demand artists and a frequent toleware and tole painting seminar presenter at the festival, designs and decorates all types of tinware including trays, document boxes, coffee and teapots, spice canisters and more using authentic 18th, 19th and 20th century designs. She enjoys recreating the designs of Peter Ompir, Peter Hunt and other early folk artists.

Her specialty is recreating old-world German bride’s boxes and personalizing them for clients for weddings, anniversaries and other occasions. She has done numerous commissions and teaches at the Kutztown, PA German Cultural Heritage Center in cooperation with Northampton County Community College and at the Harleysville, Pa. Mennonite Museum.

She will be featuring and signing her 2008 book, “Heritage Crafts Today—Tole Painting” (Stackpole Books) at their festival booth (A-1) in the A Building and will offer some new items—Weber-style miniature chests, wooden wall shelves, pipe boxes and wall sconces.

Ray Oxenford, who collaborates with his wife and makes all of their wooden items including the bride’s, salt, candle, Bible and pipe boxes and Weber-style chests, has more than 45 years experience in the antiques business, as well as being a tinsmith and woodworker.

He creates his own tinware using authentic 18th and 19th century patterns and designs and restores old tinware. The couple often recreates an early tin shop as part of their shows.

The Oxenfords will also participate  in many other local and regional 2009 shows—Plow Boys 20th Anniversary Celebration, Kutztown German Cultural Heritage Center, Aug. 9 and 10; Mouns Jones Country Fair, Douglassville, Sept. 26 (Ray) and Harleysville Mennonite Museum Workshop, Sept. 26 (Pat); Birdsboro Friends of the Arts, Oct. 17-19; and Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen 60th Anniversary holiday Show at Kutztown University on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

Now in its 60th year, the folk festival is a one-of-a-kind experience that gathers together the Oxenfords and some 200 of America’s finest traditional craftsmen, as well as blends the old and the new in comfortable surroundings. This year’s festival has been designated one of the top 100 events in the country by the American Bus Association.

“One big reason for the festival’s popularity is that people enjoy revisiting the past. They like to be reminded of people, places, and about ways of life of many years ago. They recognize that this is part of their heritage. At the same time, they enjoy the new features that are added every year at the festival and are popular with people of all ages,” according to Executive Director Dave Fooks.

The 2009 Kutztown Folk Festival runs from June 27 to July 5 at the Kutztown Fairgrounds. Hours daily are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For a free brochure, please call 1-888-674-6136 or 610-683-1597. Visit the Oxenfords’ website at www.paoxenford.com or the festival website at www.kutztownfestival.com.