Award-Winning Guild Artists Ray and Pat Oxenford Announce Upcoming Shows for Remainder of 2009

Douglassville, PA—Award-winning Guild Artist Pat Oxenford, Douglassville, (www.paoxenford.com), known for her Early American tole and decorative paintings, and her husband, Ray Oxenford, an accomplished tinsmith, are appearing in several major art, crafts and folk art shows through the end of 2009:

• “From Raw to Refined: The Creative Path of Master Craftsmen of the Pennsylvania Guild.” Through Oct. 31. Eighty-nine works by 79 members of the Guild, including Pat Oxenford. Open Tues., Weds., Thurs. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sun. noon-5 p.m. 610-371-5850. www.readingpublicmuseum.org. (Pat)
• Annual Friends of the Arts Show, Birdsboro Memorial YMCA. Birdsboro, PA. Sponsored by Birdsboro Woman’s Club. Opening Fri. Oct. 16 from 7-9 p.m. Public welcome Oct. 17-19.
• 41st Annual Traditional Crafts and Folk Art Sale, Sat., Oct. 17, South Heidelberg Township Building, Galen Hall Road, Wernersville, PA; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 610-856-5013. Rain or shine. Free admission and refreshments. (Pat)
• 60th Annual Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen Holiday Craft Show, Sat., Oct. 31 (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) and Sun., Nov. 1 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.). Keystone Hall, main campus of Kutztown university, Kutztown, PA. In partnership with the PA German Heritage Center and Kutztown University. 610-678-6650. www.rbcrafts.org. (Pat)
• Pennsylvania German Folk Art Sale, Mennonite Heritage Center, Harleysville, PA. Meet the Artist Night Dec. 4 from 7-9 p.m. Open to public Dec. 5-23, 2009. Tue.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 215-256-3020. www.mhep.org. (Ray & Pat)

Pat Oxenford, one of the most in-demand artists and a frequent toleware and tole painting seminar presenter, 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 has written a book, “Heritage Crafts Today—Tole Painting” published by Stackpole Books.

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 Mennonite Heritage Center.

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.

For more information, e-mail Pat & Ray at inquiries@paoxenford.com.