Award-Winning Guild Artists Ray and Pat Oxenford Appearing in “Pennsylvania Hands” Exhibits in 2011

Douglassville, PA—Award-winning artists Ray and Pat Oxenford, Douglassville, (www.paoxenford.com), lifetime members of the Reading-Berks and Pennsylvania Guilds of Craftsmen, will be part of the “Pennsylvania Hands” (www.amhands.com) exhibit scheduled to show in six cities throughout the state through the end of July.

Pat Oxenford, known for her Early American tole and decorative paintings, and her husband, Ray Oxenford, an accomplished tinsmith, will also appear at several other major art, crafts and folk art shows in southeastern Pennsylvania throughout 2011.

“Pennsylvania Hands” is part of the “American Hands” project created by photographer Sally Weiner Grotta, New York, NY, also a digital artist, author, columnist and lecturer. Many refer to her as a storyteller because of her list of accomplishments and achievements.

Such is her renown within the digital imaging and photography realm, that she is generally referred to by her first name. A pioneer in digital art, Sally developed new creative techniques and styles in the medium when it was still in its infancy. Numerous other experts in digital photography and imaging have acknowledged that they first learned the basics from Grotta’s books, articles and/or lectures.

Grotta said, “In ‘American Hands,’ I am honoring Americans who keep alive the traditional arts and crafts that built our country’s dynamically diver culture and established the underpinnings of our society.”

“Pennsylvania Hands” will be on exhibit at the Osterhout Library in Wilkes-Barre through the end of March. Other shows will be at the Friends Select School, Philadelphia (April 6-28); Genesee Area Library, Genesee, PA. (May 2-31); Oswayo Valley Memorial Library, Shinglehouse, PA. (also May 2-31); the Antoine Dutoit Museum, Delaware Water Gap, PA. (June 17-July 3); and Center Court, Lebanon Valley Mall, Lebanon, PA. (July 5-30).

The Oxenfords will also appear at these 2011 events:

• 9th Annual Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen Spring Fine Arts and Crafts Festival, Kutztown University, Keystone Hall, Kutztown, PA; March 26 and 27.
• Fair at Pottsgrove Manor, Pottstown, PA; May 7, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Spring meeting, Historical Society of Early American Decoration (HSEAD), Holiday Inn Albany Hotel and Conference Center, Albany, NY; May 13, 14 and 15.
• Kutztown Folk Festival, Kutztown Fairgrounds, Space No. 1 in Building A, Kutztown, Pa; July 2-10.
• 37th Colonial Days, sponsored by the East Berlin Historic Preservation Trust, East Berlin, PA; Sept. 10.
• Harvest Fescht, Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, Luckenbill Road on the campus of Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA; Sept. 24 and 25.
• 43rd Annual Traditional Crafts and Folk Art Sales, Heidelberg Municipal Building, Wernersville, PA; Oct. 15, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
• 62nd Annual Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen Juried Holiday Show, Keystone Hall on the Kutztown University campus, Kutztown, PA; Oct. 29 and 30.

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, and will soon release a book on bride’s boxes, her specialty.

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, visit the Oxenfords website www.paoxenford.com or e-mail them at inquiries@paoxenford.com.