Art invades Mellon Park

By NICHOLE LEIGH HUFF

A Fair in the Park Mellon Park Presented by The Craftsman’s Guild of Pittsburgh Sept. 7… A Fair in the Park Mellon Park Presented by The Craftsman’s Guild of Pittsburgh Sept. 7 – 9

While countless Pitt students might go shopping around Oakland or at the Waterfront this weekend, there’s a more unique shopping opportunity in town.

A Fair in the Park, presented by The Craftsman’s Guild of Pittsburgh, is taking over Mellon Park this weekend and features 100 regional and national artists.

The fair will display the work of contemporary American craftsmen in jewelry, textile, mixed media, clay, glass, wood and metal. The annual celebration, in its 38th year, is located in Mellon Park, adjacent to The Phipps Garden Center and The Pittsburgh Center for the Arts in Shadyside, and is free to the public.

The festival opens at 1 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. In addition to the highly acclaimed gathering of artisans, The Craftsmen’s Guild of Pittsburgh and the fair’s sponsors will be providing musical entertainment, including violinists and jazz ensembles, a children’s activity area, refreshments and hot air balloon rides.

Throughout the duration of the festival, select artists will be offering demonstrations of their work, while others contribute to the theme “A Fair in the Park Goes Green,” showcasing their talent with salvaged and eco-friendly materials.

Rachael DiRenna and Rose Clancy, two of the resident artists, take papier-m