This coming April 26, 27 and 28 our Guild will once again be producing our annual show at the Oregon Convention Center. We have more vendors and high schools taking part this year so we're expecting a very good representation of woodcrafts from across Oregon, Washington and even one or two guests from California. We want you there too! Here's how...
The Intra-Guild Show. This event is strictly for you, our
members. This is your opportunity to show off your latest creations (one entry per member please) and vie for ribbons and cash stipends in one of three categories: Advanced, Intermediate and Beginner. There's no entry fee, this is a
benefit of membership. I want to encourage all of you to take
part in this event. Remember, this entire GOTG event is
underwritten by your dues. This is our annual celebration of our beloved craft. Come feel the joy of it all! Who will take
the Best-of-Show this year!? Contact me at
arielyphyllis@gmail.com for more information.
The Student Exhibition. This event is our way of promoting wood
working among the youth of our region. Entry is free to any
student (middle or high school) in Oregon or Washington.
We've already heard from schools up and down the
Willamette Valley and from the looks of it, we'll have the
best display of student work short of the State Fair.
I want to encourage you to visit this display with the young
members of your families. They'll be the Guild of the future!
By the way, for all the considerable efforts these kids and
their teachers put out to make it to our show, we make sure
every one of them leaves with something in their pocket.
Anyone wanting more information on this can contact me at
arielyphyllis@gmail.com .
The Member's Booth. We tried something new last year and it
worked so well, we're bringing it back bigger and better. This
is strictly for non-professional members who want to try their
hand at selling the things they create in their home shops.
Seventeen members got in last year and we're expecting even
more so we've increased the booth size to accommodate it all.
Again, entry is a no-fee, benefit of membership. You will
agree to pass 15% of any sales to the Guild. If you sell
nothing, then you pay nothing. It's that simple. Once again
Jim Madaras, your General-Member-At-Large Board member
will be managing this booth (Thank you Jim!).
Contact him if you're interested at james@madaras.us .
Fine Furniture Gallery. This is the main in the front two-thirds of
the Guild's floor plan. Professional woodworkers presenting
their work to the public. This is the creme de la creme for fine
woodworking in the NW. Master craftsmen and women from
across Oregon and Washington (and even a couple from
California) will put on displays that will simply take your breath
away. This is about commerce but it's also a chance to see
and appreciate the best work you'll see around these parts.
There's no fee to just come and see. Talk to the artisans and learn some of their secrets of the trade. Quite frankly, this is my favorite part of the whole weekend. These folks set the bar that I aim for every day at my bench. I invite you all to
come and be amazed along with me.
Once you've finished admiring the fabulous wood exhibits, take some time to visit the displays of the other great Guilds at this event. The Oregon Glass Guild, the Creative Metal Arts Guild, the Handweavers Guild, the Portland Bead Society and the Oregon Potters Association will all be there too. The combined efforts of all the Guilds will once again produce the largest single-weekend art and craft event under one roof of anywhere in the country. This will be huge! Entry is free! Be there!
Any questions on any of this can be directed to me. Email is arielyphyllis@gmail.com . Phone is 503-286-4828.
Thank you for reading this.
Ariel Enriquez