Washington City Paper: Crafty Bastards: About Crafty Bastards

What is it?
Now in its 5th year, Crafty Bastards(sm) Arts & Crafts Fair is an exhibition and sale of handmade alternative arts and crafts from independent artists presented by the Washington City Paper. The fair is all-day, outdoors, free to attend, and will offer goods for sale, food, entertainment, prizes, and more! There are two shows in the DC metro area this year: Saturday, June 28th in Silver Spring, MD and Sunday, September 28th in Adams Morgan DC.

Why are we doing it?
As DC's premier alternative newsweekly, City Paper promotes underground art and strives to connect the voice and vision of the indie craft community with our readers. In our Classifieds section, in print and online, we have a special Crafty Bastards advertising section through which craftspeople can sell their wares and throughout the year we post craft related info on the Crafty Bastards blog, Cut the Craft, where we invite talented crafters to share their knowledge and expertise with the public. Every fall we hold the fair which creates an experience where the urban consumer can discover unconventional, hard-to-find arts and crafts, meet the artists, as well as enjoy an outdoor event with fun and entertainment! In 2008 we are adding a spring show that will have a focus on learning, an emphasis on craft workshops, and highlight up-and-coming artists, and those newer to the indie craft scene.

When is this event and how do I find it?
Saturday, June 28, 2008, 10am-5pm at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center at 8230 Georgia Ave. (Google Maps) in artist-friendly Silver Spring, MD.

Sunday, September 28, 2008, 10am-5pm at the Marie Reed Learning Center at 18th & Wyoming (Google Maps) in the hip Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC.

Read the FAQ for more information.

What kinds of crafts will I find?
You won't find mass produced or imported goods here. You will find talented vendors handpicked by a select jury for their DIY chops and singular vision selling things you never knew existed and that you may never see again! There'll be surprises at every booth including reconstructed clothing, punk rock baby clothes, handcrafted jewelry, whimsical and demented plush toys, handspun yarn, screen-printing, avant-garde art and much more!

Event History
In 2004, City Paper held the first Crafty Bastards(sm) Arts & Crafts Fair at the Columbia Heights Community Marketplace. We featured 150 vendors, food, and bands. In 2005, Crafty Bastards moved to the Marie Reed Learning Center in Adams Morgan, and has since featured more than 100 indie craft vendors, over 20,000 attendees, food, sponsors, prizes, a b-boy battle, workshops, and entertainment that's included a fire-eater, kid-friendly rock shows, a fashion show, belly dancers and more! Our fifth year running, we are expanding with a spring show and the fall show continues to grow. Expect another exciting display of creative talent, entertainment and fun for all!

Still have questions?
See our Frequently Asked Questions.