Handcrafted in Arkansas: The Arkansas Craft Guild sets the standards

The Arkansas Craft Guild was established as a craft marketing cooperative in Stone County in 1962 and today some 200 artists and craftsmen make up the cooperative’s all-Arkansas membership. For over 40 years Guild members' work has been juried on the basis of design, quality and fine craftsmanship.　The Standards Committee holds jury sessions twice yearly to consider new memberships, and to re-jury existing members every five years in order to　maintain the Guild standards.

The Guild office and the Arkansas Craft Gallery, the retail showroom of Guild members' work,　are located at 104 W. Main Street in Mountain View.　 The gallery is　housed in the historic C.G. Rosa Building, one block east of the Courthouse Square on Main Street.　 Look for the new yellow banners on the front of the building.

The gallery, which is open year round Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm, is stocked with an array of one-of-a-kind collectibles, including pottery, blown glass, fabric art, weavings, brooms, musical instruments, candles, woodcarvings, toys, needle work, turned wood products, stained glass, photography, and paintings of every medium.　 We invite you to visit us when you are in Mountain View.　 Browse our unique gallery filled with the finest traditional and contemporary crafts, made exclusively by Arkansas Artists. The gallery features a Guild artist each month.　 Our featured artists are:

November:　 David & Becki Dahlstedt, pottery
Reception November 6th from 4 pm to 6 pm
December:　 Joe Doster, Woodworks
January 2010:　 Deborah Lively & Sue Coon, Painters
February 2010:　 Heart & Soul Member Group Show

The Arkansas Craft Guild will sponsor its 31st Annual Christmas Showcase at The State House Convention Center in Little Rock on Dec. 4, 5 & 6, 2009. The Showcase features the work of　the Arkansas Craft Guild members as well as juried guest artists.

Call the gallery at 870-269-4120 for more information or visit www.arkansascraftguild.org.