Middle school hosts its annual craft show
Stephen Finn
The Sun
Burlington Township is full of talented makers, crafters and artisans, and never is this fact more apparent than at the annual craft show at Burlington Township Middle School at Springside. On Saturday, Nov. 17, a wide array of items, all handmade by local crafters, was on display and available for purchase. It was the perfect opportunity for unique gift buying ahead of the coming holidays.
Burlington Township resident Gregg Rempkowski brought his son Jake, a student at Fountain Woods Elementary, with him to the show. They admired crafter Holly Buck’s miniature beach shell sculptures as they browsed through the event.
“We’ve been coming here for years,” said Gregg. “There’s something about local people putting their time and effort into this stuff that makes it special.”
Debbie Potucek with the Burlington Township Foundation ran the event. In addition to being a showcase of local talent, Potucek sees the show as a way to not only bring residents out but to show young people the value of something handmade.
“This event really brings the community together with all the different groups that support it,” said Potucek. “It’s a great kickoff to the holiday season and it really is focused primarily on crafts and handmade items or art so that we can teach the children that are coming up in the school district that handcrafted work is so much more exciting and more challenging to the mind and to the soul than just going out and buying something.”
According to Potucek, the craft show has been running for over 23 years and began at Bernice Young School as a smaller bazaar-type event. This year’s show spread from the cafeteria into the gym of the middle school, which was filled with 83 individual artists and crafters all participating in the show.
A number of school organizations used the opportunity to raise funds for various programs. Project Graduation, Burlington Township Middle School Family Association, Burlington Township High School Family Association and the Burlington Township Scholarship Committee were all represented.
The Scholarship Committee is made up of residents and current and former teachers who want to assist deserving Burlington Township High School seniors with their college tuition. Their table was stacked high with boxes of cookies for sale to help them raise funds.
“With the cost of college tuition these days, this scholarship isn’t much, it’s $5,000, but it helps take a little pressure off,” said Carol Zulla, a trustee of the committee.
Woodworker Ray Watson ran a popular table at the show with his wife Sharon. He sold cedar and oak birdhouses that he began working on as a hobby. A number of residents left the show with one of his creations in tow.
“I started about two years ago making these. I come up with different ideas looking at books and I take their ideas and jazz them up a little bit,” said Ray. “It’s a great feeling, having people comment on them.”
According to Sharon, Ray is very handy around the house and a lot of his work finds its way into their home.
“If you can’t find him he’s in his workshop. He’s made tables and chairs, a bedroom light and a TV stand,” said Sharon.
According to Potucek, there is something special about bringing the public out to meet crafters and be a patron of their art.
“It’s the personal experience between the crafter, artist and the shopper. You can’t get that when you’re purchasing something (at a store). It is truly unique, whether it’s a birdhouse or stained glass, everything means something and crafters make items that are important to them,” said Potucek.
