It will be all about fire July 21, when Worcester Center for Crafts hosts Hot Night in the City, and the community gets an inside look at the amazing world of crafting. Hot Night in the City is a unique experience that allows attendees to witness all of the hot processes of crafting. Glassblowing, blacksmithing and the dramatic and smoky process of raku-fired ceramics will all be demonstrated for the public to see and enjoy. All of the demonstrators are faculty or members of the center.
The theme of flame even carries over to the food trucks – B.T.’s Smokehouse and Anzio’s Brick Oven Pizza. Jubilee Gardens will perform and Austin Liquors will host a beer-tasting.
Outside the center is where the fiery aspects of crafting will be shown. Inside, guests are welcome to view the craft show, featuring four of the Center’s female artisans. Attendees can even try their own hands at creation on the potter’s wheel or in the Metal Room.
“The Craft Center wanted to do an event for the city and community to thank the community and to show that crafts are alive and well,” said Honee Hess, executive director of Worcester Center for Crafts, who said all are welcome. “You can be an appreciator, a maker or a wannabe.”
The Center for Crafts specializes in ceramics, glassblowing, metals, forging and even offers classes in darkroom or digital photography. The center has cemented its reputation as an advocate for the crafting community.
“People know this is the place that they can learn about fine crafts,” Hess said. “What we try to do at the Craft Center is create visibility so that people can recognize the ability that crafting and hand-making can have on a way of life.” The Worcester Center for Crafts draws in people of all ages and participants from a 50-mile radius around Worcester. Those interested in appreciating crafts, purchasing gifts from the gallery in order to support crafters or learning a new skill set will find the materials, support and instruction that they need at the Worcester Center for Crafts.
In a digital age, the Worcester Center for Crafts has kept its focus on the tactile aspects of creating handmade products. “It is important as a society not to distance ourselves from that hand-making process,” Hess said.
“I think watching people at the potter’s wheel experimenting with clay is my favorite part,” Hess said of the event. She enjoys watching the participants’ expressions as they participate in the full-body process of working with clay.
This year’s Hot Night in the City has a different energy from previous years, according to Hess, with the addition of new food trucks and new activities. “We try to get diversity each year,” she said.
From glassblowers molding molten glass to blacksmiths forging swords, Hess finds that year after year, the event never gets boring. “Mastering craft is an exciting thing to watch.”
With approximately 30 faculty members, eight to 10 artists in residence, 200 to 300 students and 300 artists featured in the gallery store, the membership at the Worcester Center for Crafts is diverse and ever-growing. Right now, Hess said, the organization enjoys the current size of the event because it allows for more personal interactions between attendees and crafters. Perhaps, in the future, the center will consider making the event an hour longer.
Hess encourages anyone interested in a fun night out to attend Hot Night in the City: “Free parking. Free admission. So it is a good time.”
As a nonprofit, the Worcester Center for Crafts relies on the financial support of individuals, so although admission is free, donations are always accepted.
So unless you think Hot Night in the City is too hot to handle, stop by, enjoy the music and the beer, and watch as handmade creations unfold before your eyes during a fun-filled night of smoke, flame and raw creativity.
Hot Night in the City will be held 6-9 p.m. July 21. For more information on the free event, visit worcester.edu/WCC.
Sloane M. Perron
