preserving traditional crafts by reinterpreting them to modern aesthetics
and bringing the community together to strengthen our connections

In celebration of its 75th anniversary, The Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati, in partnership with nine local craft guilds, hosted the inaugural Gathering of the Guilds (GOTG) on September 9th, 2023. GOTG showcased the wide variety of opportunities in craft education available in our city. Members of our community discovered that vibrant craft guilds exist and that they welcome new members. Guilds were ready to sign up new members and offer schedules for upcoming classes. The event included live demonstrations of blacksmithing, glassblowing, printmaking, weaving, spinning, quilting, art-book design, enameling, gemstone cutting, woodturning, and fabrication with clay.

This year, Gathering of the Guilds takes place on Saturday, September 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 PM at the Weaver’s Guild of Cincinnati, 4870 Gray Rd.

• 10 contemporary craft guilds,

• 17 juried makers,

• 8 merchants,

• 3 food vendors, and

• 30+ demonstrations

The Connection to Permaculture

Permaculture encourages us to consider what technologies and materials we use in our designs and our day to day life, looking to the wisdom of the past and the efficiency of nature for inspiration. The value of folk art is not only found in its beauty and the way it captures the creative spirit of a culture: these are the tools and skills that empower you to life a more naturally-derived, naturally-inspired life. Supporting traditional artisans keeps this valuable bank of wisdom alive and thriving as an asset the whole ecosystem can benefit from, while keeping local wealth in the local community, in the direct hands of the makers — the Fair Share ethic of permaculture.