Craftsman Weekend Preview

by Kate Nixon

 

 

In its 27th year, Pasadena Heritage will present the Annual Craftsman Weekend on November 9-11, 2018. The Weekend will feature house tours of notable Craftsman properties, along with bus and walking tours of the surrounding neighborhoods. Other events scheduled include a Show and Sale with exhibitors of antique and contemporary furniture and decorative arts, a silent auction, workshops and presentations. In addition, Pasadena Heritage will be offering exclusive receptions at historic locations throughout the weekend.

The City of Pasadena is home to some of the most notable examples of the Craftsman Movement on the West Coast. Also known as the American Arts and Crafts Movement, the
architectural style emerged in the early 1900’s and is noted for its emphasis of ceramics, art, and other features developed by skilled craftsmen. Tracing its roots to England, Craftsmen design has nevertheless developed a unique and internationally lauded aesthetic in Pasadena, with the work of architects Charles and Henry Greene, tile maker Ernest Batchelder, and writer/photographer Helen Lukens Gaut, among others.

For those of you who arrive early on Thursday, a tour of Old Pasadena is offered. “From Victorian to Modern” explores Pasadena’s original downtown which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as it has transformed over the years from its Victorian roots, through its years of deterioration, and back to being an example of downtown restoration for the entire country as one of Pasadena Heritage’s first preservation success stories.

You are encouraged to stay in Old Pasadena for dinner following the tour or purchase a ticket to the Thursday evening Art Curator Discussion and Reception at the Pasadena Museum of History. The exhibition – Something Revealed: California Women Artists Emerge, 1860-1960 – showcases a long history of excellence in female-created art and proves that women could and did contribute to the evolution of style, technique, and exploration in the world of art.

 

Friday will be filled with bus tours, lectures, and workshops, including a Gamble House lecture and tour and a lecture on progressive American Mosaics by master artisan Theodore Ellison. Saturday marks the beginning of the free Antiques and Contemporary Furnishing and Decorative Arts Sale at the Pasadena Convention Center – the two-day Antiques and Contemporary Furnishing and Decorative Arts Sale will host more than 40 exhibitors from across the U.S. bringing in a broad spectrum of Craftsman-era and period-inspired works like Furniture, textiles, pottery, tiles, metal work, wallpaper, stencils, and books.

Saturday will also feature tours and lectures by Historian John Ripley on the legacy of D. M. Renton, Historic Architect William W. Ellinger III on historic woods, and a lecture on Energy Efficiency in Historic Homes, a demonstration of Ikebana by award-winning Ikebana artist Kyoko Kassarjian, and a tradtional tea ceremony and Japanese Garden reception with live music to cap your evening.

Sunday will show the signature event, a drive-yourself Craftsman House Tour, featuring fine examples of the beautiful Craftsman architecture that makes Pasadena the destination for Arts & Crafts enthusiasts from across the country. Experienced docents will provide detailed histories of each of the homes showcased while guest explore the house and examine the natural materials, fine workmanship and exquisite detail that characterize the Craftsman era.

Sunday will also continue the Antiques, Contemporary, and Decorative Arts Sale, the bus and self-guided tours, and an offering of a historic cemetery sunset dinner and tour at Mountain View Cemetery, where guests will learn about the lives and deaths of some of Pasadena’s pioneer families, California statesmen, and other historically significant figures.

All events are rain or shine. Any unused tickets may be considered a donation to Pasadena Heritage.

For Convention Center parking, maps and information visit www.pasadenacenter.com. All events at the Pasadena Convention Center are accessible for the handicapped; however, tours of private residences and bus and walking tours are not. For questions regarding accessibility, please call Pasadena Heritage.

 

Ordering Tickets

Tickets for each event may be purchased by ordering online by clicking the link below, calling Pasadena Heritage, or visiting our office Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at 626-441-6333. The main office is located at 651 South St. John Ave., Pasadena, CA 91105. Please see the link below to order your tickets online.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/craftsman-weekend-2018-tickets-49302906320

 

Pasadena Heritage is a nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation in and around Pasadena, California. The organization advocates on behalf of historic resources, educates the public about local history and the benefits of preservation, and demonstrates quality restoration through its own preservation projects. Its 2,000-plus members are drawn from Pasadena and neighboring communities, and throughout Southern California. For more information, visit www.pasadenaheritage.org