Martha’s Vineyard is an island rich in history, culture and beauty. It is a place where locals and visitors delight in experiencing the full bounty of the island, including the creations of local artisans. Inspired by the island’s natural charm, Vineyard artisans work year-round to harvest their talents and create one-of-a-kind collectibles for art lovers to admire and appreciate. While some of these treasures can be found in shops and art galleries throughout the island, or by doing a little Vineyard Haven shopping, there are several local events where you can also find vineyard artisans.
The Vineyard Artisans Festivals
Founded in 1995, the Vineyard Artisan Festivals were created to help promote Vineyard artists and artisans promote their crafts and connect with the community. The organization presents seasonal events running from Memorial Day weekend until mid-December. The shows feature unique furniture, clothing, ceramics, jewelry and fine art from the island’s top artists. There are also demonstrations, music, food and other unique experiences!
Featherstone Center for the Arts
Featherstone is a community arts center that supports and promotes the arts on Martha’s Vineyard. Gifted and dedicated teachers offer art instruction in classes for adults and children, and free after-school programs for teens. There are also pre-school and family art programs as well as artist-in-residencies.
There are a number of events hosted by Featherstone Center for the Arts including outdoor musical performances, a flea & fine arts market, lecture series and poetry readings. October brings the Art of Chocolate Festival and there is a Holiday Gift Show in December.
Craftsworks
Craftworks is a Contemporary American Craft Gallery featuring American made art from more than four hundred artists both locally and from around the country. Craftworks features an unusual and whimsical collection of the best that American Artists have to offer including jewelry, Sticks Furniture, pottery, garden art and more.
Martha’s Vineyard Glassworks
Martha’s Vineyard Glassworks is a facility for glassblowers to work every day, develop technical skills, create glasswork, and build a life around glassblowing. The glassblowing studio can be observed from the gallery, which allows customers to watch a work of art come to life, from the raw materials and an artist’s vision to the final piece. Martha’s Vineyard Glassworks is known for producing high-quality original designs and has become a popular destination for glassworkers, tourists, artists, interior decorators, collectors, and trade workers alike.
There is no shortage of talented artisans on Martha’s Vineyard. These venues represent some of the best Vineyard artisans. In addition to browsing their collections, in many cases these venues offer the opportunity to interact with the artists and artisans to gain a better understanding of their inspiration and craft.
As you enjoy the many artistic offerings from Vineyard artisans, make sure your trip is truly extraordinary by booking your accommodations with Sandpiper Rentals. Our Martha’s Vineyard vacation rentals are ideal for relaxing and unwinding in between all of the great activities you can participate during your time on the island. Our rental properties are located all over Martha’s Vineyard, so you can choose to stay on your favorite part of the island, be it Vineyard Haven, Edgartown MA, or Oak Bluffs. Whether you want to be right in town or more isolated, we have the perfect rental for you. Our homes are all unique, yet they all offer comfortable accommodations and luxurious amenities.
