Welcome to the Plumer-Shortt
Guild
Established 1998
Fine Crafts & Arts
Please Visit us at the 8th Annual Foster Falls Fine Crafts & Art Show
New River Trail State
Park, Virginia, Saturday, September 18, 2004, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Directions: Exit 80 from I-81, Highway 52 to Foster Falls Road, then left on
Orphanage Drive.
 |
The painting at the left was done by over a dozen children at
the Foster Falls Wythe County Heritage Day Festival. Each child worked on one or more
parts of the painting throughout the day. It is a view of the New River. Each show the guild attends will produce another painting by children, taught how to paint on the spot and inspired by the surroundings of the show. Children's Painting Gallery - Click here |
Why the Guild Is Named Plumer-Shortt:
| In 1897, Miss Laura Shortt bought Plumer College. Along with her sisters, Catherine
(Kate), Olive, Alberta (Bert) and brother Bud, they operated a successful college for
young women (later for young men also) until 1929.
The Shortts were well known for their creativity and appreciation of the arts and crafts. In establishing this guild, the Charter Members aspire to a continuation of heritage Appalachian Crafts through sharing our talents with the public through shows and with children through workshops. |
A member of the Indigo Fiber Arts Guild carding wool. (Click on photo for more info & larger image) |
Mission Statement:
The charter members of Plumer-Shortt Guild wish to create a guild that is of value to Southwest Virginia in both encouraging and educating young people in their heritage through art and crafts of the native and pioneer people of the Appalachian Mountains.
| The Guild wishes to perpetuate valuable heritage
skills that are in danger of disappearing in the modern world - whether in the verbal form
of storytelling, hands-on survival skills necessary to the everyday life of yesteryear,
decorative arts and crafts that made life happier or expressions of self and surroundings
through music. Our vision of the future of the Guild includes a home (absolutely perfect if it could be at the old Plumer College) where craftspersons and artisans could share knowledge, support of each other and a sense of community with others, as well as an archive of instructions, patterns and skills for use by interested individuals. |
Dixie Warner |
Skills we would like to include in our next year's Membership: pottery, baskets, leatherworking, stained glass, paper art (silhouettes, origami, etc.), wood carver, old style photography, storyteller, blacksmith, tatting, original design needlepoint, napkin folding & old time etiquette, heritage sewing, smocking, spinning and weaving, fly tying (fishing lures), whittling, musical instrument making, historical dance forms including African American and Celtic (Clogging is already represented.), churning, and cheesemaking. and others we haven't even thought of yet.
Jerry Arney |
The ultimate mission and goal is sharing our combined creativity and experience for the benefit of the present and future generations. The Plumer-Shortt Guild will have a limited diversified membership and represent a balance of crafts. Once approved as guild members, the only requirements are as follows: Members must be willing to demonstrate their craft or art to the public at the annual festival. Each member is responsible for their moneybox sales and tax. The Plumer-Shortt Guild will not be liable and any member is responsible for themselves, guests, and personal property brought to the Foster Falls Festival. Members will be given space but will be responsible for their own set up and take down in a timely manor. We also ask that the setting of each display should be compatible with the time period of 1850-1930. (Example: wooden chairs, anything modern covered with cloth, quilts.) No plastic is allowed in craft or display. Everything must be handmade and original. |
This web site is under construction. Please visit us again in the future when we will have more information on individual guild members and photos of their crafts. Thanks
To contact by e-mail:
