Crafts Exhibit
Time & Location
Jul 05, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St, Marblehead, MA 01945, USA
About the Event
A juried exhibit of original handcrafts, traditional or contemporary in nature, that are utilitarian or functional, such as ceramics, calligraphy, quilts/fiber and textile crafts, needlework, leatherwork, basket weaving, wood & furniture, jewelry, bookbinding, pottery and stained glass/glass arts.
Chairs: Maggie Smist and Tammy Nohelty
Contact: crafts@marbleheadfestival.org
Awards: Awards: Best of Show ($125), Outstanding Work ($50), Honorable Mention, People’s Choice Award; Special Awards: Deborah Ekholm Frost Award, Carol J. Moore Award
2026 Judge: Emma Oliver
Emma Oliver is an artist working primarily in fiber-based sculpture who lives and works on the North Shore of Massachusetts. She received her BFA from Alfred University and went on to earn her MFA in Sculpture and Expanded Media from Illinois State University. During her time in the Midwest, Oliver developed a studio practice grounded in material exploration and conceptual inquiry, working with fiber to create sculptural forms that engage the body, space, and emotional experience. Her recent work explores themes of vulnerability, communication, and personal relationships, focusing on the complex and often uncomfortable act of “putting yourself out there.” Through soft materials, layered structures, and tactile forms, her sculptures investigate how connection, risk, and exposure shape or create human interaction.
Emma Oliver is currently the Director of Creative Employment and an Assistant Professor at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Massachusetts. In this role, she leads initiatives that connect students with meaningful, paid creative work both on and off campus. Oliver helps students gain professional creative experience while still in school. She works closely with students to translate the skills developed through studio practice, such as problem solving, project management, collaboration, and creative thinking, into language that resonates with employers in the broader creative economy. Through mentorship, programming, and partnerships with local arts organizations and industries, she supports students in building sustainable creative careers and understanding the many professional pathways available to artists and designers. She also deeply enjoys teaching art education and studio courses each semester, knowing that the classroom to career connection is integral in gaining post-graduate employment.
2026 Award Winners!
