Milford artist marks 36 years at Peters Valley Craft Fair

MILFORD - Tom Neugebauer, Milford sculptor and potter, will be showing and demonstrating his artwork at this year’s Peters Valley Craft Fair Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 at the Sussex County Fairgrounds, which is located just off state Route 206 in Augusta, N.J. Tom Neugebauer has been a popular feature at the annual juried craft show for 36 years with his unique “Raku” pottery vessels, which are kiln-fired on site during the show. A demonstration not to be missed! It’s dramatic and fun to watch this unusual process that is responsible for the unique, metallic luster and color variations of each piece. Before moving to Milford, in 1983, Tom was the Ceramics Artist in Residence at Peters Valley Craft Center in Layton, N.J. for seven years. Tom explained, “Peters Valley is a valuable cultural resource both for this area and nationally. I hope that I can help to make it enjoyable and appealing for people to visit. The craft fair is an important source of revenue for the organization.” Over 170 juried artists, both local and nationally recognized, will participate in the show including his wife Judith Neugebauer, a nationally acclaimed fine art jeweler. Judy considers her participation in a Peters Valley Craft Fair in the 1980’s to have been the start of her art career. Judy’s work is widely collected and has been featured at such prestigious exhibitions as the Smithsonian Craft Show in Washington, DC. A special preview and concert with blues great Guy Davis will be held Friday night Sept. 29. Gates open at 5 p.m. Exhibitors will have their work available for sale and an awards ceremony will follow. Awards such as “Best in Show” will be presented by craft fair sponsors including Selective Insurance, Altec Lansing, Ronetco Supermarkets, R.S. Phillips Steel, New Jersey Herald, Milford Magazine, New Jersey State Fair, Montague Tool, Inc. Sussex Bank and The Grist Mill. For discounted concert tickets, purchase in advance by calling Peters Valley 973-948-5200. The craft fair will continue Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.petersvalley.org.