That is the question! The Arden Craft Shop Museum is proud and pleased to direct your attention to the corner of Millers Road and Cherry Lane. There you will find one of the newest items in our collection – an action sculpture done by Phil Fisher.
Phil Fisher, Jr. donated one these kinetic pieces and installed it in front of the Museum. 

On Saturday, November 9th, the old Arden School on the Sherwood Green was once again filled with excited school “children” and eager celebrants to mark the 100th Anniversary of the building.  The BWVC Committee held a grand celebration to mark the anniversary and the important place the building holds in our community.  Former students came from far and wide to join the festivities and the afternoon did not disappoint.
As visitors gathered, they were able to enjoy the exhibits in Room 3.  There they were treated to vintage home movies featuring events at the school in the 1950’s and ’60, as well a continuing slide show of images from Connee McKinney’s book on the Arden School.  There were also four large display panels, featuring over 50 photographs of the building during its 100 years.  The Arden Craft Shop Museum was pleased to partner with the Buzz and provided the period photos as well as the lobby window display.
As the crowd gathered in front of specially decorated stage, several claimed seats that were in the same spot as their desks had been as students.  Garrett Colgan-Snyder served as the emcee. Representing the ACSM, Barbara Macklem opened the program with a history of the building, telling the story of its origins, its many uses and challenges, and its current importance as a community center.
Next, former students shared their memories of their years at the school.  Sister and brother Annde Curtis Solway and Mike Curtis recounted the early days They were followed by Debbie Colgan who carried on the story and talked about the involvement of the parents with the school. She was followed by Maria Burslem and Ellen Dolmetsch, who told their stories (and escapades) of the 1950’s and 60’s.  Finally, Robin Laskey Chipman recounted the last days and the bitter-sweet memories of the students when the school closed in 1969.
After the formal talks, the music continued and there was lots of time for old friends to gather and for everyone to enjoy the delicious buffet.  And, of course, all enjoyed the cake – cut with great style by Annde Curtis as the oldest student present! There are many institutions in the Ardens – how fortunate we are that one of them is a building full of history that continues to serve new generations.

For the complete remarks made by Barbara Macklem please see the transcript here

​Opening October 20th, the Arden Craft Shop Museum celebrates it’s 20th anniversary with a new exhibition Treasures of Childhood: Growing up in the Ardens!  Please join us at the opening reception starting at 1 pm where we will celebrate the experiences of growing up in the Ardens.

The ACSM is looking forward to welcoming visitors to the Museum on Arden Fair Day!  We will be open special hours on Saturday, August 31st from 11 AM to 5 PM. Our annual exhibition Women Artists of the Ardens 1900-1960 will on display. Additionally, Micah Altman’s beautiful lamps, shown during the Afternoon with the Artist event, will
also be available for your pleasure. There are many special things to enjoy at the Museum!

Please mark Sunday, September 15th in your calendars. That is the final day the Women Artists of the Ardens exhibition will be on display.
Read more about our show here in Delaware Today.

We will be closed until Sunday, October 20th when the new exhibition will open. Watch for more information in the October Page. We are busy working on our 2024 exhibition – exciting things are planned - and look forward to our re-opening in October.

We look forward to welcoming you Sunday afternoons from 1-3 PM and Wednesday evenings from 7:30-9 PM.

The Past Has a Future in the Ardens.

On August 11th, we are pleased to present another afternoon reception featuring Ardentown artist, Micah Altman.
Micah's artistry is inspired by nature and is beautiful and useful! Her artwork includes handcrafted lamps with one of a kind shades, beaded jewelry and painted jewelry hangers. This promises to be the perfect, enjoyable, relaxing, fun afternoon we'll need as we ramp up for the high energy weekend of the Arden Fair!

Please join us on Sunday, Aug. 11, 1—3 p.m. for refreshments, community, and art.

Remember to join us for the Arden Fair on August 31st.  The Museum will be open from 11 am to 5 pm.  Please stop by to see our current show, "Women Artists of the Ardens: 1900-1960" and Micah's work!

​You are welcome hither!

The ACSM is pleased to announce a variety of special open hours for the month of June.  We will be open on Saturday afternoons from 1-3 PM in addition to our regular Sunday (1-3 PM) and Wednesday (7:30-9PM) evening hours. This is great time to stop in and see the current exhibition, Women Artists in the Ardens.  
We will be celebrating the grand tradition of Shakespeare in the Ardens with a spotlight exhibition opening in early June. In "Women's Reason" we explore the various ways women have been part of the Bard’s productions over the years.  The Shakespeare Gild is putting on Hamlet! We will also continue to be open one hour prior to the performances at the Field Theatre.  For more information about Hamlet and and the production please visit the Shakespeare Gild's website here.  Although this year we will miss some familiar faces, the play will go on and we will be the fortunate audience.  So – save your seats and then stop over and see this special exhibition.  We look forward to welcoming you!  

In May and June, the Museum will be open on Saturdays from 1-3 pm.  Enjoy the spring season by visiting the us during this eminently walkable time of year!  As the days warm up be sure to check out our exhibition "Women Artists of the Ardens: 1900-1960".

You are welcome hither!

The Arden Craft Shop Museum is home to many works of art by many different artists.  Over the next months we will be sharing works from our collection by female artists that were not able to be shown in our current exhibition.
 
We will start with works by Katherine "Kate" "Cookie" Dolmetsch Kelly.  Cookie was the artist and driving force behind Arden Craft Pottery.  The pieces produced were available at her shop at local stores, and annually at the Arden Fair seen below.

The illustrations on each piece are fun, brightly colored, and quirky.  While the drawings were done by Cookie, the laying on of colors were done by assistants who were hired throughout the Ardens. The museum has several works in our collection.  Overwhelmingly, the pieces in ACSM’s Collection are holiday or winter scenes.

​Recently, Barbara Macklem of the Arden Craft Shop Museum was able to chat with Cookie about Arden Craft.  Ms. Kelly noted that her first pottery wheel, a kick wheel, had originally belonged to Miriam Hetzel Donovan, the originator of Arden Pottery.  Cookie's pottery, with her imaginative designs and bright color palate, still evoke a carefree spirit and a joyful approach to life.

​On Thursday, November 30th, the Arden Craft Shop Museum lost one of its most caring supporters. James “Jamie” Jamison passed away peacefully at his home just outside of the Ardens. For many years, Jamie was the building manager of the Arden Craft Shop Museum. As a member of the Board of the Arden Craft Shop Museum, Inc., he ensured that that building stayed standing, and the tenants had their needs met. At the drop of a text message, Jamie would appear with a smile and a fix for anything that was broken. The ACSM Board and Committee will sincerely miss Jamie’s energy and enthusiasm for the museum and its tenants. We send our condolences to his family and friends, as Jamie was truly one of a kind.
 
- The Arden Craft Shop Museum, Inc. Board 

The new exhibition at the ACSM, Women Artists of the Ardens: 1900-1960, has so many photographs, pictures, parts, and papers, that it was hard to fit everything into the show!  The displays range from pottery to poems and from greeting cards to stained glass and it all represents work done by the women artists who have graced our community.  Their work shows examples of many different inspirations –nature, dance, music and so much more. The wide variety of their accomplishments present an amazing picture of the lives they lived and the community which nurtured them.  We are fortunate to have the record they left for us.  And equally as fortunate to live in a community still filled with practicing artists of all the artistic disciplines. We look forward to welcoming you.  Remember the museum is open Wednesdays from 7:30 pm to 9 pm and Sundays from 1 pm to 3 pm.