Tradition/Innovation – A Fiber Artisans Conference sponsored by the Conference of Northern California Handweavers – will be held in Oakland, California May 18 – 20, 2012. Weavers, spinners, basket-makers, dyers, felters, braiders will be attending – will you be among them? Teachers are coming from around the country to share their expertise.
Hotel Library
The theme celebrates the traditions our crafts are built on and the innovations that fiber artisans are exploring. What brings us together is the tradition of craft that we enjoy, but it is what we make of that tradition that is the innovation. Our galleries and fashion show provide us with a showcase for our own innovation. We celebrate new fibers, and make use of new techniques including computer software that allows us to take our textile arts to new and exciting levels.
This is a full vendor conference with a hall full of weaving, spinning and fiber related vendors. You can test out the newest looms and wheels; touch the fibers, see the colors, check out the books, and find just the right tool or button. There will be vendor demos, and a make-it/take-it booth to try new techniques.
Level Two dining Room
The Conference will be held at the Oakland Convention Center with the adjoining newly renovated Oakland Marriott City Center as the conference hotel. The conference has the entire hotel and convention center – for great luxury and convenience. Special conference pricing has been arranged, so be sure to register for your room using the conference codes.
The hotel has lovely lounges and gathering spaces for informal chats and a restaurant, bar, fitness center and heated outdoor pool on site. In addition there are numerous coffee shops and a variety of restaurants, including Old Oakland and Chinatown within a 3-block radius. A subway station is directly across the street from the hotel – so you can fly into the San Francisco airport and take BART right to the conference. From the Oakland airport you can take AirBART to the nearest BART stop and then BART on into Oakland city center.
Some hotel amenities include onsite and valet parking, coffee and tea in your room, room service available from 6AM to 11PM, a coin operated laundry, a gift/sundry shop and a business center with fax and copy services.
A private room with a view
The hotel dining options include LEVEL TWO, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the TWELVE BAR LOUNGE which serves light menu option for dinner as well as beverages and cocktails, and PEET’S COFFEE which opens for breakfast.
Restaurant: Level Two – serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with California cuisine at reasonable prices
There is also a free Broadway shuttle 6 days a week from Jack London Square to the Uptown arts district. Jack London Square has shops and restaurants and movie theater and Yoshi’s Jazz Club. The uptown arts district has a number of lovely art galleries and restaurants.
Other tourist highlights of Oakland include the USS Potomac, the Oakland Museum of Art and California History, Piedmont Piano Jazz Venue. Two interesting walks are a Jack London History walk including his Yukon Cabin and the Saturday Stroll Art Walk in the Broadway – Telegraph Corridor. Check out www.visitOakland.org for more ideas.
Plan your trip to CNCH 2012 in Oakland now – bring a significant other and add a day or two to see the sights in Oakland or take a short ride on BART to San Francisco. This conference has something for everyone!