Clarence Arts

Clarence Arts A Society of Artists promoting the Arts in Clarence, NY. The Summer Show was discontinued around 1999 when show attendance fell short of a profitable event.

The Clarence Arts and Crafts Society History

The Clarence Arts and Crafts Society began back in 1976 when a group of about ten women who knew one another through mutual friendships or their time volunteering with the Town’s Welcome Wagon group, one night at a dinner party decided to put on an arts and craft show with their treasures trove of fine handmade/crafted goods. Toni Marks, a ceramics sh

op owner and Patti Gamin organized the first of many to come art shows at the Clarence Town Park Club House, where at least a dozen tables were filled back in 1976 for their first Summer Show. Known artisans/crafters at the time who joined in the newly organized group “The Original Clarence Arts and Crafts Society”, (Toni Marks, Patti Gamin, Rose Carter, Rose Kunowski, Louise Bennett, Janet Jury) two of which who are still actively involved to this day with the Society and Show are Rose Carter and Patti Gamin. Their first Fall Show held the first full weekend in November and has continued so over the years showcasing juried artisans and crafters with quality products. The Society is a non-profit organization that promotes Arts and Crafts in the community, supported by proceeds from the Society’s Arts and Craft Annual Basket Raffle.

Our next guest artisan/crafter is Deborah Seufert who owns Deb’s Darling Dolls! She hand crafts cloth tents for dolls, ...
08/30/2026

Our next guest artisan/crafter is Deborah Seufert who owns Deb’s Darling Dolls! She hand crafts cloth tents for dolls, toys and doll clothes. Be sure to stop by her space Sept 12 & 13!

The annual CACS Arts & Crafts Show is just TWO weeks away! In addition to introducing you to some of our amazing societ...
08/29/2026

The annual CACS Arts & Crafts Show is just TWO weeks away! In addition to introducing you to some of our amazing society members, we will be highlighting our guest artisans and crafters who will have their fantastic creations they will be bringing to the show.

First up is Karen Tober. Karen creates hand-knit scarves and shawls and fabric holiday trees.

Be sure to stop by her space Sept 13 & 13!

🌟 Meet the Member: Dana Hoffman! 🌟We’re excited to introduce you to Dana Hoffman, a member of the Clarence Arts & Crafts...
08/27/2026

🌟 Meet the Member: Dana Hoffman! 🌟

We’re excited to introduce you to Dana Hoffman, a member of the Clarence Arts & Crafts Society since 2022!

🧺 Dana is the creative force behind Buffalo Baskets, where she hand-weaves beautiful, one-of-a-kind baskets using bamboo reed. She has been weaving for about 10 years and loves experimenting with the many patterns and colors available in reed.

For Dana, weaving is more than just a craft—it’s therapeutic, relaxing, and something she absolutely loves creating. And as she says, “Everyone can use one more unique basket!” ❤️

A retired school administrator, Dana has called Western New York home for more than 30 years. When she’s not weaving, you’ll likely find her enjoying the outdoors or hitting the slopes for some skiing. 🎿🌲

We’re so happy to have Dana as part of the Clarence Arts & Crafts Society and can’t wait for you to see her beautiful basket creations!

Clarence Library Art Show Window Display of participating Society Members. Featured Society Artisans: Pat McKeighan (P...
08/27/2026

Clarence Library Art Show Window Display of participating Society Members.
Featured Society Artisans: Pat McKeighan (Pottery), Dana Hoffman (Basketry), Kathy Hoensee (Mixed Media), Peg Schwabel (Watercolors), Chary Robbins (Hand Painted Objects), Betsy Lehan (Wood/Painting, Carol Conwall (Framed Art and Note Cards).

Clarence Library Art Show Window Display of participating Society Members. Featured Society Artisans: Patti Wunsch (Mac...
08/25/2026

Clarence Library Art Show Window Display of participating Society Members.
Featured Society Artisans: Patti Wunsch (Macrame), Jill Ogbnibene (Jewelry), Linda Mrowka (Skincare), Art Pohlman (Wood), Cheryl Hufnagel (Infinity Scarfs, Body Warmers, Micro Bowl Holders), Carol Conwall (Framed Art, Note Cards).

08/25/2026

A Look Back at the Clarence Arts and Crafts Society Achievements / Accomplishments over the years:

EARLY YEAR accomplishments:
• Art Partner Program
• Dodie Gilles Art Scholarship

More RECENT accomplishments:
• 2015 ~ PLEIN AIR event suggested by Peg Schwabel, Society Member, a painter, to create new awareness to the Society, so the summer of 2016 the first Plein Air was sponsored by the Clarence Arts and Crafts Society.
• 2017 expanded the Plein Air to Artisan/Craftsman Vendors, demonstrations, tours and food trucks.
• 2018 a by year
• 2019 Plein Air & Summer Art was held
• 2021 Annual Holiday Show combined with Plein Air in September.
• 2022 Annual Show moved to September, the weekend after Labor Day in the Historic Town Park Clubhouse.

• 2015 ~ ART TRAIL. Clarence Arts and Crafts envisioned the creation of an ART TRAIL to complement the Town of Clarence’s Rails-to-Trails biking, hiking, jogging or walking system.
• Spring 2023, sheet metal artist Dennis Scherer presented brushed steel canvas boards using oil-based paint as a solution for the Society’s Trail Art Boards. Eight members met in July at Dennis’ studio and nine (9) boards were created. The Art boards created were thought provoking. Strategic placement of the Trail Art Boards with the help of Supervisor Patrick Casilio and Highway Superintendent James Dussing. Installation September 2023, strategically placed at Bike Path Rest Stop locations: Salt Road near Main Street; Goodrich Road in Clarence Center and Clarence Center Road near Shimerville Road.

OTHER Participation Achievements
• Town of Clarence Winterfest (2016 to 2020) Community Involvement
• Bark in the Park (2022) Charitable Fundraiser
• Clarence Hollow Association Scarecrow Festival (2022) Community Involvement
• Clarence Band Boosters (2023 to present) Charitable Sponsorship
• Animal Supply Drive (2023) Charitable Fundraiser
• Clarence Hollow Farmers’ Market Lit Sprouts Children’s Activity Tent (2022 to present) Community Involvement
• Festival of Trees (2025) Charitable Fundraiser for Golisano Children’s Hospital

GOLDEN Achievement: 2026 Fifty Years.

08/21/2026

Clarence Arts and Crafts Society CELEBRATES ~ It all BEGAN BACK in 1976.......now Celebrating 50 years later........... when a group of about ten women who knew one another through mutual friendships or their time volunteering with the Town’s Welcome Wagon group, one night at a dinner party decided to put on an arts and craft show with their treasure’s trove of fine handmade/crafted goods. Toni Marks, a ceramics shop owner, and Patti Gamin organized the first of many to come art shows at the Clarence Town Park Club House, where at least a dozen tables were filled back in 1976 for their first Spring Show. Known artisans/crafters at the time who joined in the newly organized group “The Original Clarence Arts and Crafts Society”, (Toni Marks, Patti Gamin, Rose Carter, Rose Kunowski, Louise Bennett, Janet Jury) one of which who is still actively involved to this day with the Society is Patti Gamin.

The Society's FIRST FALL SHOW was held the first full weekend in November and continued so over the years showcasing juried artisans and crafters with quality products. The Society also held a Spring Show which was discontinued around 1999 when show attendance fell short of a profitable event.

Generational note: Annette Kraft, who joined the society shortly after it was formed and to this day her daughter Cheryl Hufnagel and granddaughter, Jill Ognibene carries on the artisan/crafter tradition as active Society members. Barbara Broderick, retired member who joined the Society shortly after it was founded, also teamed with her daughter for a period.

The Society is a non-profit organization that promotes Arts and Crafts in the community, supported by proceeds from the Society’s Arts and Craft Annual Basket Raffle. 8/25/26

🌿 MEET THE MEMBER: LINDA MROWKA 🌿We’re excited to continue our Meet the Member series by introducing you to Linda Mrowka...
08/19/2026

🌿 MEET THE MEMBER: LINDA MROWKA 🌿

We’re excited to continue our Meet the Member series by introducing you to Linda Mrowka, one of the newest members of the Clarence Arts & Crafts Society! Linda joined CACS this year and is the creative force behind Mrowka Farm Soaps. 🧼🌿

For more than 15 years, Linda and her family have been creating all-natural body products using clean, wholesome ingredients—many of which are sourced right on their family farm. Their products include tallow body butters and facial moisturizers, healing salves, lotions, bar soaps, foaming soaps, sugar scrubs and whipped soaps. She also creates reusable beeswax wraps using 100% beeswax and natural cotton fabric as an earth-friendly alternative to plastic wrap.

What Linda loves most is hearing from customers who have found relief from skin issues through her natural products. Her philosophy is simple: “We need to use the natural gifts that God has given first.” ❤️

Linda is also part of a fifth-generation family fruit farm, where farming is very much a way of life. Most of their products are sold at local retail farmers markets, giving Linda and her family the opportunity to connect with their community while sharing what they create.

And family is at the heart of it all. Linda and her husband have passed the farm on to their son, who now farms alongside his two young sons. Those little future farmers even help with picking and working at the market! 🍎👨‍🌾👦

Linda says that being outdoors means so much to her—and that, in many ways, her work is her hobby and her enjoyment.

We’re so happy to have Linda and Mrowka Farm Soaps as part of the Clarence Arts & Crafts Society family!

Please join us in welcoming Linda and getting to know the talented makers who make up CACS. ❤️

✨ LIFE IS GOOD! ✨



https://mrowkafarmsoaps.square.site/

Kathy caught off guard - representing Clarence Arts and Crafts at the Clarence Hollow Farmers' Market Lil Sprouts Kids C...
08/15/2026

Kathy caught off guard - representing Clarence Arts and Crafts at the Clarence Hollow Farmers' Market Lil Sprouts Kids Craft Table - August 15, 2026 -

🌟 Meet the Member: Jill Ognibene — AND ONE MONTH TO GO! 🌟Today is a big day for the Clarence Arts & Crafts Society! Not ...
08/12/2026

🌟 Meet the Member: Jill Ognibene — AND ONE MONTH TO GO! 🌟

Today is a big day for the Clarence Arts & Crafts Society! Not only are we launching a new series, Meet the Member, but it also marks tONE MONTH until our Annual Arts & Crafts Show! 🎨✨

📅 September 12 & 13
⏰ 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 Clarence’s Historic Town Park Clubhouse
10405 Main Street, Clarence, NY
🎟️ FREE ADMISSION!

To help us count down to the show, we’ll introduce you to some of the talented and creative people who make the Clarence Arts & Crafts Society so special.

First up is none other than CACS President, Jill Ognibene, owner of Eclectica Designs! ❤️

Jill has been a member of the Clarence Arts & Crafts Society for more than 20 years and has been creating jewelry for just as long. Through Eclectica Designs, she has explored a wide variety of techniques and styles, drawing inspiration not only from jewelry making, but also from her love of photography and pottery.

With a formal education in Photography and Graphic Design, Jill spent more than 20 years working in those fields in the corporate world. Today, she’s beginning an exciting new chapter with a craft class business, sharing her love of creativity with others.

Jill enjoys learning new artistic techniques, experimenting with different mediums, and helping others discover the joy of creating. Her connection to CACS runs deep—she was even the recipient of the CACS Scholarship as a high school senior! After college, she returned to become an active member and has since served as both Vice President and President.

We’re incredibly lucky to have Jill’s creativity, leadership, and enthusiasm as part of our CAS family! 🎨💕 You can see some of Jill’s beautiful creations in the photo!

And now, the countdown is officially ON! ⏳ Just ONE MONTH until you can meet Jill and many of our talented members in person at the Annual Clarence Arts & Crafts Show!

Follow along as we Meet the Member and introduce you to the artists and makers you’ll have a chance to meet at the show.

One month. So many talented artists. One great weekend of creativity! ❤️

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Clarence, NY

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