27 Years
A Tribute to Our Founders

At 6:00pm on October 18, 1996, a group of interested individuals gathered to discuss an Eastern Shore artisans group. Among them were a chair maker, basket maker and finishing expert, two master woodworkers and a lawyer. These folks concluded that the primary purpose of the new organization would be to support local arts and provide a forum for area artisans to meet locally and share knowledge. Additionally, the group would facilitate opportunities to exhibit, show and market members’ work. These forward-thinking people were John Callander, Laura Lucas, Bill Aeschliman, Candy Aeschliman and Tom Wescott. Now, more than 27 years later, The Artisans Guild of the Eastern Shore still strives to meet the goals of those original founders. We will continue hosting the annual fall studio tour and show.

The mission of the Artisans Guild of the Eastern Shore of Virginia is to encourage interaction among members, to further their development and advance regional fine arts and craftsmanship, while seeking to further mutual interests and maintain standards. The Guild fosters social contact, encourages and promotes the work of its members and provides marketing opportunities.