Forty years ago I was a fledgling artist, following my painting class from The Museum College of Art (now The University of the Arts) on what seemed like a long journey to Pine and Front Street. At that time New Market area was an abandoned lot rimmed with run-down buildings. On that day the lot served as an art student's paradise. This was the site of my first painting, my birth into the art world, my enlightenment. Many years later my masterpiece painting was retrieved from the attic and gessoed over for re-use by my son, who was then a student at The University of The Arts. The journey beginning in 1961 has taken many turns, remaining closely intuned to the area in which it began. Later on in the 60's New Market complex was built on the lot, and evolved into a flourishing area of arts, crafts, interesting shops, and restaurants. It was a center of community hustle and bustle. The generation in which I was born seeded the South Street Revival of arts and culture. Artists, poets, writers abounded everywhere. I remember the beginning of The Painted Bride, The Works Gallery, and The Eyes Gallery, with much nostalgia. Isaiah Zagar's wonderful mosaic work on South Street reminds me of time past. The creativity and individualism of generations of artists has fed Philadelphia. About the mid 60's The Headhouse Craft Fair was established in The Headhouse Shambles, and artists were allowed to exhibit their works there. Today the journey has come full circle. The artists are still in The Headhouse Shambles after 36 years, but not without toil and struggle. Today the underlying creativity of the individual artist still manages to surface at Headhouse. A few of us who exhibited in the beginning of the 70's still manage to exhibit or visit once in a while. Many of our children have followed their own paths into the artworld and become successful. The Headhouse Craft Fair was always a place for young emerging artists to experiment with the public. Time has passed, and the area has changed. Big businesses have pushed out the little guy or those who had less money. Artists are still here in The Headhouse Shambles, consistently, but not wealthy. The Cultural Fund of Philadelphia awarded The Creative Collective a grant to help produce the show, with the apology that they wished it could be more. Philadelphia is overwhelmed with art groups requesting help. It is very important that the needs of these artists, musicians and writers are heard so that they can retain their creative capacity here in the city. As artists, teachers, and parents, we recognize the value of art created by young and old alike. Audrey Beyer, a Narberth resident, in her early 80's, is one of the oldest exhibiting artists in The Craft Fair at Headhouse Square. Audrey is a renowned fine artist and painter, and a graduate of The University of the Arts. She is founder and owner of The Bay Head Art Center in New Jersey, and also a past head of the art department at Lower Merion High School. "It is with pleasure that I create artwork for those who appreciate beauty," says Audrey. Her paintings of Philadelphia make us better aware of the wonderful images Philadelphia projects. Carlos Pascual, a South Philadelphia resident, formerly of Argentina is one of our younger exhibitors. Growing up in South America surrounded by nature and animals, his love of nature has inspired his work as well as his commitment to protecting and respecting this planet on which we live. "We have a responsibility in this cycle of life", says Carlos. "It is only through this awareness of our world that we can insure it's future." Carlos does intricately executed colored pencil drawings of animals and nature. Philadelphia artist Sherry Cofran, exhibiting for the past five years in The Creative Collective Craft & fine Arts Fair, is administrator of the Children's Art Programs held every sunday afternoon at Headhouse Square in conjunction with the Craft Fair. Sherry was born and raised in Portland Maine. She attended The Rhode Island School of Design, receiving a BFA in Illustration. In 1968, newly graduated from college, she came here with $350.00 in her pocket, and decided she liked Philadelphia and might stay forever. Over the past 20 years Sherry has traveled across the United States researching many areas, but always returned to Philadelphia. "This is a big town, small city mixture that works for me, and nurtures my artwork". "My art depicts nature from a child's point of view. My paintings teem with fantastic animals and whimsical characters.  At Headhouse I sell affordable paintings on children's T-shirts." In 1990 Sherry started a business called Decorative Landscapes. Her paintings have graced The Gerry Gallery in Providence RI, The Show Case Gallery in Philadelphia, and The Philadelphia Museum of Art. Who better to guide the children's workshop program at Headhouse? Recently after attending the Inauguration of Miguel Angel Corzo, at The University of the Arts, I realized how important the proper guidance in the arts is.  The keynote speaker was Peter Sellers, one of the leading opera, theater, and television directors in the world today. I can still hear him say, "As artists we can give our audiences a taste of the reality yet seen." "Beauty is part of every moment of everybody's life." "What does it mean to realize life is the book and you have to learn how to read it? What we are doing is giving basic reading instruction." The inspiration that he instilled in that audience was monumental. I myself felt so grateful to be an artist. Art is a spiritual awareness of being, an opportunity to give something back. With it we can help to make a better world. This summer there will be 80 artists and crafts persons who will exhibit various media in glass, jewelry, ceramics, clothing, wood, photography, and fine arts at Headhouse Square, 2nd and Pine Street, in the Historic Headhouse Shambles. Our artists invite you to come meet them in person and share with them an artistic experience, and an enlightening explanation of why they do what they do. The show draws thousands of tourists and residents alike, looking for a more cultural experience of Philadelphia, to perhaps take home with them. This is the only open-air exhibit space consistently in use in Philadelphia for 37 years that I can think of. Philadelphia is proud of the progress it has made in the arts over recent years.  Tremendous advances are being made in the area of arts and culture. Come visit us at Headhouse. We are but a small part of a greater presence. In our quest to broaden the minds of the community we reach out to young artists who would benefit by the opportunity to exhibit their art at Headhouse. Our workshops are held every sunday from 1-3PM for children 3-10 years old. They are meant to give youngsters a friendly and motivating atmosphere in which they can develop a creative learning experience. By reaching out to today's youth we are laying out the groundwork for tomorrow's artists.