The Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center is an open-air folklife museum and research center dedicated to preserving and celebrating Pennsylvania German folk culture, history, and language in a unique educational setting at Kutztown University.

Studio Visit with Hex Sign and Barn Star Painters Eric Claypoole and Andrew Shirk

STUDIO VISIT WITH HEX SIGN AND BARN STAR PAINTERS ERIC CLAYPOOLE AND ANDREW SHIRK

Curious about hex signs and how they are made? Enjoy a behind the scenes visit to the studio of Eric Claypoole, barn star and hex sign painter of Lenhartsville, where he and fellow hex sign painter Andrew Shirk of Hamburg will demonstrate their painting techniques and showcase current and past artistic works.

In the summer of 2021, Eric Claypoole reached a milestone as a barn star painter of 100 decorated barns over the course of his 50 year career. This monumental achievement marks an all-new threshold for the tradition of barn star painting in the region, and extends well beyond the statistics for any known barn artist in the history of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Selected highlights of Eric’s works will be featured in a new catalogue entitled 100 Barns: Selected Works of Eric Claypoole (1971-2021). Order your copy today here!

The following presentation was featured at Easter on the Farm, March 27th 2021.