The AMACO Friendly Plastic® Design Challenge Creates Butterflies for the Holocaust Museum Houston and Beautiful Jewelry Too!

Indianapolis, IN — January 31, 2009

AMACO (American Art Clay Company) is celebrating 90 years in the Arts & Crafts Industry with a Friendly Plastic Challenge that helps the Holocaust Museum Houston collect 1.5 million handmade butterflies for an installation to honor the 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust. Attendees to the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) Show-2009 in Anaheim will be able to drop off butterflies for the Holocaust Museum at the AMACO Booth #5017, Sunday through Wednesday, January 25 – 28.

Event Coordinators Helen Bradley and Michelle Zimmerman introduced the idea of the ‘Butterflies’ to AMACO as a way to showcase Friendly Plastic® as a modeling medium and jewelry making product that also supports a cause honoring children. Michelle’s father George Zimmerman is a Hungarian Holocaust survivor, who along with Brian Brock co-author of Pierre Berg’s moving memoir Scheissahus Luck, will speak at the AMACO Friendly Plastic®Awards Reception at CHA-2009 on January 26, at 11 AM, in AMACO’s CHA Booth #5017.

“We were thrilled to receive so many wonderful entries from around the world… from men women and children,” says Helen Bradley. “We are all pleased to see Friendly Plastic being used around the world in this new millennium.” Industry editors and leaders will vote on the following categories: Best Use of Friendly Plastic, Best Butterfly Entry, Most Inspirational Entry, Best ‘Jewelry Set’ Design, Best Valentine’s Jewelry Ensemble. Show attendees will vote for Best of Show on Sunday, January 25th, CHA in Anaheim.

AMACO remains a pioneer in craft product and development. It is one of the oldest and most respected materials manufacturers in the United States and the largest manufacturer of ceramic supplies and equipment for schools and studios. Virtually every school in America has benefited from the high quality and craftsmanship that has made AMACO an industry leader and household name. For further information regarding the supplies and equipment available through American Art Clay Company visit www.amaco.com, or call (800) 374-1600. For more information on the Holocaust Museum exhibit, visit the Butterfly Project.