William “Scotty” MacCrea speaking to the first International Day of Celtic Art conference in Andover, NY on June 7, 2019. Photo provided by Genesee Valley Media.
Downpatrick, NI - The memory of Allegany County artist and teacher William “Scotty” MacCrea will be honored at the second International Day of Celtic Art conference, to beheld from June 5 – 7, 2020 at the Saint Patrick Centre in County Down, Northern Ireland. MacCrea passed away on October 19 at his home in Alfred, NY. He was 87-years-old. During 31 years teaching art at Andover Central School many of his students were exposed the ancient Celtic art style of Scotland and Ireland, which was a major theme in his personal woodcarving and calligraphy.
MacCrea, was a prominent speaker at the first IDCA conference, held in Andover, NY in June 2019. The conference brought together artists working in the Celtic tradition from across the United States and Canada and included guest artists and Celtic art scholars from Scotland and Ireland. A video of MacCrea’s presentation can be viewed on YouTube.
Mike King of the Down County Museum announced the second IDCA conference would be dedicated to the memory of MacCrea. King, who did a presentation on Saint Patrick’s Cross at the conference in Andover is hosting the 2020 conference in partnership with Tim Campbell of the Saint Patrick Centre.
