Arts Travel: There’s No Place Like (a New) Home

December 2006 | BY The AmericanStyle Staff | Issue 53 | NO COMMENTS

If you haven’t already heard, be aware: Dorothy’s ruby slippers moved in with Neil Armstrong’s space suit last November. It’s shocking, but true. Washington, D.C.’s National Museum of American History is now closed for renovations, but to guarantee access to at least part of its collections, curators sent more than 150 of America’s most beloved objects to the National Air and Space Museum, where they will remain on view in “Treasures of American History” through spring 2008.

After undergoing extensive architectural renovations, the updated American History Museum will flaunt two new entrances, a central core atrium with a skylight, 10-foot-high “artifact walls” showcasing the breadth of the museum’s 3 million objects, and a new welcome center.

Whether it’s Muhammad Ali’s gloves, Dizzy Gillespie’s trumpet, R2-D2 and C-3PO, or Ray Bolger’s scarecrow costume that you just can’t live without, the incredible array of objects mixes the famous, the familiar and the unexpected. To plan your visit to this must-see (or see-again) exhibition, visit www.americanhistory.si.edu or www.nasm.si.edu.

Arts Travel: Slip Sliding Away

December 2006 | BY The AmericanStyle Staff | Issue 53 | NO COMMENTS

: “Test Site” in the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall

A slide is a sculpture that you can travel inside.” So says artist Carsten Her, whose current installation at the Tate Modern in London has brought five enclosed spiral slides to the museum’s vast Turbine Hall.

Her’s interest in slides is multi-faceted—he explores the idea of slides as art, the inner experience of the slider and the outside view of observing people using the slides. Slides, he believes, should be part of society’s daily routine.

The installation, “Test Site,” is the artist’s most extensive slide project to date, with the five slides descending from the second level through fifth level of the hall.

Tickets to ride the slides are free for museum guests and are available in the gallery. Upper-level slide tickets are timed; the level 2 slides don’t require tickets. “The Unilever Series: Carsten Her” continues through April 9.

Style Spotlight: The Power of the Palette

December 2006 | BY The AmericanStyle Staff | Issue 53 | NO COMMENTS

During the summer of 2005, printmaker Warren Kimble teamed up with the Vermont Arts Council to create a statewide community arts project. The premise was simple: give residents of any age, interest or ability the opportunity to celebrate art. The symbol of the project became a palette, a universal representation of art. After receiving the endorsement of Gov. James Douglas last January and creating a partnership with the Vermont Wood Manufacturers Association, 7,000 maple artist palettes and more than 30,000 paper palettes were created for distribution.

Within six weeks every palette had been delivered to anyone interested in taking part. Participants hailed from 74 towns, 118 organizations and 142 schools, and accounted for more than 6 percent of the state’s population. The resulting palettes incorporated paint, pastel, poetry, fabric, photography, and even chocolate and cheese.

The official exhibition, “Palettes of Vermont,” ran May-October 2006 and featured large-scale palettes from four towns. The St. Albans palette is currently awaiting certification from the Guinness Book of World Records, measuring 12 by 16 feet.

To see the variety of palettes or learn more about the project, visit www.vermontartscouncil.org/.

Style Spotlight: Rooms with a View

December 2006 | BY The AmericanStyle Staff | Issue 53 | NO COMMENTS

The latest trend in museum construction turns out to be bedrooms, kitchens and baths.

Condominiums have been incorporated into at least two recent museum projects, and the pricey artful residences are proving popular.

The Museum Residences, overlooking the newly renovated Denver Art Museum and designed by Daniel Libeskind, the architect for the museum’s expansion, opened the doors to its first residents last summer. The gallery-inspired units are selling for $500,000 to $1.2 million.

The as-yet unbuilt Museum Plaza in Louisville, Ky., will feature a contemporary art museum, condominiums, office and retail space, and a hotel. Developers include philanthropists and art collectors Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown. The stack-of-blocks building, designed by Joshua Prince-Ramus, is scheduled for completion in 2010.

Style Spotlight: Chihuly Expands His Reach

December 2006 | BY The AmericanStyle Staff | Issue 53 | NO COMMENTS

Thanks to a $6 million gift of Dale Chihuly’s work from collectors Jimmy Aviram and Beth Ann Morean, the artist’s only U.S. museum is scheduled to open in St. Petersburg, Fla., in early 2009.

The Chihuly Collection is the centerpiece of The Arts Center’s new $35 million downtown facility. The building will house a glass blowing hot shop with auditorium seating, exhibition galleries, an education tower and the 11,000-square-foot Chihuly museum.

Chihuly is working in conjunction with The Arts Center, a St. Petersburg nonprofit contemporary visual arts organization, on the design and plans for the building, which will be part of a mixed-use residential and retail block devoted to the arts.

Style Spotlight: Breeding Ground for Geniuses

December 2006 | BY The AmericanStyle Staff | Issue 53 | NO COMMENTS

Hoping to win a $500,000 MacArthur “genius grant”? Start filling out your application for the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).

Among the 25 recipients of 2006 MacArthur Fellowships were four RISD alumni: painter Anna Schuleit; author and illustrator David Macaulay; glass sculptor Josiah McElheny; and painter Shahzia Sikander. This quartet joins four RISD alumni who have been awarded MacArthurs in the past decade.

Author and illustrator David Carroll was the only visual artist without a RISD diploma to win one of the no-strings-attached fellowships this year.

To see a complete list of the 2006 MacArthur fellows, visit www.macfound.org.

Style Spotlight: Blue Light Special

December 2006 | BY The AmericanStyle Staff | Issue 53 | NO COMMENTS

Illuminated at night by a distinctive cobalt glow, the 15-story former home of a headache-remedy manufacturer will now house studios for Baltimore, Md.’s arts community.

The Bromo-Seltzer Arts Tower, renovated by the city, will welcome its first studio residents this spring. The historic building features more than 30 studios, with rents ranging from $400 to $1,200. Visitors will be greeted by a coffee shop and gallery on the lower level.

The downtown building, modeled after the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy, has long served as a Baltimore landmark. Built in 1911, the structure was originally topped with a rotating replica of the blue Bromo-Seltzer bottle measuring 51 feet high. The tower’s current blue glow, accomplished by reflecting white light off the blue-painted interiors at the top of the building, is meant to re-create the feel of that bottle.

Style Spotlight: Renwick Honors Today’s Talent

December 2006 | BY The AmericanStyle Staff | Issue 53 | NO COMMENTS

: Beth Cavener Stichter’s “One Last Word”.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum has chosen four female artists to be included in the Renwick Craft Invitational this spring. The biennial exhibition was created to honor the talent of today’s exceptional craft artists.

Paula Bartron, a resident of Stockholm, Sweden, composes her minimalist glass sculptures using geometric forms with a purity of line. The California-born artist studied under glass master Marvin Lipofsky at the University of California at Berkeley.

Jocelyn Chateauvert of Charleston, S.C., combines handmade paper and metalwork to create a body of work that encompasses jewelry, lighting and installations.

From her studio in Sheboygan Falls, Wis., Beth Lipman re-creates 17th- and 18th-century still-life paintings in intricate sculptures constructed of blown and lampworked glass.

Ohio ceramist Beth Cavener Stichter’s clay sculptures focus on the interactions between humans and animals, exploring the subliminal communication of hunter versus prey.

The Renwick Craft Invitational opens at the Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C., March 9 and continues through July 22. For more information, visit www.americanart.si.edu.

Portfolio: Miriam Kaye

December 2006 | BY The AmericanStyle Staff | Issue 53 | NO COMMENTS

If you want to visit New England artist Miriam Kaye, you’ll have to brave black bears, deer flies and dirt back roads framed by towering maple and pine trees.

Kaye lives and works in—and rarely leaves—a cottage in the middle of 200 acres of unbroken forest in Chesterfield, Mass. Surrounded by wildlife, she has no computer, and her refrigerator, at 60, is a year older than she is.

“I live a really small life,” she says, seated near one of the stunning mosaic tables that she crafts painstakingly from fragments of mirror and shattered stained glass. “I don’t reach out that much. I’m not that contemporary.”

But if the rigorous simplicity of Kaye’s life allows her to focus on her work, the result is not so unembellished. Kaye’s quilts, ceramic pieces, and mosaic teapots, plates and furniture are complex and richly detailed, and don’t lend themselves to easy labels.

“Miriam has the ability to see how something can have a life beyond what it was intended for,” says Donald Clark, a managing partner at the Ferrin Gallery in Lenox, Mass., which represents Kaye. “The clear thread in all her work is her ability to rearrange and reassign images and materials.”

Clark points to several silver plates inlaid with shards of broken glass and mirror, mother of pearl and antique buttons. The variegated surfaces are visually striking, but also arresting. The familiar forms become edgy when adorned with broken glass. Like so much of Kaye’s work, the plates have a stark beauty that takes their beholder beyond what is traditionally comfortable.

Still, Kaye has never wanted for admirers. Her art is included in collections at the Addison Gallery of American Art at the Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass., and the Springfield Museum of Fine Arts in Springfield, Mass. It is in the private collections of singer Roberta Flack; Dave Mason, a founding member of the band Traff ic; and Edgar Bronfman Jr., CEO of Warner Music Group. Renowned collectors Sonny and Gloria Kamm own one of her mosaic teapots. Kaye’s work can also be seen at Clark Gallery in Lincoln, Mass.

Not bad for an artist who has no formal training and little inclination to play safely by the rules. “The thrill is gone when you know what you’re doing,” she says with a shrug. “My work is not an illustration of intelligent thought.”

Kaye grew up in Falls Church, Va., where her father owned a women’s clothing store. She remembers lingering there after hours, entranced by the hues and textures of the dress material, jewelry and corsages. Kaye also spent a great deal of time in her bedroom, copying in minute detail C.W. Anderson’s horse illustrations. It was good training for an artist beholden to found materi als, who often spends months on a single piece.

Kaye’s earliest success was with quilts. The first ones were made in a Vermont barn where she lived in the 1970s. One, which featured a picture of an open cabinet filled with vases, inspired her to create real-world versions of the ceramics she had imagined. That in turn led to embellishing furniture on which to set those vases.

Most recently, Kaye has been working with panels culled from antique pianos. The dark patina of the old wood is the perfect setting for her paintings—an elegant swan reminiscent of John James Audubon’s 19th-century work, for example. The sparse application of beads and glass is a graceful counterpoint to the subtler tones of wood and image.

Kaye calls the panels a retreat from her more striking mosaics, but in many ways they marry the seemingly disparate facets of her long career—her gifts as a colorist, her eye for exquisite detail, her unique vision that manages to be contrary and welcoming at the same time.

“If I had formal training, I wouldn’t allow myself to do this,” she says. “I’d be stuck with all these ideas about what should be done and what shouldn’t be done.”

She pauses, then adds with a smile, “I’m still a ’60s person. I’m just riding it out.”

Can’t Miss Craft Shows

December 2006 | BY The AmericanStyle Staff | Issue 53 | NO COMMENTS

: Visitors took time out to look at Navajo artist Abraham Begay’s jewelry at the Santa Fe Indian Market last August.Photo Credit: Bonanophoto.com / Courtesy Swaia

Have you ever experienced a sinking feeling just after you’ve missed a major craft show? AmericanStyle is here to prevent that from happening in 2007. We’ve compiled a list of must-attend shows across America. And while this list may not be definitive, it does pack a punch.

The following calendar reflects fairs and festivals that have longevity and a national presence, and that partner with local universities, museums or art guilds. Every show listed offers a unique presentation of fine craft in the marketplace today. The organizations behind the shows have implemented rigorous jurying, allowing only the most innovative, creative and technically skilled artists to exhibit.

So take out your pencil and mark up this calendar— it’s a yearlong keeper. Whether you stay in state or travel from coast to coast, you’re bound to meet emerging artists, see new trends and experience a full immersion in contemporary craft.

JANUARY

Palm Beach3
West Palm Beach, Fla., Jan. 12-15
Three distinct fairs pack into one location to present the best in contemporary art, photography and decorative arts. Established international and emerging artists, plus more than 100 leading galleries, exhibit their wares. Admission: $15 per day or $20 for a multi-day pass; call 561-209-1308; visit www.palmbeach3.com.

8th Bonita Springs National Art Festival
Bonita Springs, Fla., Jan. 13-14
Presented by the Art League of Bonita Springs, the biannual show offers 206 national and international artists at the Promenade at Bonita Bay. Admission: $3 optional donation; call 239-495-8989; visit www.artinusa.com/bonita.

Celebration of Fine Art
Scottsdale, Ariz., Jan. 13-March 25
100 artists treat their exhibit space as studio space to produce sculpture, paintings, ceramics, basketry and more while selling their art in big white tents for a 10-week stretch. Admission: $8; call 480-443-7695; visit www.celebrateart.com.

The New York Ceramics Fair
New York, N.Y., Jan. 17-21
A central feature of Winter Antiques Week in New York, the fair offers 40 exhibitors from the U.S. and the United Kingdom. A lecture series and exhibit accompany the fair. Admission: $15; call 310-455-2886; visit www.caskeylees.com.

FEBRUARY

Artigras Fine Arts Festival
Jupiter, Fla., Feb. 17-19
This three-day celebration of art includes 300 juried artists exhibiting work in variety of mediums, with music, a celebrity art auction and more. Admission: $10; call 561-694-2300; visit www.npbchamber.org.

Coconut Grove Arts Festival
Coconut Grove, Fla., Feb. 17-19
This event attracts more than 150,000 festival goers who can buy from more than 330 international artists, sample fine cuisine and enjoy live entertainment. admission: $5; call 305-477-0401; visit www.coconutgroveartsfest.com.

Baltimore Fine Craft Show
Baltimore, Md., Feb. 23-25
800 artists are selected to exhibit works in all mediums at this highly competitive American Craft Council show. 2007 marks the launch of a children’s line and a greater number of emerging artists. Admission: $14 per day or a $20 two-day pass; call 800-836-3470; visit www.craftcouncil.org.

Naples National Art Festival
Naples, Fla., Feb. 24-25
Featuring 275 artists from 35 states, the festival presents work in photography, sculpture, glass, jewelry and other original art. Admission: $3; call 239-262-6517; visit www.naplesart.org.

MARCH

Palm Beach Fine Craft Show
West Palm Beach, Fla., March 2-4
More than 100 artists will gather to exhibit their work in ceramics, glass, textiles, furniture, jewelry and more. Admission: $14; call 203-254-0486; visit www.craftsamericashows.com.

Kentucky Crafted: The Market 2007
Louisville, Ky., March 3-4
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, this national show features 300 exhibitors of contemporary and traditional craft, books and more. Admission: $8; call 888-592-7238; visit www.kycraft.ky.gov.

Atlanta Fine Craft Show
Atlanta, Ga., March 8-11
Just relocated to the Cobb County Galleria, the show is easier to reach and offers free parking. Admission: $12 per day or an $18 two-day pass; call 800-836-3470; visit www.craftcouncil.org.

Scottsdale Arts Festival
Scottsdale, Ariz., March 9-11
Established as a favorite in the Southwest, the festival presents 185 juried artists amid Arizona’s clear spring weather in a park-like setting. Admission: $7; call 480-994-2787; visit www.scottsdaleartsfestival.org.

6th (spring) Bonita Springs National Art Festival
Bonita Springs, Fla., March 10-11
(See January’s listing for more information.)

La Quinta Arts Festival
La Quinta, Calif., March 15-18
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the festival will pay tribute to its past achievements while offering 250 juried artists, music, food and wine. Admission: $10 per day or a $15 multi-day pass; call 760-564-1244; call 760-564-1244; visit www.lqaf.com.

Paradise City Arts Festival
Marlborough, Mass., March 16-18
Founded and run by artists Geoffrey and Linda Post, Paradise City shows are nationally known for work that breaks down the traditional barriers between art, craft and design. Admission: $12 per day or a $15 weekend pass; call 800-511-9725; visit www.paradisecityarts.com.

Spring Crafts at Morristown
Morristown, N.J., March 16-18
Join the loyal and sophisticated craft audience at the show, where one-of-a-kind works are sold directly by the artist. Admission: $7; call 800-679-1755; visit www.artrider.com.

Bayou City Art Festival
Houston, Texas, March 23-25
Walk through an explosion of art in the middle of Memorial Park to explore 300 artist booths and see multicultural dance and music performances. Admission: $8; call 713-521-0013; visit www.bayoucityartfestival.com.

Philadelphia Invitational Furniture Show
Philadelphia, Pa., March 24-25
The longest-running U.S. designers and craftsmen show that focuses on furnishings offers a select group of artists who can collaborate with patrons to customize their work. Admission: $12; call 215-832-0060; visit www.pffshow.com.

CRAFTBOSTON 2007
Boston, Mass., March 30-April 1
The show features exhibits by leading craft schools and nonprofit craft organizations, a lecture series and 175 artists who offer limited-edition and one-of-a-kind work in all mediums. Admission: $15; call 617-266-1810; www.craftboston.org.

Paradise City Arts Festival
Philadelphia, Pa., March 30-April 1
(See March 16-18 listing for more information.)

Spring Tempe Festival of the Arts
Tempe, Ariz., March 30-April 1
More than 450 artist booths line the street to offer a complete range of 2-D and 3-D art. Admission: free; call 480-355-6069, visit www.downtowntempe.com.

APRIL

St. Paul Fine Craft Show
St. Paul, Minn., April 12-15
The only American Craft Council show in the Midwest. It boasts work in jewelry, glass, clay, fiber and more. Admission: $12 per day or an $18 two-day pass; call 800-836-3470; visit www.craftcouncil.org.

Smithsonian Craft Show
Washington, D.C., April 19-22
Regarded as the country’s most prestigious juried exhibition and sale, the show features 120 craft artists who push the envelope of creativity, innovation and technical merit. All proceeds benefit educational, research and outreach programs within the Smithsonian Institution. Admission: $15; call 888-832-9554; visit www.smithsoniancraftshow.org.

Fiesta Arts Fair
San Antonio, Texas, April 21-22
A family-friendly occasion featuring 120 national artists, a children’s art garden and live music on the historic grounds of the Southwest School of Art & Craft. Admission: $6; call 210-224-1848; visit www.swschool.org.

MAY

Best of the Northwest
Seattle, Wash., May 11-13
With the wide variety of handcrafted work, everyone can find something to take home. Spend time with the artists and order a custom piece. Admission: $6; call 206-525-5926; visit www.nwcraftsalliance.com.

Spring Crafts at Lyndhurst
Tarrytown, N.Y., May 18-20
Join the crowd at the historic Lyndhurst estate along the Hudson River for work by more than 300 artists in all mediums. Admission: $9; call 914-631-4481; visit www.artrider.com.

37th Annual Broad Ripple Art Fair
Indianapolis, Ind., May 19-20
This festival brings the community together for a weekend celebration of creativity and family fun. More than 250 artists exhibit their work in the parks on the border of Broad Ripple Village. Proceeds benefit the Indianapolis Art Center. Admission: $10; call 317-255-2464; visit www.indplsartcenter.org.

Paradise City Arts Festival
Northampton, Mass., May 26-28
(See March’s listing for more information.)

JUNE

SOFA New York
New York, N.Y., June 1-3
A premier art exposition of masterworks from around the world bridging the decorative and fine arts. Admission: $20 per day or a $35 four-day pass; call 800-563-7632; visit www.sofaexpo.com.

31st Annual American Crafts Festival
New York, N.Y., June 2-3 and June 9-10
Held at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the festival offers 175 artists exhibiting fine and craft art during each of the first two weekends in June. Admission: free; call 973-746-0091; visit www.craftsatlincoln.org.

Columbus Arts Festival
Columbus, Ohio, June 7-10
This festival officially welcomes summer to Columbus. It pairs fine artists and craftspeople with a medley of entertainment, art activities and food. Admission: free; call 614-224-2606; visit www.gcac.org.

58th Old Town Art Fair
Chicago, Ill., June 9-10
Held along the tree-lined streets of Chicago’s Old Town Triangle district, the volunteer-driven event benefits the Old Town Triangle Association. More than 260 artists sell their works in 2-D and 3-D mediums. The festival also offers music, garden tours and a children’s corner. Admission: $5 suggested donation; call 312-337-1938; visit www.oldtownartfair.org.

Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival at Midway
College Midway, Ky., June 16-17
Meet and interact with fine 2-D and craft artists in an outdoor setting. Artist demonstrations, special exhibits and live music also accompany the festival. Admission: free; call 502-846-4632; visit www.franciscosfarm.org.

Crafts at Rhinebeck
Rhinebeck, N.Y., June 23-24
The event attracts more than 250 high-end artists working in all mediums to sell their work to the public and raise awareness of fine craft. Admission: $7; call 845-876-4001; visit www.dutchessfair.com.

Sawdust Art Festival
Laguna Beach, Calif., June 29-Sept. 2
The festival is held in Laguna Beach, an artists’ colony since its founding in the early 20th century. Some 200 artists exhibit and sell their original artwork, demonstrate techniques and teach classes to the public seven days a week. Admission: $7 per day or a $13 season pass; call 949-494-3030; visit www.sawdustartfestival.org.

JULY

Festival of Arts
Laguna Beach, Calif., July 1-Aug. 31
2007 marks the 75th anniversary of the festival, which shows only original works of art. More than 140 of the greater Los Angeles metro area’s finest artists will sell their work among grand celebration events, workshops, classes, demonstrations and art tours. Admission: $7 season pass; call 800-487-3378; visit www.lagunafestivalofarts.org.

Cherry Creek Arts Festival
Denver, Colo., July 6-8
More than 200 international, juried artists gather in Denver to show and sell their art. Special exhibits, entertainment and kids activities are also offered. Admission: free; call 303-355-2787; visit www.cherryarts.org.

Pageant of the Masters
Laguna Beach, Calif., July 7-Aug. 31
The most famous attraction of the Festival of Arts, the Pageant of the Masters presents 90 minutes of “living pictures” in which people pose to faithfully recreate classical and contemporary works. Admission: $20-$90; call 800-487-3378; visit www.pageanttickets.com.

Guilford Craft Expo
Guilford, Conn., July 12-14
The oldest craft show in Connecticut celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. In support of the Guilford Art Center, 180 of the best traditional and contemporary craft artists gather to sell their wares. Admission: $7; call 203-453-5947; visit www.artrider.com.

Art Fair on the Square
Madison, Wis., July 14-15
Sponsored by the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, the fair returns for its 49th year to showcase more than 480 juried artists who fill eight blocks between two glacial lakes. Admission: free; call 608-257-0158; visit www.mmoca.org.

Ann Arbor Street Art Fair
Ann Arbor, Mich., July 18-21
The oldest of four art fairs that run concurrently in Ann Arbor, this fair on the University of Michigan campus offers juried artists, demonstrations, workshops and free art activities. Admission: free; call 734-994-5260; visit www.artfair.org.

The Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
Asheville, N.C., July 20-22
The juried fair showcases the rich diversity of original crafts created by members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. Admission: $6; call 828-298-7928, visit www.craftguild.org.

Bellevue Arts and Crafts Fair
Bellevue, Wash., July 27-29
The fair celebrates excellence in art with juried artist booths, art demonstrations, Kidsfair, lively entertainment and food. Proceeds benefit the Bellevue Arts Museum. Admission: free; call 425-519-0742; visit www.bellevuearts.org.

AUGUST

Anacortes Arts Festival
Anacortes, Wash., Aug. 3-5
The 26th annual festival features a cutting- edge fine art exhibit of work by 15 to 20 artists, 250 juried artisans, a large demonstration area and two stages with live entertainment. Admission: free; contact 360-293-6211; visit www.anacortesartsfestival.com.

League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair
Newbury, N.H., Aug. 4-12
The nine-day fair features more than 350 juried members of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, 200 craft booths, three museum-quality exhibitions, demonstrations, workshops and more. Admission: $8; call 603-224-3375; visit www.nhcrafts.org.

San Francisco Fine Craft Show
San Francisco, Calif., Aug. 9-12
See craft by the waterfront. Shop for sculptural and functional works while taking in a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Admission: $12 per day or an $18 two-day pass; call 800-836-3470; visit www.craftcouncil.org.

Santa Fe Indian Market
Santa Fe, N.M., Aug. 18-19
More than 1,000 of the nation’s best Native American artists show and sell their work in historic Santa Fe. The market includes demonstration booths and entertainment. Admission: free; call 505-983-5220; visit www.swaia.org.

Long’s Park Art & Craft Festival
Lancaster, Pa., Aug. 31-Sept. 3
Now in its 29th year, the lakeside festival offers fine art and crafts by 200 artists in an outdoor setting. Admission: $10; call 717-295-7054; visit www.longspark.org.

American Craft Exposition
Evanston, Ill., Aug. 24-26
More than 150 exhibitors will sell handcrafted work in 12 mediums throughout the weekend. All admission proceeds will be donated to breast and ovarian cancer research. Admission: $15 for a three-day pass; call 847-570-5096; visit www.americancraftexpo.org.

Best of Marymoor
Seattle, Wash., August
(Show dates unavailable as of presstime. See May’s Best of the Northwest listing for show contact information.)

SEPTEMBER

Sausalito art Festival
Sausalito, Calif., Sept. 1-3
Enjoy 20,000 works by the best American and international artists along the waterfront on San Francisco Bay. Admission: $20; call 415-331-3757; visit www.sausalitoartfestival.org.

Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival
Upper Arlington, Ohio, Sept. 3
The one-day, blind-juried arts festival displays the work of nearly 200 local, regional and national artists working in all mediums. Admission: free; call 614-583-5310; visit www.ua-ohio.net.

42nd Arts & Apples Festival
Rochester, Mich., Sept. 7-9
The festival features juried fine craft in approximately 265 artist booths. All proceeds benefit the nonprofit Paint Creek Center for the Arts. Admission: $5 suggested donation; call 248-651-7418; visit www.artandapplesfestival.com.

22nd Annual Autumn Crafts Festival
New York, N.Y., Sept. 8-9 & 15-16
(See June’s American Crafts Festival listing for more information.)

Alexandria Festival of the Arts
Alexandria, Va., Sept. 8-9
King Street, between Washington and Union streets, transforms into an outdoor gallery where 200 of the nation’s best artists sell sculpture, photography, glass, jewelry and more. Admission: free; call 800-388-9119; visit www.thefunsideofthepotomac.com.

Wausau’s ARTrageous Weekend
Wausau, Wis., Sept. 8-9
Three festivals in one weekend—Art in the Park in Marathon Park, Festival of the Arts downtown, and the “Birds in Art” show at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. Shuttle buses will run between them. Admission: free; call 715-845-7010; visit www.wausaufestivalofarts.org.

37th Annual Peters Valley Craft Fair
Augusta, N.J., Sept. 14-16
Held at the Sussex County Fairgrounds, the fair presents more than 170 craft artists. Admission: $7; call 973-948-5200; visit www.petersvalley.org.

Fall Crafts at Lyndhurst
Tarrytown, N.Y., Sept. 14-16
(See May’s Spring Crafts listing for more information.)

Crafts at Rhinebeck
Rhinebeck, N.Y., Sept. 29-30
(See June’s listing for more information.)

OCTOBER

11th Annual Craft as Art Festival
Roslyn Harbor, Long Island, N.Y., Oct. 5-7
Held at the Nassau County Museum of Art, the festival showcases the work of 100 juried craft artists from across the U.S. Admission: $7; call 973-746-0091; visit www.craftsatlincoln.org.

St. James Court Art Show
Louisville, Ky., Oct. 5-7
This show gathers 700 artists from across America to exhibit outdoors in an area that calls itself the nation’s largest Victorian-era neighborhood. Admission: free; call 502-635-1842; visit www.stjamescourtartshow.com.

Sedona Arts Festival
Sedona, Ariz., Oct. 6-7
The festival showcases more than 100 artists from all over the country, live music and food. Admission: $7; call 928-204-9456; visit www.sedonaartsfestival.org.

Paradise City Arts Festival
Northampton, Mass., Oct. 6-8
(See March’s listing for more information.)

Bayou City Art Festival Downtown
Houston, Texas, Oct. 13-14
(See March’s listing for more information.)

The Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
Asheville, N.C., Oct. 19-21
(See July’s listing for more information.)

Kentuck Festival of the Arts
Northport, Ala., Oct. 20-21
An annual eclectic celebration that draws together a diversity of artists selling work in 13 mediums. Admission: $10 per day or a $15 two-day pass; call 205-758-1257; visit www.kentuck.org.

Fine Furnishings Providence Show
Providence, R.I., Oct. 26-28
Some 250 artists exhibit furniture, accessories and fine art at the Rhode Island Convention Center for the 12th annual show. Look for the design competition winners. Admission: $12; call 401-841-9201; visit www.finefurnishingsshow.com.

Westchester Craft Show
White Plains, N.Y., October
This juried show features 115 fine craft artists in a sophisticated market setting. Admission: $10; call 203-254-0486; visit www.craftsamericashows.com. (Show dates were unavailable as of presstime.)

NOVEMBER

Charlotte Fine Craft Show
Charlotte, N.C., Nov. 2-4
Just in time for your holiday shopping, this show offers work in all mediums at the Charlotte Convention Center. Admission: $12 per day or an $18 two-day pass; call 800-836-3470; visit www.craftcouncil.org.

SOFA Chicago
Chicago, Ill., Nov. 2-4
Admission: $15 per day or a $25 three-day pass; call 800-563-7632; visit www.sofaexpo.com. (See June’s listing for more information.)

Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show
Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 8-11
Presented annually by the museum’s Women’s and Craft Show committees to benefit the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the show features 195 of the finest and most dynamic craft artists in the U.S. Admission: $15 per day or a $20 two-day pass; call 215-684-7930; visit www.pmacraftshow.org.

Downtown Festival & Art Show
Gainesville, Fla., Nov. 10-11
Framed by the buildings of downtown Gainesville, the 26th annual show features 250 nationally drawn artists selling work in paint, sculpture, ceramics and jewelry. An area is dedicated to hands-on activities for children. Admission: free; call 352-334-5064; visit www.gvlculturalaffairs.org.

Paradise City Arts Festival
Marlborough, Mass., Nov. 16-18
(See March’s listing for more information.)

Winter Fantasy Sawdust Art Festival
Laguna Beach, Calif., Nov. 16-17, Nov. 23-25, Dec. 1-2 and Dec. 8-9
More than 175 artists sell their work in a winter wonderland. The festival includes a real snow playfield for children, a holiday playhouse, an ice castle, complimentary art classes and live entertainment. Admission: $5.75 per day or a $9 season pass; call 949-494-3030; visit www.ohiocraft.org.

Indianapolis Winterfair
Indianapolis, Ind., Nov. 17-18
Fine art and craft show featuring a national group of artists and demonstrations. Admission: $7; call 614-486-7119;visit www.ohiocrafts.org.

Piedmont Craftsmen’s Fair
Winston-Salem, N.C., Nov. 17-18
Presented by the juried guild, the Piedmont Craftsmen, the show exhibits a wide range of functional, decorative and wearable art for purchase. Admission: $6 per day or a $10 two-day pass; call 336-725-1516; visit www.piedmontcraftsmen.org.

Greater Cincinnati Winterfair
Covington, Ky., Nov. 23-25
(See the Nov. 17-18 listing for more information.)

Columbus Winterfair
Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 29-Dec. 2
(See the Nov. 17-18 listing for more information.)

Crafts at the Castle
Boston, Mass., Nov. 30-Dec. 2
For more than 20 years, this show has been organized for and dedicated to funding critical social services, offering a balance of master craftsmen and emerging artists. Admission: $15 for a three-day pass; call 617-523-6400; visit www.fsgb.org.

Fall Tempe Festival of the Arts
Tempe, Ariz., Nov. 30-Dec. 2
(See March’s listing for more information.)

Holiday Crafts Park Avenue
New York, N.Y., Nov. 30-Dec. 2
Now in its 22nd year, 175 craft artists exhibit at the Seventh Regiment Armory to offer masterfully made craft in a multitude of mediums. Admission: $12 per day; call 800-649-0279; visit www.artrider.com.

Sarasota Fine Craft Show
Sarasota, Fla., Nov. 30-Dec. 2
Just in time for the launch of Florida’s winter season, the show offers a variety of art in all mediums. Admission: $12 per day or an $18 two-day pass; call 800-836-3470, visit www.craftcouncil.org.

Washington Craft Show
Washington, D.C., Nov. 30-Dec. 2
Presenting a panoramic view of the art of fine craft, the show brings together approximately 190 of the nation’s leading contemporary craft artists. Admission: $14; call 203-254-0486; visit www.craftsamericashows.com.

Best of the Northwest
Seattle, Wash., November
(Show dates unavailable as of presstime. See May’s listing for show contact information.)

CraftArt 2007
St. Petersburg, Fla., November
The 10th annual show, held downtown indoors and out at The Coliseum, presents 100 of the nation’s most accomplished craft artists. Admission: $5; call 727-821-7391; visit www.floridacraftsmen.net. (Show dates unavailable as of presstime.)

DECEMBER

Holiday Crafts at Morristown
Morristown, N.J., Dec. 7-9
(See March’s listing for more information.)

One of a Kind Show and Sale Chicago
Chicago, Ill., Dec. 7-9
A winter fine art, craft and holiday shopping show that features more than 400 artists. Admission: $10; call 800-677-6278; visit www.merchandisemart.com/oneofakindshow.

Best of the Northwest
Portland, Ore., December
(Show dates unavailable as of presstime. See May’s listing for show contact information.)

My Old Kentucky Fair

December 2006 | BY The AmericanStyle Staff | Issue 53 | NO COMMENTS

: The rugged Santa Rosa Mountains are the backdrop for the annual La Quinta Arts Festival.

The rest of the country is green with envy as the Bluegrass State claims three spots in this year’s Top 10 Fairs & Festivals readers’ poll. All three are making their debut on the list—from a regional show produced by a division of the state’s government to a four-year-old upstart launched by a small town and its local college.

AmericanStyle’s Top 10 Fairs & Festivals

1. Kentucky Crafted: The Market
Louisville, Ken.
Kentucky Crafted: The Market, making quite a debut at No. 1 on the Top 10, welcomes more than 300 artists working in traditional, folk and contemporary craft. Mixed-media artist Dinah Smiley, who has participated in the show since 2003, has witnessed its growth first-hand. “As the reputation of the quality of the talent at The Market has grown, we have expanded the depth of retail customers to include those from Midwest and East Coast cities as well as Kentucky cities,” she says.

Kentucky Crafted: The Market, an event of the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program, takes place March 3-4 at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville. For more information, visit http:// kycraft.ky.gov.

2. Paradise City Arts Festivals
Northampton, Mass., Marlborough, Mass., and Philadelphia, Penn.
A perennial favorite of AmericanStyle readers, the Paradise City shows promise a wide range of high-quality contemporary craft paired with fine art. “It brings a whole new audience to each group,” explains mixed-media exhibitor Laura Balombini.

Fair goers have a number of opportunities to catch this popular show. Paradise City takes place in Marlborough, Mass., March 16-18 and Nov. 16-18; makes its debut in Philadelphia at the 33rd Street Armory March 30-April 1; and celebrates Memorial Day (May 26-28) and Columbus Day (Oct. 6-8) in Northampton, Mass. Find out more at www.paradisecityarts.com.

3. St. James Court Art Show
Louisville, Ken.
Fifty years ago, 15 artists put out their work in a Louisville neighborhood, launching the St. James Court Art Show. They each took home an equal share of the $150 in sales. Today, 650 artists sell works to more than 275,000 attendees and, we hope, leave with more than $10 in their pockets.

“We love the way the community really comes out in full force to support this show,” says jeweler Mary Watson, who hails from Illinois. “The fact that it has been around for 50 years is a testament to its value to this community.”

The St. James Court Art Show starts its second half-century Oct. 5-7. To find out more, visit www.stjamescourtartshow.com.

4. Scottsdale Arts Festival
Scottsdale, Ariz.
“Scottsdale in March is a perfect time for an outdoor art festival, with the weather usually in the low 80s,” boasts artist Ingrid Hanson, who exhibits glass with her husband, Ken. The balmy weather draws locals and visitors alike, according to Hanson. “There is a huge tourist crowd that attends the show, many snowbirds and baseball fans who flock to the area for the baseball spring training season, which coincides with the art festival.”

The 2007 Scottsdale Arts Festival is scheduled for March 9-11 on the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall, next to the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. For more information, visit www.scottsdaleartsfestival.org.

5. Bayou City Art Festival
Houston, Texas
Bayou City appears to have earned a permanent spot in the Top 10. “With a stellar cadre of professional artists and craftspeople, live music and performance art all day, and tons of creative craft stations for children, the shows really offer something of value to every guest,” explains exhibitor Edward Bailey, of Iona Handcrafted Books. “The locations are diverse and excellent. I particularly like nestling in the woods of Memorial Park in the spring.”

This year’s first Bayou City Art Festival takes place in Memorial Park on March 23-25. The fall show takes over downtown Oct. 13 and 14. For details, visit www.bayoucityartfestival.com.

6. Festival of Arts/ Pageant of the Masters
Laguna Beach, Calif.
A show that lasts for two months isn’t going to draw a lot of out-of-town exhibitors, and the Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters doesn’t even try. “The (show) has been a venue that has preserved the integrity of focusing on artists who work and live within approximately a 15-mile radius of Laguna,” explains longtime mixed-media exhibitor Pat Sparkuhl. “It allows an important perspective on artists who have participated, and allows an important view of art of the region in and around Laguna.” The Festival of Arts, featuring 140 exhibitors, runs July 1-Aug. 31, with a gala benefit on Aug. 25. Tickets for the nightly tableaux vivantes at the Pageant of the Masters can be ordered online at www.foapom.com.

7. Ann Arbor Art Fairs
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Collectively referred to as “Art Fair” by the locals in this college town, these four shows include the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original; the State Street Area Art Fair; the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair; and Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair. In total, they bring more than 1,200 artists to town each summer.

“The Ann Arbor show is one of the oldest in the country, and therefore has obtained a national awareness level,” says mixed-media artist Linda Chamberlain. “No matter what other show I am at, someone always inquires if I exhibit at the Ann Arbor Art Fair. The show is huge and offers something for everyone.”

This year’s shows take over the streets July 18-21. For more information and links to all four events, visit www.annarbor.org.

8. La Quinta Arts Festival
La Quinta, Calif.
“I always look forward to the La Quinta Arts Festival,” says jeweler Davide Bigazzi. “The atmosphere is festive, and the setting is so beautiful that I almost feel like I’m on vacation when I show there.” The festival celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, bringing 200 artists to the city’s Civic Center Campus, a 10-acre site surrounded by the scenic Santa Rosa Mountains.

The La Quinta Arts Festival, a program of the La Quinta Arts Foundation, takes place March 15-18. To learn more, visit www.lqaf.com.

9. Downtown Festival & Art Show
Gainesville, Fla.
A dark horse candidate in this year’s poll, the Downtown Festival & Art Show was originally meant to showcase the work of local artists. “It’s grown to be much more than that, but there’s still a great sense of community in the show’s atmosphere,” says woodworker Dixie Biggs, a local artist. “I have done this show since 1989, and there has been an incredible improvement of quality over the years.” Today, many of the show’s 250 artists still hail from Florida, but it now draws exhibitors from as far away as Pennsylvania and Nevada.

Mark your calendars for this year’s show, Nov. 10-11. For complete details, visit www.gvlculturalaffairs.org.

10. Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival
Midway, Ken.
Fans of Francisco’s Farm ensured its appearance in the Top 10 with an impressive write-in campaign. For a show that’s only four years old, it already has a loyal following. “This art fair has potential for growth and longevity, and most artists are returning each year as the potential for success grows with the event,” explains woodturner Jamie Donaldson.

The show takes place on the charming campus of Midway College. “The location of the show is in a lovely park-like setting,” says furniture maker Chris Hoke of Rising Moon Studio, who participated in her first Francisco’s Farm last year. “The campus grounds and buildings were immaculately groomed and clean.”

More than 100 artists will participate in the 2007 show, June 16-17. Learn more at www.franciscosfarm.org.