by Maggie Fitzgibbon
Arts and crafts vendors are one of the main attractions at the Brockport Arts Festival. Over 120 artists are expected to showcase their goods at this year’s festival.
Pat Baker is the coordinator of the arts and crafts vendors for the Brockport Arts Festival.
“Each year, we select a huge variety of both arts and crafts vendors. We want mainstream items from potholders to maple syrup, but also look for unique and new artists. We are a mid-priced sales festival so we check that prices are within certain parameters. What all these artists have in common is quality, which is very important to us,” Baker explained.
This is a judged show and prizes will be awarded to the vendors who meet the strict criteria set forth by the Brockport Arts Festival Committee. The overall best in show will receive $200 and each category winner will receive a free single booth for 2014.
New to the Brockport Arts Festival this year is Savell Studio’s from Tennessee. Artist Pia Savell Schliesseit sells one-of-a-kind clocks. Also new is SanGer-La Alpacas whose owners, Nancy and Kris Sanger from Brockport, will sell felted hats.
Returning artists include Alexalina’s Boutique, an artist who features tutu dresses, and parasols for girls and Braddock Bay Gallery, a family of artists who offer hand painted glass, interior decorative painting and nature photography.
Braddock Bay Gallery has attended the Brockport Arts Festival for over five years. Owner Dave Beadling describes this festival as one of their favorite events.
“This is a great show for us; we enjoy participating. The festival has a great atmosphere, being located in this college-town, and we are happy that the show is back on Main Street,” Beadling said.
As a new attraction to this year’s Brockport Arts Festival, 11 artists will be giving demonstrations of their art during the regular festival hours. Noted below are the artists’ business names and booth number. Stop by any of these booths during the festival and see their handiwork come alive in their craft.
#36 – SanGer-La Alpacas – felted hats
#56 – John Sim – master wood carver
#75 – The Sign Post – personalized signs
#88 – Kagel’s Creations – fabric stiffening
#94 – Leroy Air Brush – personalized t-shirts
#97 – Fiber Lingo – fiber items
#115 – Scarves To Go – help create your own silk scarf
#151 – Gaiart – B&W photo letter art
#159 – The Shabby Chic Garden – vintage wind chimes and more
#171 – Pole bee – created game
For a complete list of arts and crafts vendors. Visit the Brockport Arts Festival website at brockportartsfestival.com.
Art flourishes at A Different Path Gallery
by Maggie Fitzgibbon
Katherine Weston is the owner of A Different Path Gallery, 27 Market Street in Brockport. She opened this studio three years ago in hopes of providing a place to showcase the work of local artists.
“I was looking for a place to do my own work and came across this building that I was able to purchase. Each month, we feature a different artist in the gallery,” she said.
Weston has different sections within her space, a store, gallery and studio. In the store, she carries a wide range of art, including handcrafted artwork created by artists from throughout the United States and Canada, fair trade items and even socks, purses and greeting cards.
“The socks are from Vermont and can only be described as different,” Weston said with a laugh.
In the gallery, visitors will find a wide range of work from local artists featuring pottery, jewelry, including metalwork, including her own artwork. “I’m a mixed media artist. I use a variety of different materials, like prints from woodcuts, fabric, metal and acrylic paint. My work can be described as a collage of elements,” Weston explained.
The pottery studio is located in the rear of the building and is available for rent to experienced potters. The studio also offers classes and workshops to budding artists.
Last year, Weston embarked upon a community project — she set out to create a mural on the side of the building where the gallery is located. With the support of the community and donations from a friend’s bequest (artist Jeanne Sozio) to the gallery, Weston was able to accomplish her goal.
“This year, I reached out to the community and as a result of this support, I was able to paint the mural, create an art garden of sculptures and even build new steps in the back of the building,” Weston said.
On Saturday, August 10 at 1 p.m., during the Brockport Arts Festival, the mural will be unveiled, a brief ceremony will take place and refreshments will be served. The public is invited to the unveiling. After the unveiling, at 2 p.m., Weston will host a CD painting party at the gallery.
“A chain link fence sits across from the pathway by the gallery, I would like to make this fence look more attractive and I invite the community to come to the gallery, paint CDs that we will attach to the fence,” Weston said.
A small supply of CDs will be available so people are encouraged to bring their old CDs. Paint and ideas will be provided.
During the month of August, an exhibit titled Jeanne Sozio Retrospective will highlight this artist’s work and celebrate her life.
