Enjoy the Upcoming Kings Mountain Art Fair

dress by artist Anna Broenink

dress by artist Anna Broenink

Nestled in one of the most beautiful locations in California, the Kings Mountain Art Fair is definitely one that you shouldn’t miss. This annual event is held on Labor Day weekend and it benefits the Kings Mountain Volunteer Fire Brigade and other community activities. It is staffed by local volunteers. It is set among the redwoods and is celebrating 50 years of art and enjoyment.

The fair includes a Kiddie Hollow where children can make their own art at supervised booths.

There is also a firefighter booth where you can meet the firefighters and get a free blood pressure check.

Judged artists who are going to be part of the 2014 fair include: Joseph Battiato, Sumati Colpitts, Linda Fahey, Fox Garney and many others.

Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair

mtmitchellcraftsfair6If you happen to be around Burnsville on August 1 and 2, it is definitely worth the time to enjoy the Mount Mitchell Crafts Fair. More than 150 juried crafters display their wares in this angelic town square. Burnsville is 35 miles northeast of Asheville near Mt. Mitchell. The annual show includes work by artisans throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains and selections include jewelry, handmade quilts, wooden bowls, pottery, rustic furniture and more.

There is also fun live music along with the crafts. Scheduled acts this year include Road Tripp, Revolution Unseen, Doc Hill Bluegrass Band, Cloggers and many others.

As the Chamber of Commerce explains, “The nostalgic town square of Burnsville will once again be transformed into the best event east of the Mississippi, the Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair. As you stroll up and down the “Norman Rockwell” streets lined with artist booths, you will find chairs and tables, hand hewn from rhododendron bushes and maple logs, seasoned blacksmiths producing everything from whimsical fairies to intricate candelabras. So, grab yourself a warm bag of fresh popped kettle corn and continue around the square and onto the side streets. You will see sparkling glass, gold, silver, and beaded jewelry, from the contemporary to the very traditional. Birdhouses, candles, soaps, and lotions available in every size and shape and we guarantee that you will find something that you like and must have. Our over 200 artists are as varied as the crafts that they produce and many will be working on their craft as you browse.”

Northern Kentucky: A Great Summer Get-Away

Few things are as fun as the summer art festival scene. And if you haven’t been to out-of-the-way Northern Kentucky in the summer, you may actually want to give this a try. Yes, this sounds a bit out of the way, but it’s truly a delight. Here is a list of some of the amazing festivals brewing in Northern Kentucky this summer.

23rd annual Italianfest: Come wine and dine like an Italian. The events kick off at the Bocce Ball Tournament at Pompilios Restaurant on June 11th. They continue from Thursday to Sunday. Get more information here: www.newportky.gov.

motorcycle rallyNewport Motorcycle Rally: This takes place from July 3-6 where you can participate in the contest for the best bike and enjoy live music, fireworks, prizes and more. This is at the Newport Festival Park and Newport on the Levee. See more here: www.newportmotorcyclerally.com.

 

 

Boone County Heritage Day and Chalkfest: You won’t want to miss this feast for the eyes on July 12th. Enjoy the sidewalk chalk art by local artists and see the vintage auto show sponsored by the Boone County Historical Museum. For more information, call859-371-5882.

Kentucky Art Outpost: July 25-27 you’ll be able to see some of the greatest art in Kentucky. Dozens of regional artists will come together to present their glass, photos, ceramics, jewelry and crafts. The event is at the World Peace Bell Park in Newport. Learn more here.www.southbankpartners.com. Phone: 859-655-7700.

These are just a few of the many great events Northern Kentucky has to offer this summer. This just might be the family get-away worth doing this year!

RiNo: A Place to See in Denver

Denver, Colorado and the surrounding area is a great summer destination. It’s also beautiful in the winter and perfect for a ski holiday. But the summer is the time to enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities offered in Denver. If you’ve never been to RiNo, an artsy district just north of Downtown Denver, it’s time to go.

Here, you’ll find businesses including architects, art galleries, ceramicists, furniture makers and more. You’ll also see an array of studio spaces and many artists at work. Just a few days ago, on May 17th, they had a “Trek the wilds of RiNo Art District” event. It was a tour that included over 30 locations and 50 art studios and creative spaces that were open to the public.

artsafari

 

For those who missed this event, there is always the First Friday where you can wander through loads of galleries and stores, enjoying the artistic creations of many. Here is more information about the First Fridays program: http://www.rivernorthart.com/first-fridays/.

Lower East Side Art Fair: cutlog

cutlogNew Yorkers who love art and the Lower East Side should get themselves to cutlog from May 8-11, 2014. The art fair includes 50 galleries and curators and the events will include performances, talks, films, art, installations and more.
As the website explained,

“cutlog NY will focus on showing cutting-edge and established galleries that promote the work of contemporary artists. The fair aims to foster new relationships between galleries, collectors and art institutions, forming a collaborative platform for building new perspectives on contemporary art. cutlog NY aims to be a creative laboratory, showcasing works by artists from all over the world and offering them the opportunity to gain global visibility.”

The event will take place at the Celemente, a beautiful Dutch Neo-Gothic building on the Lower East Side. Each of the 50 exhibitors will present an original project.

 
Last year’s participants included: Art Amalgamated, Art Connections, B. Pailley Projects, Be-poles, Celine Moine, Cirrus, Concept Art, Creative Growth, Edward Cutler, Framental Museum, Front Room and others.

Bucketlist Ideas

Now that my husband and I are retired we’ve been living out our dreams. Up until now, our dreams haven’t been grand – we love art and antiques and have been going to art shows and traveling to galleries. But as we approach 70 we are starting to think about our bucketlist. What do we really want to accomplish and see before we are too old and tired to do so? Here are a few of the items on our list so far. We are certainly open to other suggestions.

1.Lake Hillier, Australia. I’ve always been enthralled by Australia. The art there is supposed to be fascinating and the scenery breathtaking. This spot recently caught my eye and created even more reasons for me to want to visit. Isn’t this interesting?

australiapink

 

 

 

 

2. Mount Kilimanjaro. Yes, this may be absolutely insane, but we are both hikers and we’ve fantasied about pursuing this dream. Lately, I’ve been reading blogs of those who have succeeded, and those who have failed in their attempts to conquer the mountain. One particularly sweet blog called Concert Addict Chick caught my attention. The blogger actually managed to reach the summit with her 65 year old father, fulfilling a dream that both of them had. As she wrote in her blog, “I am SO proud of my dad, myself & everyone else on Team Tembo (“tembo” means “elephant” in Swahili) for having the strength (both mentally & physically) to reach the summit. I’m also beyond grateful to our four Thomson Safari guides, Prosper, Calvin, James & David, & our FORTY-THREE Thomson porters for working harder than I’ve ever seen anyone work for 9 straight days to assist 8 American, amatuer “mountaineers” in living out their dream of climbing to the top of Kilimanjaro.”

3. Other ideas we are floating around include: Maldives, Bora Bora, Antarctica and even the Ice Hotel in Sweden.

We will keep you posted about what we decide to do first!

Don’t Miss The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival

woodlandsIf you’re in Texas between Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, the 13th, you simply must get to The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival. Greg Lawler’s Art Fair SourceBook (AFSB)TM has ranked the festival the number one in Texas and the number 3 in the nation at large for fine art sales. This was in comparison to 600 art fairs in the US in 2013.

Cindy Hardin, President of The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council, said, “It is incredible that after only eight years, The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival is one of the top fine art festivals in the country.  Art Fair SourceBook is the ‘go to’ website for fine artists across the country, ranking the festivals by artists’ sales. This ranking acknowledges the high quality of work of our exhibitors and the deep interest and support of the community.”

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival is a juried arts festival that occurs annually. It features over 200 national, regional and international fine artists who display their original designs.

As part of the festival, participants can enjoy an awesome DRUM JAM on Saturday, April 12, 2014 from 4-7pm at The Woodlands Waterway Square. This second annual event will include interactive drum and beat stations, bongo drums, drum lines, junkyard percussions and more. In attendance will be Let Them Drum! All-Stars, the Sam Houston State University Steel Drum Band, Dan the Drummer and more!

All proceeds from the drumming event will go to Because Art Matters. As Kayleen Barton, Coordinator for Because Art Matters, said,  “For a donation, participants can join in the drumming fun – either on trash cans and buckets (like STOMP), on hand drums from around the world, or as part of a drum line! The event promises to be a fun time and an opportunity to make a real difference in the community by helping to bring fine arts to those who would not otherwise have the opportunity.”

The La Quinta Arts Festival: Fun in the Sun

If you’re stuck in cold weather on the East Coast and you’re ready for a change, California is definitely the place to be right now. And all the more reason to be there – the 32nd La Quinta Arts Festival is coming from March 6-9. This is a lovely festival in sunny Southern California. Greg Lawler’s 2014 Art Fair SourceBook has ranked it #1 for Fine Art Festivals and #1 for Fine Craft Festivals in the Nation.

Here is a glimpse at just a few of the people you’ll see at the festival:
Oil painter Rimas Ciurlionis will be at Booth #635. As the website for the festival explains, Rimas Ciurlionis “creates abstracts thick with texture, with layers upon layers of paint making it almost like sculpture. His pieces provoke emotion, memory, mood. They touch you deep within, and invite you to enter this meditative space.  His is work that is painted like a symphony.”
John Wayne Jackson will be at Booth #530. As the website for the festival explains, he “is all about leaves. Tree leaves, flower leaves, vegetable leaves, leaves turning colors, spring, summer, fall leaves. Small scale and enormous, leaves found in the jungle, the forest, and the desert, Jackson creates sculptures making use of nature’s beautiful bounty.”

Alex and Mona Szabados live in Mokelumne Hill, California. As the website explains, “They have collaborated to make jewelry for over 30 years, won numerous awards and their work has been published in several books and magazines, including the front cover of “Ornament” magazine. Each Enamel piece is built up gradually using transparent enamel with 24 karat gold foil and granules, and pure silver foil, in approximately 40 layers and firings.”

Art On Broadway Offering Painting Sessions

Donna Sanson

Donna Sanson

If you happen to be in Oregon sometime soon, you’re in for a treat. The downtown Beaverton art gallery, Art On Broadway, is offering painting sessions with Beaverton artist and co-director of the gallery, Donna Sanson.

No experience is necessary and participants will work with acrylics. Participants in the Paint with an Artist program will go home with their artwork. Attendees have to be 21 or older and the sessions cost $48 per person. They will last for between 2 and 3 hours. The sessions are held on Sunday or Monday nights when the gallery is closed to the public. Reservations can be made at 5036013300.

In addition, right now Art On Broadway is having a Winter Group Show with displays by their 20 award winning artists. Complimentary wine and refreshments will be served and the exhibit will be open until February 1, 2014.

Featured artists include: Roberta Babcock, Linda J. Baker, Rae Campbell, Bert Cohen, Nancy Cuevas, Nikki Dilbeck, Thomas Eldridge, Peggy Harkins, Sue Jensen, Stephen Kekule, Myla Keller, Gretha Lindwood, Pam Nichols, Kris Paul, Donna Sanson, Carli Schultz, Don Schwarz, Elaine Tan, Diana Unterspan, and Susette Wilson.

 

Run to the LA Art Show

laartshowThe LA Art Show is certainly one that you won’t want to miss if you can get yourself to Los Angeles between January 16 and 19th. For 18 years now, they have showcased an amazingly large spectrum of art. The LA Art Show was created by FADA and it is the longest running venue for showing contemporary, modern, historic and traditional art. The 2013 show saw more than 100 galleries present and it drew over 56,000 visitors.

The 2014 show will showcase four sections of work. These will include: The Modern & Contemporary Section, The Historic & Traditional Contemporary Section, The Vintage Poster Section and The IFPDA Los Angeles Print Fair. The event will not only features top galleries and beautiful works of art, but will also include lectures, tours, special exhibits and after-parties.

The LA Art Show takes place at the LA Convention Center. As described on their website, “The LA Art Show is the West Coast’s most comprehensive art experience, with 3 distinct sections: Modern & Contemporary, Historic & Traditional Contemporary, and the IFPDA Los Angeles Fine Print Fair, showcasing the highest caliber galleries enhanced by exceptional programming and special exhibitions.”

In addition, believe it or not, the Los Angeles Jewelry, Antique & Design Show takes place in tandem with the art show. Together, it makes for an unforgettable week and a feast for the eyes like no other.

 

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