NOVEMBER 2008 ONLINE EDITORIALS
Art Trek: Crafty as They Come!
By Maggie Kunze
I am sitting here looking out the window in wonderful Cheyenne, Wyoming watching it snow horizontally and wondering where the hell summer went!
With the first snowfall and the holiday season right around the corner, we are inundated with a plethora of craft, trunk and art shows where we can find the funkiest gifts imaginable! I must say right now that I would rather have burning matchsticks put under my fingernails than endure one trip to the mall to buy a gift for any occasion. But finding the perfect gift from local artists – I’ll take that venue any day. I’m not talking the Gingham Goosey craft fairs at the local auditorium. You know the ones that smell like grandma’s dresser drawer and have some kind of knitted doily or duck... I’m talking great, eclectic shows that truly showcase some of our finest local craftsman and artisans.
There are several such shows coming that I want you to know about because I do think that in this hard economic time, we need to get the best bang for our buck when it comes to gift-giving. I don’t know about you, but I am truly passionate about giving my hard earned money to a local, talented artist or establishment rather than the big box run-of-the-mill cheesy stuff that you find so readily available.
So check out the Wadoo Furniture Co. Trunk Show Nov 4-8 at 314 E. Mountain Ave. Call or e-mail Amy Satterfied, the owner of this exciting store, at 970-223-4012, amy@wadoofurniture.com so she can send you an invite as she will serve food and drink.
What is a trunk show you ask?
“It’s when an artist brings her creations and sells them to you in the store, in theory from her “trunk.” But that was in the old and fabled days; now I think she sells them from a chair, and her creations are displayed on a table. But the principle – you buy things directly from the artist who is terribly interesting and who gets to tell you how she makes her cool stuff – is the same,” said Amy.
There are some really fun artists in this show and I know you’ll love Wadoo Furniture Co. It is a wonderful place that offers eclectic, handcrafted art furniture, jewelry, ceramics, fashion accessories and gifts created by more than 50 nationally acclaimed North American artists. You will find the unique gift you haven’t seen before: the necklace everybody notices; the stop sign table that starts conversations; hats that transform a bad hair day into a photo op; socks that don’t match – on purpose; lamps that illuminate your character as well as your surroundings. Or order something made just for you to your specifications. Wadoo sells functional art that’s as creative as anything on a gallery wall.
If ceramics are your passion, the Northern Colorado Potters Guild will hold its Annual Holiday Pottery Show and Sale on Nov 7 at 5p-9p, Nov 8, 10a-4p and, Nov 9 12p-3p at 209 Christman Dr.
Another great group of artisans can be found at the Museum Of Contemporary Art’s Holiday Art Sale Nov 7 from 10a- 9p and Nov 8 from 10a-5p. Wares will include pottery, paintings, photography, fiber arts, sculpture, jewelry and glass. Find the perfect holiday gift and support FCMOCA at the same time! Great plans are in store for the renovation and restoration of one of the coolest buildings in Fort Collins at 201 S College in the Historic Old Post Office building. This sale directly supports the great programs put on by MOCA.
On Nov 7-12 check out The Great Christmas Hall of Trees at the Lincoln Center – a fun way to get in the holiday decorating mood and see some greatly dressed up Christmas trees. Also don’t miss The Hall of Gifts craft show Nov 7 at 12p-6p, Nov 8 at 10a-5p, & Nov 9 at 11a-5p.
For another opportunity to both benefit the community – abused and neglected children in this case – and give unique gifts, visit the Artisan Sale at Harmony House, 3105 E. Harmony Road on Dec 6 at 9a-4p. Find a wide selection of unique items from talented artists working with jewelry, fabric, clay and wood arts.
And lastly I wouldn’t be the brazen marketing maven I am if I did not do some shameless self-promotion of an event that I put on annually at the Opera Galleria: Fine & Funky. It is held Dec 5 at 5p-9p and Dec 6 at 10a-6p. This will be my seventh year, and I am so proud of the caliber of artists that I get in this show. Over 30 artists will show truly incredible one-of-a-kind and unique styles for every one on your gift list. I promise you won’t see a Gingham Goose at this show!
So times are rough, but as Amy Satterfied of Wadoo Furniture Co. says: “What are you holding onto your money for? It’s just depreciating as you read this! You want it to maintain its value? Then switch it out for art! Art appreciates in value. Functional art is even better because you can USE it while you’re too poor to go to the Bahamas!”
I know some of you saw me the other day on the corner in Old Town with the sign that said: “Will farkle art for food!” So save a starving artist and give something really cool this Holiday. Cheers!