All that comes with fall...

The busy time for crafters is beginning! This weekend in Springfield is one of my favorite shows from last year, Mattoon Street Arts Festival. This show has been going on for a long time and has a great reputation. The website touts that "The Mattoon Street Arts Festival features 90+ exhibitors, food vendors, and strolling musicians. This is the longest running arts and crafts fair in Western Massachusetts, and one of the best in New England.Parking and admission are free. We are only three blocks from I-91. Come join us at this family-friendly event. Great for holiday shopping, seeing new craft ideas, or just walking on a beautiful Victorian street."



As you start to have thoughts about holiday shopping, remember to not only visit handmade shows, but also support those businesses who carry local artists' work. You can find my work in a variety of places throughout the area- Northampton Beadery, Red Lion Inn, North Adams Artist Co-op Gallery, Petersham Craft Center, Bridgewater Art and the Wandering Peacock. Coming soon you will also be able to find my work at Salmon Falls Gallery in Shelburne Falls and Happy Valley Gifts in Northampton. If you do go shopping at one of these galleries, thank them for supporting their local makers and let them know that you care.

Artisans of WMASS is excited to announce that we are now officially a non-profit, and we have a beautiful new website, thanks to Vicki of Weyakin Designs. AWM is always a great source to find local handmade goods, and now you can search by types of products, or by artist. You can also find out where which shows we'll be at by looking at the shows and events page.

And finally, if you are still dying to take a beadmaking class, I have one coming up in Northampton on October 22. Contact Northampton Beadery to sign up. Limit 5 students so call quickly if you are interested. My new studio in Hadley will be up and running by the winter, so if that date doesn't work for you, you can also contact me to make other arrangements.

Enjoy the beautiful New England Fall!

'Complementary Contrast' opens this week!

The work in this show is about complementary contrast, between Joshua Primmer's work and that of Katie Richardson's. "We make diverse forms through very different approaches, yet the works seem to formally complement each other and start a conversation," states Richardson. She continues: "The show is so named also for the binary elements in each of our individual work. For me, the material contrast is the combination of glass and metal. Glass is seen as a delicate, beautiful, fragile material, while steel is associated with structure, rigidity, and strength. These materials complement each other and create a delicate balance while the forms defy the traditional characteristics associated with the materials...The thematic contrast in my work is safety/ danger, fear/ comfort, belonging / exclusion"

Primmer adds: "The elements that I contrast in my work are surface and form. This is an abstraction of the relationship between medium and process and the relationship between nature and man/technology. Medium and nature are represented by surface and process and man/technology are represented by form."

Hope you get a chance to see it! I know it's far away for those of you down here in the valley, but a trip up to North Adams at this time of the year is gorgeous, so its a good excuse. Take a drive, see some art, go hiking among the fall colors and enjoy!

Old Deerfield and more!

This weekend I'll be at one of the areas oldest shows, the Old Deerfield Fall Art and Craft Festival. Not only are their tons of interesting vendors, many of whom I've been seen at other shows this year, but they are doing wine and cheese tasting, scarecrows and artist demos. Check out their website here and print an entrance coupon.



Also coming up next weekend is the Amherst Apple Harvest Festival on Saturday the 25th on the Amherst Common. This was a great show last year, and promises to be much fun again this year.

SAVE THE DATE!
Complimentary Contrast: Works by Katie Richardson and Joshua Primmer will open at North Adams Artist Co-op Gallery on October 28, 5-8. The show will be up from October 27 to November 28, and will feature many new sculptural pieces by both artists. Make sure to check out MASS MOCA when you come up to see the show, and enjoy fall in the beautiful Berkshires.

BEADMAKING CLASSES
Last but not least, if you are itching to take a beadmaking class or workshop, I'll be teaching an intro workshop at Bisque, Beads and Beyond in Pittsfield on September 26. Last I heard there were still 2 spots available for the morning session. If that's too far for you to travel, let me know if you'd like to join a class in Northampton next time I run one, or if you'd like to set up private instruction or a home workshop.