Spark! Art Share and other December news

So the holidays are creeping up on us and I've got some fun news for you...


First, and most exciting, is the introduction of Spark! Art Share. Spark! is a unique and special gift for the holidays, as it gives someone art for the whole year rather than an individual item. Spark! works like a farmshare; you pay up front for the year and get art and handmade items from different artists once a month. The shares have just become available, but are limited, so check out the website today! I'm so excited to be presenting such a great array of work made by local artists, and offering a new, innovative way for art enthusiasts to connect with and support artists and the creative economy.

Next in line is the Artisans of WMASS Holiday Promotion. For 2 more days you can get 15% off from participating artists, and next weeks' promotion is free shipping. Check out the Artisans of WMASS website for a full listing.

Tomorrow, Saturday December 3, you can find me at the Northampton Senior Center from 9-2 for their Annual Holiday Crafts Festival.

And on December 11, I'll be at Craftopia in Pawtucket (near Providence, RI).

Another great place to find my work and lots of others, is the Brookline Craft Center where they are hosting an Artist Marketplace December 8-11.



Happy shopping and Happy Holidays!

Artisans of WMASS + Artspace Holiday Sale, Twist and Craftopia

UPDATES from ARTISANS of WMASS

Our fabulous group of local artists and artisans is expanding rapidly (now over 50 members!) to include a fabulous selection of handmade art and good. Please remember to check us out as you start to think about your holiday shopping, and tell your friends too. Shopping with us is a great way to support local artists and the creative culture of the region as well as keep money in your own community. Check out our website to see all the fabulous things we have to offer. Look on the blog for the various shows we'll attending. Grab a bumper sticker from us at a show, plop in on your car to help spread the word. And stay tuned for a special AWM online holiday sale! www.artisansofwmass.com

NOVEMBER SHOWS

This Friday and Saturday you will find me in Greenfield among a variety of handmade treasures. Artspace in Greenfield, MA is sponsoring a Holiday Gift Sale at Greenfield High School on Friday, Nov. 5, 6 – 9 pm and Saturday, Nov. 6, 10 – 4 pm. Admission and parking are free. Thirty artists will participate, showcasing works in fiber, pottery, glass, jewelry, painted furniture, wooden bowls, holiday ornaments, paintings, photography, dolls, doll clothes and more will be available at the sale. The sale is located at Greenfield High School on Lenox Ave., Greenfield MA.



Next weekend, come on out for TWIST, the valley's favorite indie craft show. Twist is a fresh kind of fair, showcasing original goods and art from 60+ talented vendors. It's always a lot of fun, with music and drinks on Friday night, continuing all day Saturday for lots of holiday shopping. As usual I'll be in the East Gallery next to my friend Ben Westbrook of BMW Ironworks and Donnabelle of Donabelle Designs. Get some veggie glasswork for your friends and family, or order that something special you've been thinking about.



The vibe of this show is just awesome and the selection and ingenuity is outstanding. I really recommend a visit. It's held in the Northampton Center for the Arts beginning on Friday November 12 with VIP entrance from 4-6pm. If you come then you have to pay more, but you get a swag bag ad first peek at all the goodies! Then the show opens for the regular admission price from 6-9pm and continues on Saturday from 10-6pm.



Finally, on Sunday the 14th, I'll be at another sweet show for any of you who are farther south or feel like taking a drive. Craftopia, a great indie fair run by Rhody Craft, is in it's second season. It's located in Pawtucket Rhode Island, just outside Providence and will be open from 10-5pm.

Bead Class and Craftopia

I have a 3 hour introduction to glass beadmaking class with one spot open for you! Sunday morning, March 28th, 9-noon in Northampton (actually Florence). You'll get to melt glass with a torch and leave having made some of your very own beads! It's lots of fun, I promise...
$50 for the class, all materials included.

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Upcoming craft show on April 11th. This will be my first adventure down there to RI, but it looks like it will be a good one!



And....Last but not least...


**Save the Date- Opening May 21 through May 30**

Of Borders and Bridges: Complex Identities in Education

This project is a multimedia artistic and academic exploration of how diversity and belonging are constructed and contested in public education and how this impacts people as individuals and as a nation.

Hosted by Commonwealth Center for Change, in the Dynamite Space in the bottom of Thornes, Northampton.

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Call for workshops, presentations and multimedia contributions for a mini-conference to be held in the space on May 22nd or 29th. Please email a proposal by April 15th.

Also seeking artists who are interested in contributing or collaborating and volunteers to help assist in installation, gallery sitting, poetry reading and other facilitating roles.

Please contact katierayrich@gmail.com to get involved.