Summer News and this Week's Events

Summer is sinking into me, punctuated by the fabulous fresh food I enjoy from Kitchen Garden and great hiking and biking. This week, I'll be heating it up in my studio though, preparing to be at the Northampton Tuesday Market tomorrow with lots of veggie gear, and then heading to Crafts on the Common on Saturday in Amherst with plenty of new sculpture.  We've also been working on barn renovations, and I'm excited that my glass studio now has proper ventilation and a beautiful window with views out onto my baby orchard! The barn has a new concrete floor, will be painted soon, and then my welding shop will be moving back.  Watch for an open studio weekend coming in the fall.

SHOWS
 Come visit me and sample all the tasty, local produce in Northampton tomorrow.

Then on Saturday, stop by the Common in Amherst for one of the best-established and most well respected craft fairs in New England to see a stunning array of local handmade products to benefit a great cause- Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Hampshire County.

Shop and support a great cause at the Amherst Crafts on the Common   Saturday, July 14, 2012 ● 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. ● Amherst Town Common

 

Admission is free, and the event will be held rain or shine on the Amherst Town Common. The fair showcases quality jewelry, ceramics, furniture and more for sale from more than 100 juried artisans. The fair also features great food, a silent auction and booksale, and musical entertainment by some great groups. 

 

I'm focusing on metal sculptures for this show and I'll be using my great new mesh walls to display sculpture and other new metal work.  Stop by to see the newest addition to my repertoire- decorative planters made of a steel and glass to hang in your home.   

SPECIAL: Mention this blog posting at either event and get 20% off your entire purchase at my booth. 

SPARK

In other news, Spark! Art Share continues to flourish, and as we continue to spread the word, we hope you'll help!  This month's Spark! Art Share comes from 230am studio,  the creative home of mixed media and paper artist, Donna Beck. Working with handmade paper, pulp, surface-decorated papers, found objects, fibers, beading and stitching, she creates a wide variety of mixed media artwork.  She'll be at Food for Thought Books on July 21st distributing the Spark! shares and she'll have additional work on display for anyone who comes by. 

WORKSHOPS

In addition to my upcoming introductory beadmaking class at Northampton Beadery on August 26, I've joined forces with the new Yellow House- a community center for learning in Palmer, to teach a 2 part workshop in October.  Check out their websites, or as always, contact me to make arrangements to come to my studio or set up a workshop in your home. 

CHILIFEST

Last, but certainly not least, save the date for the 5th Annual Chilifest, hosted by Kitchen Garden (formerly Stone Soup Farm)- September 16, 12-5 at 81 Rocky Hill Rd in Hadley.  More details coming soon, but I can tell you it's going to be a blast. We've got a stellar musical lineup, 3 fantastic local food vendors, chili cook-off with prizes and People's Pint will be pouring brews. It'll be a great time!

Twist, Beadmaking Workshop, Community Paint Day

Twist is this weekend! Yet another round of fun and inspiring DIY crafters presenting you with their goodies. Now in it's 6th round, the event is held at the Northampton Center for the Arts and features all kinds of unique, handmade things. Definitely worth a visit! Added bonus, you can surely find that last minute mother's day present you need while having a great time.

Check out this article written by Sarah Platanitis of Ansel Blue, a fellow vendor and long time Twister. Find Twist on facebook, and check out the website for all the details.



Spring Beadmaking Workshop! Come try something new and have a great time doing it! Learn about flameworking and make your own beads at ETTA Art Studio in Amherst on Saturday, May 14th, from 1-5pm.



Here's the official blurb:
Introduction to Glass Beadmaking

This fun workshop will introduce students to the art of
flameworking by learning to melt glass over a small torch to make
beautiful glass beads. The four hour workshop will allow students
to have a great time trying something new. Basic bead formation and
decorative techniques will be demonstrated, and students
will be given time to play and practice.

$60 plus $15 material fee Instructor will bring materials
and provide all tools and equipment.
1/2 price deposit to hold your spot. Limit 5 students.
contact 413-230-3272 or etta.arts@yahoo.com to sign up


Community Paint Day

Last, but certainly not least.... Get Up Get Down will be having an open community paint day on May 19th from 3-6pm at Kendrick Park in Amherst. Come paint with us, preview the new youth mural that will be going up in town, and dialogue with the youth about their visions of our community and the future.

P.S. Save the Date! June 18th, Beer Tasting Fundraising event at the new site of Stone Soup Farm.

Beadmaking Demo at ETTA Studio Thursday, and Valentine Shopping at Handmade with Love, February 12

I'll be doing a glass beadmaking demo at the ETTA Studio in Amherst tomorrow night (February 3) as part of a bigger event showcasing local Youth Art and ETTA's instructor work. There will be a live band and other festivities. I'll be lighting up the torch around 6pm to get folks excited to make some glass beads in my class which starts next week! Still accepting sign ups for this class- limit 5 people. Try something new, and warm, this winter!

*******************************************************************************************************************************

Thursday Feb. 3rd, ART WALK AMHERST 5pm-7pm.
*ETTA Art Gallery located at 534 Main Street in Amherst is proud to
Exhibit the work of our teachers and students.

Come and delight in the wonderful Art Works that will be on display made by children and teens of all ages. Paintings, mini-environments, collages, drawings, paper-mache and clay sculptures can be viewed during the month of February.

*A special DEMO during this month's Art Walk: GLASS BEAD-MAKING
by artist Katie Richardson
Thursday 5-7pm FEB.3rd during ART WALK
with Live Music with local Teen Band "Who'da Funk It".

******************************************************************************************************************************

Try Something New! Glass Beadmaking

Happy New Year!

Just letting you know that I have 3 upcoming glass beadmaking classes for those of you who have been wanting to give it a try.

Option 1: ETTA Art Studio
EMPOWERMENT THROUGH THE ARTS
534 Main street
Amherst, MA 01002
413-230-3272 or etta.arts@yahoo.com
Introduction to Glass Beadmaking

This fun class will introduce students to the art of flameworking by learning to melt glass over a small torch to make
stunning glass beads. Basic techniques such as using stringers, cane, dots, layering, and raking will be covered,
and students will leave with a variety of beautiful handmade beads.

4 Tuesday sessions, 6-8pm: 2/8, 2/15, 3/1, 3/8
Class cost-$140. $15 material fee per class
Instructor will bring materials and provide all tools and equipment.

1/2 price deposit to hold your spot. Limit 5 students.




Option 2:
Bisque Beads and Beyond
141 North Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 442-9300


Glass Beadmaking Workshop, 2 sessions on January 22nd, 9am-noon, or 1-4pm

Come hang out for a morning or afternoon and see what its like to melt glass over a torch to make colorful beads. Basic techniques will be demonstrated and you'll leave having made a few of your own beads. Truly unlike anything else you've tried- this incredible craft is sure to have you mesmerized!

$75 for the workshop plus $10 materials fee


Option 3:
Bridgewater Art
232 Broad St
Bridgewater, MA 02324
(508) 279-0707

March 5th, 3 hour workshops, 9-noon or 1-4. More details to come.

Call Bridgewater Art or let me know if you're interested in this one and we'll be sure to get you all the info.

Bead Class- Sign up Now!, Treasury and Events

I'm still taking last minute sign-ups for my Glass Beadmaking Class starting this Tuesday in Northampton. Please let me know if you are interested and tell your friends!
*****
One of my bottle stoppers was just featured in this squiggle themed treasury. Its a pretty fun group of artisan squiggles, I must say.

*****
Come see me on Wednesday (6/23) at "Taste of Tourism" at Oliver Wight Tavern in Old Sturbridge Village, 5-8pm.
*****
Also, this Saturday (6/26) , an event not to be missed....BerkshireMade presents Art in the Park. Promises to be filled with lots of fabulous, hand-crafted, locally made goodies. BerkshireMade is a team of Berkshire artists and artisans who aim to promote local art and support artists in their work. They are a sister group to my crew- Artisans of WMASS- and have invited us to join in this exciting event.

Beadmaking Class, Craft Party, Upcoming Events

Whew! After a busy time finishing up the Borders and Bridges project, which was a great culmination of my M.Ed project and installation work around immigration and education, I'm looking ahead to new and exciting things. First, I'll be offering a beadmaking class in Northampton starting mid June. Here's all the info....

Introduction to Glass Beadmaking

Tuesday Nights, June 22- July 13, 7-9pm

This fun class will introduce students to flameworking by learning to make

stunning glass beads. Basic techniques such as using stringers, cane, dots,

layering, and raking will be covered, and students will leave with a variety

of beautiful handmade beads, maybe even small sculptures.

Cost: $115, materials included

Instructor: Katie Richardson, katierayart.etsy.com, katierayarts.mosaicglobe.com

To sign up: Email katierayrich@gmail.com. A $50 deposit is required to hold your space. This can be paid through Paypal or by sending a check to Katie at PO Box 1486, Belchertown, MA 01007.

Location: Valley Hands, 342 Pleasant St, Northampton, MA

_________________________________________________

Next, I'm hosting a networking event/ craft party with my group Artisans of WMASS.

www.artisansofwmass.com

PLEASE FORWARD TO ANY ARTISTS/ARTISANS/MAKERS in WMASS

Hey we are having a Craft Party! Western MA artists, artisans, makers of any kind, come hang out, network, work on a project. June 18th, 7-9pm, Dynamite Space in Thornes, Northampton, MA. Hosted by Artisans of WMASS, supported by Valley Art Share. Go to the link below to RSVP. Please RSVP asap (by MONDAY JUNE 7) so we can get our numbers up. (If we are in the top 50 of these parties across the country, etsy will send us free goodies!! It's Etsy's anniversary so there are inciting these parties across the country. I thought it is a great excuse for a fun artist gathering.)

http://www.meetup.com/Etsy-Craft-Party/3046/

___________________________________________________________________________

Last but not least- lots of UPCOMING EVENTS!

June 12: Marketplace at Hampshire College's 40th Anniversary Celebration 11-5pm, and Gallery Opening for Alumni Art Exhibit, 4-6pm

June 17: I'll be in Pittsfield for their Third Thursday event starting at 4pm, selling my wares and doing glass bead demos outside the shop Bisque, Beads and Beyond.

June 23: 5-8pm, Taste of Toursim Event, Oliver Wight Tavern in Old Sturbridge Village

June 26: Berkshire Made Presents Art in the Park in downtown Lee, MA 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.

--------------------------------------------------
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.

----------------------------------------
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.