Newtown Artists Among Those Being Featured In Easton’s First Annual Fine Art & Demonstrating Craftsmen Show

EASTON — Easton’s First Annual Fine Art & Demonstrating Craftsmen Show will take place on Sunday, September 21, at Easton’s Firehouse Green, on Center Road, from 10 am to 4 pm. The rain location will be Samuel Staples Elementary School on Morehouse Road.

Forty of New England’s best hand selected artists and fine craftsmen will be demonstrating and selling their art and fine handmade crafts. Visitors will able to view live craftsmen creating their wares, see exciting live demonstrations, and talk to the artists about their skills and unique works of art.

The craft demonstrations will include weaving, pottery, silversmithing, Nantucket basketmaking, embroidered ribbon jewelry, furniture making, rug braiding, broom making, doll making, teddy bear making, wood carving, decorative painting, pocketbook making, and more.

Lee Skalkos of Easton Arts Council said, “This is not your typical craft show, we have top people coming to our show. Some of these people are really masters at what they do, some are very well known and some are about to be well known. We are very happy and excited to have them participate in our show this year. It will be an excellent opportunity to see them at work and to do some wonderful early holiday shopping.

“Our goal was to put together a show in support of the American craftsman and their work. We are striving to keep this show strictly limited to fin American craftsmen who make all of their work entirely by hand,” Ms Skalkos continued.

Newtown artists will be well represented in this inaugural event. Wood carver Wayne Smith a/k/a The Grizzly Woodsmith, carves Santa figures, fisherman and animals, such as beavers and coyotes and North American wildlife. Each piece involves many hours of careful work and is carved to depict the subject as realistically as possible. The subjects are shaped in basswood, butternut and pine. Mr Smith will be doing carving demonstrations on site, and his work definitely should not be missed.

David Anderson, also of Newtown, will be showing his remarkable nature and landscape photographs that capture New England at its best. Also participating in next weekend’s event will be Ethan Currier, who creates stone sculptures using rocks and stones he finds.

Former Newtown resident Lee Skalkos, who makes sterling silver jewelry, will also be at the show. Ms Skalkos will be offering demonstrations of her jewelry making process throughout the day. Her child artwork jewelry — where she transforms the drawings done by children into sterling silver jewelry — has been featured nationally.

Among the additional artisans participating, and their specialties, are JP Welch with soaps and brooms; Lucy Crossman, dolls and photographs; Deb Frazier, hand painted silk scarves; Kate Chase, fresh cut flowers; Salt Spring Tea Company, homemade teas; and Pooch Pastry Shop, gourmet dog treats.

Also, Queensberry Designs with handbags; Maureen Anderson, soaps; Elizabeth Katz, painted children’s furniture; Doreen Cormier, lap blankets; and Susan Hall, copper lawn ornaments.

Also Howard Aaron, watercolors; Irene Reed, fiber; Janice Jacobs, hand painted children’s shirts; Angie Gray, paper cuttings; Kim Hardy, pressed flowers and candles; Janis Dawid, stained glass; Pixie Dust, children’s clothing; and Mary Bartz, hand painted items.

Not to be missed is the grand artisan raffle, which will be held at 4 pm. There will also be live music throughout the day and homemade food for the family including chicken, filet mignon, and an assortment of desserts.

Proceeds from the show will benefit the Easton Arts Council scholarship program. For further information contact show chairman Lee Skalkos at 445-1953 or Easton Arts Council President Joanne Kant at 261-9160.