The will host its fourth annual Fall Craft Show Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 13 and 14, at the Westport Historical Society. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11-4 Sunday.
This one-of-a-kind Craft Show features over fifteen unique artists and artisans, and a portion of the proceeds benefits the Historical Society.
Lisa Shufro, who has organized the Fall Craft Show for the historical society since the show's inception, says, "This is a wonderful, low-key way to celebrate the creativity of area artisans and support the Historical Society at the same time. I am very excited that we will have an even bigger show this year with more vendors than ever." Shufro, an active volunteer in many Westport organizations, will be exhibiting her jewelry as well as a variety of other unusual handmade items crafted from recycled and non-traditional materials.
This year will feature a mix of returning artisans and some new faces. Westporters include Amy Schneider, Alan Winick, Amy Lamb and Janice R Lamartine. Amy Schneider, owner and designer of AS Designs, specializes in handcrafted jewelry and wheel-thrown pottery.
Alan Winnick is a Westport inventor and clock designer. His inventions range from a well-known baby toy called the Car Seat Gallery to a one-man submarine. His unique tide clocks combine a traditional, accurate tide movement with a whimsical display in
which the "tide" appears to rise and fall in synchrony with the actual local cycle, usually revealing an amusing scene. He has been building his clocks by hand, one at a time, since 2001.
Amy Lamb has been an illustrator and book designer. She formed All Designs, selling unique hand-painted pottery in 2000. Last fall, she opened The Color Factory, where she teaches art to young children, with an emphasis on building confidence and creativity through art.
Janice Lamartine trained in design and as a silversmith. Her work includes stunning handcrafted jewelry with an organic flair. With color as an emphasis, these pieces are created from precious and semiprecious materials from around the world. Each piece is a unique and original design.
Artisans from nearby include Ami Nyitray, Lù Oliveira, Marilyn Price, Peach Pair, Claire Campbell, Linda Dohanos, Debra Gilbert Taylor and Syll-Antoine Fleurimonde.
Nyitray has always been fascinated by all things Victorian; especially the Victorian tendency to collect and classify everything, creating mounted, pickled and taxidermied "cabinets of curiosities." She also loves using bits of old paper and tiny antique found objects to tell secret stories. Ami began making "Wearable Wunderkammer" about five years ago, and has been featured by Bust Magazine, Fashionista.com and Time Out NY.
Oliveira, a native of Brazil currently residing in Norwalk came to the U.S. in 1985 and met her husband, a Westporter. She developed a passion for creating unique pieces of jewelry made from a variety of media, and her work embraces the diversity of styles and cultures that characterize both countries. No two pieces are ever alike, and appeal to a range of tastes and sensibilities.
Price lives and works in the Hudson Valley. Her background as a painter is frequently reflected in her wheel thrown pottery and her ceramic landscapes. Influenced by the natural beauty the Hudson Valley, she developed her own unique glazes which serve as her palette. All of the pottery is functional and dishwasher and oven safe.
Pair is a digital artist. She likes to call her work "fusion art: " a synthesis of heart, music, digital and nano technologies. Her intent is to create poetic images that exude a positive and comforting influence. She sometimes scans organic substances: bits of found things such as tree bark and leaves, shells and wasp hives to add texture and dimension to my work. Her works can be found in collections in the United States, Europe and Japan.
Campbell creates specialized skin products from The Farm on Grindle Brook. All of her soaps are handcrafted in Connecticut from all natural ingredients. Botanicals - many grown on the farm, are added to enhance the beauty of the bar and to help gently exfoliate the skin. Finally a scent is added, essential & fragrance oils including florals, spices, citrus & fruit.
Dohanos's work is influenced by Latin American Spiritual art and iconic images. Recently, she has been exploring the idea of the inner workings of the mind and dreamscapes. She uses a variety of mediums to express her ideas. Her latest series is "Gray Matter" which displays faces as compelling symbols of our "states of mind."
Taylor is inspired by texture and dimension. She began as a photographer but moved to sculpture. She experiments with many types of sculpting materials from clay to paper to wood and stone. She also makes wearable art, predominantly handbags and scarves. Each creation is a one of a kind piece. Ms. Gilbert has shown her work in juried shows and has been awarded won several prizes and commissions. She is the founder of the Stratford Arts Guild and currently serves as the membership chairwoman of the Women's Caucus for Art.
Lady Syll Designs offers unique handbags and other accessories with a Haitian flare. She is constantly on the prowl for new fun fabric to update her line throughout the season, Lady-Syll Designs Bags are all handmade.
For additional information contact Lisa Shufro at 203-221-1350 or the Westport Historical Society at 203-222-1424.
