aftsmen at the LASC,” will run September 14 – November 24, 2018. It will feature works by selected members from the guild’s juried artists and craftsmen program, including book and fabric artist, Alice Jane Smith.
The exhibit will be in the Living Arts and Science Center’s Kinkead and Atrium Galleries, 362 N. Martin Luther King Blvd. in Lexington.
The display will include works in a variety of mediums, including drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, glass, fiber, metal, photography and wood.
]]>This is a juried show that features professional artists who creatively reuse and recycle materials. It will be held in celebration of America Recycles Day. The Lincoln-Central Neighborhood Family Center sponsors the show.
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The 2018 issue of Viewpoint, an Indiana Artisan magazine, has been published. It features the fine arts and crafts of almost 200 Indiana Artisans. It contains photos of their creations, as well as information about Indiana Artisan and the artisan trails.
Look for Birdsong Book Arts on page 11.
The photo at left shows the first issue of Viewpoint.
]]>Alice Jane Smith, Birdsong Book Arts, will demonstrate how to make books, from start to finish. She will make various kinds of books, focusing on different styles of bindings. Her books, silk and cotton scarves, batik wall hangings and pillows will be for sale.
]]>Holiday Shows
November 22 — Clifty Inn Arts & Crafts & More
1 – 5 pm at Clifty Falls State Park, just outside Madison, Ind. Look for unique handmade books, silk scarves and ties, shibori pillows, batik banners, and nature-dye-salt prints and cards.
November 28 – 29 — Indiana Artisan Holiday Marketplace
Grand Wayne Center, downtown Fort Wayne.10 am to 6 pm on Saturday; 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday. 300 juried artisans from 63 counties in Indiana offer one-of-a-kind gift options, including Birdsong Book Arts and my unique handmade books. $7 admission for admissions, no charge 14 and under; $5 for those with a ticket or stub from the Embassy Theater Festivities of Trees.
December 5 — Madison Holiday Handcrafted Market
The 3rd annual event in downtown Madison, Ind., will be held at the Little Golden Fox on West Main Street from 10 am to 5 pm, featuring juried handcrafted gifts made by local artists and craftspeople. Birdsong will have unique books, cards, silk scarves and ties, batik banners, shibori pillows, dye-nature-salt prints and other items.
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One of the first lessons learned was a respect for the opening hours of an art show. In the past, I showed up early at the Chautauqua to avoid crowds. The booths that opened an hour early, say 9 a.m., were a favorite. Struggling to set up and get the van moved out and to the parking lot two blocks away by 9 a.m. this year, I winced at my old shopping tactic. Nine o’clock is about the time my husband, Leonard, collapsed, falling backwards on the Elm Street pavement. Sick the rest of the day, he sat in the back, while I managed with the help of his former office manager.
The event itself was fun. It was great to see old friends and to talk with people about books or unique items in my booth. I sold a few books and scarves. Not as many as I’d hoped. I was charmed to see a white poodle go by in a pink stroller that looked remarkably like the “pope mobile.” And I talked with those folks who say that “books are dead.” A few people expressed work in custom orders. Birdsong always is available for custom work.
I’d always guessed that it is hard work to pack, unpack, set up, take down and load the van in order to do a show. I did not under-estimate this part of the art shows I’ve so dearly loved all these years. At this stage of my life, I suddenly wish for a major life change. Though I have no children, when I think of doing more outdoors’ art shows, I now think I should have had five sturdy sons or grandsons upon whom I could call for help. Sturdy daughters and granddaughters, equally helpful, probably moreso. Just as long as all of them say, “Oh, mom, I wouldn’t think of charging you a cent for help. Just call or text me, and I’ll be there!”
]]>But I am a Hoosier, and a “lifer,” at that. My father made sure that I have a life membership in the “Indiana Society of Pioneers.” My family goes back that far. So, this spring I applied to the Indiana Artisan Program. Late yesterday, I got an email from Eric Freeman to say “congratulations” and tell me “The Indiana Artisan art jury panel thought your work was exceptional, which probably is no surprise to you. It is now part of the Indiana Artisan brand, and we will use it to demonstrate the art, fine crafts and foods coming from Indiana today.”
On the heels of the email from the Indiana Artisan program came another email from Georgie Kelly, of the Madison Chautauqua, saying, “Welcome! I just got the jury panel’s decision! You have been accepted for the 2015 Madison Chautauqua.”
The cats look in the window expectantly, as breakfast is overdue. Abby, my Aussie, stays loyally at my feet under the desk. Yesterday I finished three new books, but there’s lots to do this summer to get ready for my first Madison Chautauqua, the Fall Fair at Berea, and the Indiana Artisan Marketplace in November!
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