Spotlight on artisans Nov. 2 at Rehoboth Art League Holiday Fair
More than 40 artisans are making final preparations for the annual Holiday Fair - Fine Craft Show to take place Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Rehoboth Art League campus in Henlopen Acres.
The fair is an opportunity to see and purchase the best in fine crafts and holiday gift items. Exquisite jewelry, glass, wood, pottery, painting, basketry, metal work, photography, mixed-media and decorative and wearable fiber items will be featured. Many of the region’s favorite artisans will display their work at the fair. Some of the interesting artists to meet include Arden Bardol, Michael Quattrociocchi and John Cooley.
Bardol uses inspiration from her training as an architect to design unique, one-of-a-kind art jewelry. Her creations often reflect the structural steel connections of bridges and buildings, and the moving parts of clocks and watches, all in a very delicate fashion. Bardol works with polymer mixed with metal powders to produce unique colors and textures.
Award-winning woodcraft artisan Quattrociocchi has had an interest in wood since he was 9. He learned the basics of working with wood from his father. Each piece he creates shows the true beauty of the natural wood while providing a practical, functional use. The wood for each project is carefully selected, and he often uses such exotic woods as Brazilian cherry, figured hickory, zebra wood, spalted beech and curly maple. “Cutting each piece of wood is like looking for treasure, not knowing what I will find,” says Quattrociocchi.
Cooley is a local ceramic artist with a lifelong fascination with animals. While in college he discovered his passion for sculpture and clay. Now, when he is not busy with his full-time job as an art educator he creates functional ceramic pieces featuring whimsical hand modeled creatures he calls “wild and wooly creations.” Examples include a bread tray with a lounging hippopotamus, a vase with a dancing giraffe and a tigress and cub table fountain.
Works by these three artisans and 37 others will be on display and for sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nov. 2. The Village Improvement Association will serve lunch and refreshments at the Holly Café in the Children’s Studio by The Homestead. Musical entertainment will be provided throughout the day by Aaron Taylor and the Delmarva Dandies.
An entrance fee of $5 for the day entitles visitors to one chance for the silent ticket auction featuring items from area businesses and beautiful artwork. All of the auction items will be displayed in the Ventures Gallery, and the drawing for prizes will start at 3 p.m.
For more information on the Holiday Fair or other programs and events at the art league, go to rehobothartleague.org or call 302-227-8408.
