ART: Fine tuned

Unique items crafted 100 times over at annual Kenan Center art show, 100 American Craftsmen

By Bill Wolcott<br><a href="mailto:bill.wolcott@lockportjournal.com">E-mail Bill</a>

By Bill Wolcott

bill.wolcott@lockportjournal.com

More than 5,000 people are expected to tour the Kenan Center this weekend to check out the 113 vendors at the annual 100 American Craftsmen show.

Many go around twice, and around and around.

Craftsmen from the northeast and as far away as Texas show off their one-of-a-kind goods from clay to decorative metal. There were 21 new artists in the invited field. The show, which began Friday, continues today from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Cindy Rhoney and Pat Rhoney, who are sisters-in-law, like the upscale show and compared it to the Allentown Festival in Buffalo. “Allentown is so much bigger, but this is finer tuned than Allentown,” said Pat, who worked at Artisans Alley in Niagara Falls. “They are both quality shows, but this is top quality. They’re both by invitation, or have to submit.”

Cindy, who has not been to the show in about eight years and bought some jewelry, said, “It’s fascinating. I like to see all the different art and all the different colors.”

Donna Fein of Seegers & Fein Glass of Trumansburg near Ithaca displayed handsome globe paperweights. She has an art background and her husband, Richard Seegers, has a background in bio-chemistry.

“It’s a wonderful union of his background in chemistry and mine in art,” she said. “There is so much chemistry involved.” They work with melted glass and metallic oxides and do about 12 shows a year. Prices range from $18 to $300.

“This is a wonderful show to do,” Fein said. “The staff that runs it and the public really appreciate handmade things and how hard the artists and crafts people work...It’s also fairly reasonable, the Kenan Center does not charge an arm and a leg as some commercial promoters do.”

Ellen Chandler of the Hitching Post in Warsaw had moccasins, handbags and wallets made of deer skin. Local hunters provide the deer skins which are tanned in Pennsylvania.

“It’s very durable and a nature resource to the U.S.,” she said. “The moccasins are lined inside with deer skin and they are very soft, inside and out. They last a really long time and mold to your feet like a pair of gloves.” The cost is $62.95

The Friends of the Kenan Herb Club sold herbs and plants in an outer shelter and had samples of herb-made snacks inside. Mosaics made by Lockport High School students were on the wall. “It’s going very well, we’re selling out of plants,” said Linda Hedley of Middleport. “We’re selling out of everything.”

Gretchen Varney of Grand Island came to see different things Gifts from the Garden has for sale and planned to put plant them outside for cooking.

This is the 39th anniversary of the show that started in 1970. There are nine categories and a map guide is provided.

“This is one of the largest numbers we’ve had in a long time. We’ve really got them packed in today,” said Elaine Harrigan, marketing director.

Silvia Smith, who is nearly blind, came from Buffalo with her helper, Joyce Young. “I used to come here for years, but it’s been years that I’ve been out and wanted to come one more last time,” she said. “I’ve felt a lot of things.”

Young won the tickets while attending the high school photo show at the Kenan.

Pat and Rene Degolier of Sardina have made the show a mother and daughter tradition. “Mom and I come every year,” Sue said. “We just like looking around. There’s neat stuff here. It’s definitely one of a kind. It’s not a normal craft festival. You can’t really see the stuff anywhere else.”

Contact reporter Bill Wolcott

at 439-9222, ext. 6246.

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