GUILFORD – Dont let the holiday gift-buying pressure get you down. If youre running out of ideas and you still have the tough-to-buy-for people on your list, simply take yourself to the Guilford Art Center and get ready to be amazed.
The Artistry Holiday Sale is always lovely, but this year its bigger than ever, says Anita Soos, a Branford graphic artist who this year has served as the shop administrator and the buyer. There are more than 250 artists, 70 of them new to the show, displaying everything from jewelry, textiles, food, glassware, scarves, wood carvings, stuffed animals, ceramics, candles, soaps, ornaments practically everything you can name.
I had such fun talking with so many different artists from all over the country, and weve brought in a lot of new people who have never exhibited here before, she says. But we still have a lot of local artists represented, too. And we have a broad range of price points. Nothing is over $1,000, and there are things that are in the $10-$12 range.
One local artist displaying for the first time is 16-year-old Emily Van Der Maelen of Guilford, whose delicate necklaces, bracelets and earrings have been a big hit, Soos says. She uses semi-precious stones, like amazonite and olive jade, to create one-of-a-kind creations. A long necklace costs about $120.
Amy Leiner of Madison is showing her latest work, necklaces made from interesting beads of all sizes and colors and weights. A large chunky necklace goes for $265, and promises to enhance any outfit.
Cate amp; Levi, a company from Toronto, is exhibiting one-of-a-kind reclaimed wool creations for children soft little puppets and little floppy-eared bags with adorable faces. The bags are $25, and the puppets are $32. All show a lot of personality and will be well-loved.
Repurposed goods are big, in fact, this year, as artists take old materials and transform them into something new and beautiful.
Amy Pfaffman takes tiny used objects we all recognize and turns them into beautiful jewelry. How about a necklace made of Fender guitar picks for the music lover? Or a necklace made of Scrabble tiles that spell out Glow? A company called Smart Glass recycles glass from soda and liquor bottles and makes them into necklaces that tinkle as they move. (Prices vary depending on the size of the piece.)
Amy Ming is a stone artist who lives in LA, and who used to make and wear all her own jewelry. People were always stopping her in the street and asking where she bought those lovely pieces, and so pretty soon after she started a business. Now shes famous for selling to Hollywoods celebrities. Her jewelry ranges from $85 to $450 for a stunning green stone necklace.
For the person on your list who likes to go a little bit edgy and funky, consider a handbag from Bagitude. These bags, made by Karla Staley, are made out of magazine covers, book covers, posters, album covers you name it. Carry a Beatles bag, or the cover of the National Geographic warning about global warming. Theyre hot, and theyre only $64. Continued…
