Instead of Fighting Frenzied Crowds, Shop from Local Artists: FOG holds annual Arts and Crafts Fair Nov. 23-24

By paper artist Nancy Akerly. Photo by Len Villano.

Instead of heading out of town to big-box stores and shopping amid frenzied crowds for the holidays, the Friends of Gibraltar (FOG) organization offers a nice, local alternative in the Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair.

Since 1985, when it was brought to FOG by Clay Bay Pottery owners and artists Jeanne and David Aurelius, the Sister Bay Village Hall fills with a range of items for gift-giving the weekend after Thanksgiving. All of the items are made by local artists and crafters. This year the fair is Nov. 23–24, 10 am–4 pm.

FOG is a nonprofit organization that brings special programming and opportunities to the Gibraltar Area School K-12 students. The fair is a FOG fundraiser so, in addition to finding handcrafted gifts, the students of Gibraltar School District benefit as well.

One of the opportunities FOG, in partnership with The Hardy Gallery, provides Gibraltar students is through the Exposure to Creativity program. Students in grades 8-12 choose mentorships in the community with creative professionals. They learn from many different fields: fashion design, ceramics, graphic design, songwriting and metalsmithing. In this way, the FOG Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair is helping to inspire and grow a new generation of artists.

Guests will find artists and craftspeople on both levels of the village hall. The following vendors will be in attendance: Nancy Turk, recycled wool mittens; Glass Door Studio, photography, jewelry, pressed flower art, honey and ceramics; Nora Ahlen, spinning wool and knitting; Nancy Akerly, paper arts; Mary Pat Carlson, specialty foods and dried arrangements; Jennifer Gaddes, knitting; Mary Beth Mead, jewelry; Jennifer Dahl, jewelry, artisanal soaps and folk art ornaments; Mary Blichmann, etched glass, hand-painted ornaments, matted photography and cards; William Clayton and Bernadette Rainsford, alpaca socks and yarn; Martha Bennett, ice-dyed clothing; Loba Chudak, painted silk, photo cards, felted hats and jackets; Logan Creek Soap, soap and soap accessories; Sue Jarosh, children’s books; Glenna Kinnard, hand-knit and crochet items; John Leiberg, framed dried and pressed flower arrangements, pen and ink drawings; Jeanne and David Aurelius, pottery; and Kari Anderson, watercolor paintings, cards and gift baskets.

Whether before or after looking through the vendors’ wares, guests can fill up on food from McEvoy’s Culinaria of Sister Bay. They will serve food in the lower level of the village hall.

The Sister Bay Village Hall is located at 10693 Hwy 42.

To learn more about FOG, contact Vinni Chomeau, FOG project coordinator, at 920.868.3284, ext. 205 or [email protected].