2008 Woodie Awards
Out of the closet and into the public
Maggie Anderson - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 12/8/06 Section: Arts
- Page 1 of 1
They might call it a craft fair, but "it's not about grannies and needles," said Susan Junis, tapping the ash of her cigarette into a tray at the Tobacco Bowl on Dec. 2.
Perched on a stool near the window, Junis, a co-owner of local Zine/DIY craft business Skirt, said she and Alissa Van Winkle, the editor and publisher of Iowa City alternative magazine Little Village, envisioned something more hip than "doilies and Santa Clauses" for their DIY craft consortium. The event, titled "What a Load of Craft," will begin today at 5 p.m. at the Picador, 330 E. Washington St., and combine crafts, an art show, a record swap, and live music in an effort to bring together Iowa City's wide range of local artists.
"Locals can wear locals," Van Winkle said. "It's a celebration of creators and creations."
What a Load of Craft will feature nine bands and 15 booths with work by such local artists as Cortnie Widen, the owner of a new business in the Hall Mall called White Rabbit. Other local art will hang on the walls, so visitors can vote on their favorites.
Still, despite the hipster venue, the event is kind of about needles. Junis said that with the DIY revolution, a new generation of young artists became interested in making handmade scarves and sweaters - previously considered grandma-only territory. In her own business, Junis and partner Grace Sinclair create embroidered screenprints and bags. They especially enjoy toying with people's expectations: They'll often depict weapons in frilly, pink material, in an effort "to take the power away," Junis said.
She called their work, and that of the other artists involved in the event, "on the border between art and craft." They emphasize "handmade, local items that are not too process-heavy" (read: not too expensive). Events such as this offer an alternative to the gallery setting, Junis said.
"This is a way artists and crafters can sell their work at a lower price, because they get to keep 100 percent of their profits," she said.
By setting itself up in opposition to local galleries, What a Load of Craft resembles another, more long-running local artists' fair. The East Side Artists will hold its annual Holiday Show and Sale today from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 10 in the Masonic Temple, 312 E. College.
Deanne Wortman, an artist and a group coordinator, said she got involved in the group nearly 15 years ago.
"It was a neat idea to showcase our work in an intimate way that's not in a gallery," she said. Similar to What a Load of Craft, the East Side Artists aims to create an event in which local artists can share their work with the public.
"We try to put together an attractive show with lots of high quality, varied work," Wortman said. "It's not really a craft show. These are working artists who work at a very high level."
The East Side Artists' membership contains an impressive array of prominent Iowa Citians. Karen Kubby, who makes pottery and beadwork, works as executive director of the Emma Goldman clinic; Monica Leo owns Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Company; and Jenny Saylor, who crafts jewelry, is a West High art teacher, among many others.
"It's a collective of artists who are friends, and we decided to share what we do with the public," Wortman said. "You either make all that stuff and stow it in your closet, or you find some way to get it out into the public."
E-mail DI reporter Maggie Anderson at:
margaret-anderson@uiowa.edu
LOCAL ART FAIRS
What a Load of Craft!
What: DIY craft fair, art exhibition, record swap, and music event
When: 5 p.m. today
Where: Picador, 330 E. Washington
Admission: $2 for the early show at 5 p.m. featuring 12 Canons, Lipstick Homicide, Moist Ladies, and Quiet Bears. $5 for the late show at 9 p.m. featuring Knorosov, Coyote Blood, East Side Guys, Blizzards of Wizards, and Ed Gray
The East Side Artists' Holiday Show and Sale
When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 10
Where: Masonic Building, 312 E. College
Admission: Free
Perched on a stool near the window, Junis, a co-owner of local Zine/DIY craft business Skirt, said she and Alissa Van Winkle, the editor and publisher of Iowa City alternative magazine Little Village, envisioned something more hip than "doilies and Santa Clauses" for their DIY craft consortium. The event, titled "What a Load of Craft," will begin today at 5 p.m. at the Picador, 330 E. Washington St., and combine crafts, an art show, a record swap, and live music in an effort to bring together Iowa City's wide range of local artists.
"Locals can wear locals," Van Winkle said. "It's a celebration of creators and creations."
What a Load of Craft will feature nine bands and 15 booths with work by such local artists as Cortnie Widen, the owner of a new business in the Hall Mall called White Rabbit. Other local art will hang on the walls, so visitors can vote on their favorites.
Still, despite the hipster venue, the event is kind of about needles. Junis said that with the DIY revolution, a new generation of young artists became interested in making handmade scarves and sweaters - previously considered grandma-only territory. In her own business, Junis and partner Grace Sinclair create embroidered screenprints and bags. They especially enjoy toying with people's expectations: They'll often depict weapons in frilly, pink material, in an effort "to take the power away," Junis said.
She called their work, and that of the other artists involved in the event, "on the border between art and craft." They emphasize "handmade, local items that are not too process-heavy" (read: not too expensive). Events such as this offer an alternative to the gallery setting, Junis said.
"This is a way artists and crafters can sell their work at a lower price, because they get to keep 100 percent of their profits," she said.
By setting itself up in opposition to local galleries, What a Load of Craft resembles another, more long-running local artists' fair. The East Side Artists will hold its annual Holiday Show and Sale today from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 10 in the Masonic Temple, 312 E. College.
Deanne Wortman, an artist and a group coordinator, said she got involved in the group nearly 15 years ago.
"It was a neat idea to showcase our work in an intimate way that's not in a gallery," she said. Similar to What a Load of Craft, the East Side Artists aims to create an event in which local artists can share their work with the public.
"We try to put together an attractive show with lots of high quality, varied work," Wortman said. "It's not really a craft show. These are working artists who work at a very high level."
The East Side Artists' membership contains an impressive array of prominent Iowa Citians. Karen Kubby, who makes pottery and beadwork, works as executive director of the Emma Goldman clinic; Monica Leo owns Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre Company; and Jenny Saylor, who crafts jewelry, is a West High art teacher, among many others.
"It's a collective of artists who are friends, and we decided to share what we do with the public," Wortman said. "You either make all that stuff and stow it in your closet, or you find some way to get it out into the public."
E-mail DI reporter Maggie Anderson at:
margaret-anderson@uiowa.edu
LOCAL ART FAIRS
What a Load of Craft!
What: DIY craft fair, art exhibition, record swap, and music event
When: 5 p.m. today
Where: Picador, 330 E. Washington
Admission: $2 for the early show at 5 p.m. featuring 12 Canons, Lipstick Homicide, Moist Ladies, and Quiet Bears. $5 for the late show at 9 p.m. featuring Knorosov, Coyote Blood, East Side Guys, Blizzards of Wizards, and Ed Gray
The East Side Artists' Holiday Show and Sale
When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 10
Where: Masonic Building, 312 E. College
Admission: Free
Be the first to comment on this story