Competition Ensures Quality At Arts, Crafts Fair In Sandpoint
Art Business News named the Pend Oreille Arts Council’s Arts and Crafts Fair one of nine fairs “to watch” last year.
That’s why competition is fierce among artists seeking to exhibit their work in the 100 booths at the fair in Sandpoint this weekend.
After the application deadline in May, a panel of five judges sifted through the work of nearly 200 applicants. Among the criteria was that all work must be hand made. The selection this year includes paintings, photographs, jewelry, pottery, woodworking, fiber art, and stained glass. This year’s show will also include a hands-on children’s art experience area.
“A lot of the exhibitors will be demonstrating their craft,” says Ginny Robideaux of the Pend Oreille Arts Council, sponsor of the show. Many of the artists are from the Northwest, but some come from as far as California, Arizona, and Colorado.
The number of booths is limited to 100 for several reasons. Being choosy helps keep the quality of the art high, says Robideaux. If everyone who wanted a booth got one, the show would become too cumbersome and too crowded for its current location on Sandpoint’s City Beach.
The fair is the arts council’s primary fund-raiser. The money will be used to fund eight professional performances in Sandpoint between September and May.
This year the fair includes entertainment. The Ron Eschete Jazz Trio performs Saturday. Andean Nation, a group that performs the traditional music of the Central and South American people on native wind and percussion instruments, performs both Saturday and Sunday.
The Eschete trio will also lead a jazz workshop today from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Old Power House Bar and Grill. Participants are encouraged to bring their instruments; a fee of $20, $10 for youth, will be charged. For workshop information call (208) 263-6139.
Admission to the fair is free. Fair hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. A free shuttle bus will run continuously from the city parking lot at Third and Main to the fair site at the beach from 1 to 3 p.m. both days.
xxxx FAIR SCHEDULE Here is the entertainment schedule for the Pend Oreille Arts Council’s Arts and Crafts Fair:
Saturday 10 a.m. - Andean Nation 11 a.m. - Doug and Kim Bond Noon - Andean Nation 1 p.m. - Ron Eschete Trio 3 p.m. - Andean Nation 4 p.m. - Shaunnessy Hill
Sunday 10 a.m. - Andean Nation Noon - Edwards Park 1 p.m. - Doug and Kim Bond 2 p.m. - Andean Nation 3 p.m. - Brent Baker, Drummers 4 p.m. - Andean Nation