Functional flavor

The television advertisement for this weekend’s Inland Crafts show has an appealing and appropriate tag line: Art for Living.

“Art for living” is exactly what can be found year after year at the region’s premier contemporary craft event.

“For 23 years Inland Crafts has assembled the region’s finest and most creative crafts people,” says organizer and Spokane fiber artist Louise Kodis.

Upward of 100 of the Pacific Northwest’s leading contemporary crafters will be exhibiting and selling their work at the Spokane Convention Center for three days beginning Friday.

Visitors to this year’s show will find a wide range of sculptural and functional clay objects; jewelry of all styles; hand-blown and kiln-formed glass; fine wood home accessories; woven garments and rugs; abstract and still life photography; intriguing puzzles for adults and children; and designer art dolls.

Back in 1983, a handful of local artists came together to form what was called Inland Craft Warnings because there were no contemporary craft galleries in the region to display their wares.

The show continues today as the premier marketplace in the Inland Northwest where “customers and artists meet.”

Each year, every artist must go through a critical jurying process to assure that only the best-quality work is included in the show.

“We jury for excellence and diversity of crafts,” says Kodis.

While there are items in all price ranges – some under $20 – most objects are priced from $100 to several thousand dollars.

“The vast majority of these people are full-time, professional fine craft artists,” says ceramist Gina Freuen. “This is their career. Many of the crafters have exhibited nationally and internationally.”

About 70 percent of the exhibitors in this year’s show have made the trip before.

“Artists return time and time again,” says Freuen, “because they love the respect they get from the Spokane audience. The artists constantly say that the people who attend the show are so appreciative and friendly.”

Two artists returning, after a few years absence, are jeweler Matt Firth of Twisp, Wash., and metal worker Rob Harper of Wallace.

“Both their work has evolved and is even sweeter than it was a few years ago,” says Kodis. “Matt does fine jewelry made from silver with precious and semi-precious stones. Rob crafts and pounds copper into incredible forms and then applies a variety of finishes.”

Every year the show attracts a number of first-time exhibitors.

“Looking at the list of new people coming in,” says Kodis, “it is very rich.”

Among this year’s 30 fresh faces is Wendy Zupan Bailey of Spokane, who creates designer art dolls.

“My mother and I always went to Inland Crafts each autumn,” recalls Bailey, who began seriously making dolls about a year ago. “I was thrilled to be juried in because of the high caliber of work in the show.”

Bailey’s dolls feature faces and hands sculpted from Super Sculpey Clay and painted with acrylics. Each doll features custom-designed costumes, including boots, hats and accessories that often incorporate hand-beaded work.

Bailey became interested in doll making a few years ago when she saw a custom art doll at Joel Inc. in downtown Spokane.

“About the same time,” says Bailey, “my mother, Ginger Ferry, was diagnosed with stomach cancer. She was an extremely talented woman who could sew, paint and bead. I asked Mom if she would work with me to make a doll before she was gone. We created a wonderful doll and it was a most rewarding process.”

Bailey says she gained so much from making that first doll with her mother that she was hooked.

“Doll making involves so many things,” she says, “sculpting, painting, sewing, color and costuming. I just love it and I can get lost in it.”

Also new this year are leather worker Marilyn Bacon of Kalispell, Mont., and weaver Kimberly Morris of Wallowa, Ore.

Contemporary rug weaver Morris is showing hand-dyed, weft-faced wool rugs woven in Norwegian krokbragd. These one-of-a-kind rugs are all reversible.

Bacon creates functional and fanciful soft leather bags. She is also one of the 14 artists who will be demonstrating how they make their art. Bacon will show how she makes wet-form leather masks painted with acrylics.

Other demonstrations include wheel-thrown pottery, papermaking, woodturning and jewelry fabrication.

“One of the reasons we have so many artists demonstrate their work at Inland Crafts,” says Freuen, “is we are committed to educating the community about fine contemporary crafts and the artists who make them.”

The show includes live music, continuous craft informational videos and $100 gift certificates awarded daily. Refreshments and light lunches are available.

Cost is a one-time admission of $6, good for all three days (free admission Sunday after 3:30 p.m.).