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Arts and Crafts
You name it, some artisan is probably creating that special art piece right here in these hills.
With a deep tradition of artistry and craftsmanship, the area now boasts an exciting assortment of art and crafts that range from the beautifully traditional through the practical to the forward edge of exquisitely modern and innovative design.
Every medium is represented here – from metal to glass, stone to fabric, oils to clay, or wood to wool – you can find an artist at work in our area. This is a landscape peopled by those who have used their hands for centuries and now are joined by the next wave of craftsmen and artists. Come and discover the art and crafts inspired by the beauty and tranquility of these hills cross-pollinated with the urban and international.
Artisans
In the nineteen sixties and seventies, artisans looking for affordable, sustainable life styles found or built homes and studios in these hills, joining a tradition of craftsmanship that reached back to the 1600’s. Now, fine nationally and internationally acclaimed potters, glassblowers, painters, photographers, weavers, metal smiths, woodworkers and many more craftsmen of all persuasions live and work throughout a region that is full of collaboration, cross disciplinary exploration and solitary creation producing internationally acclaimed work that is sold in local general stores, galleries, coops and also from their own studios. Many artisans operate working studios open to the public (or by appointment) where you can watch that special piece come to life before your eyes.
For a listing of artisans,
New Exhibit at Mocha Maya's
Local Artist John Sedelbach
John Sendelbach is exhibiting his metal and stone sculptures at Mocha Maya's for the next six weeks. Offering a unique confluence of experience, insight and vision, his work incorporates reclaimed metals of all types in myriad forms. His abstract and literal representations are laced with controlled chaos and whimsy, and allied with a creative innocence that gives his work an engaging immediacy.
http://www.johnsendelbach.com/
The Shelburne Falls Mosaic Murals Project Is Underway In Classrooms!
Mosaic Artist, Cynthia Fisher, Moves Forward With Project
(5/11/10) So far I have been to Rowe, SandersonAcademy in Ashfield, and ColrainElementary School working with students in assembling the 3’ x 3’ town mosaics. This week I will be at Hawlemont and Conway as well. Kids in grades 3 – 6 have 2 separate jobs: nipping mosaic tiles into smaller shapes and/or placing tiles onto the mosaic panels. We are working in the indirect method, where a full size sketch is transferred backwards and clear adhesive contact paper, which we refer to as ‘sticky paper’ is laid over top. This temporary substrate holds the tiles in place, allowing the artist to work without messy glues or thinsets until later in the process. Everyone has to remember that the tiles get laid with the bumpy side up, and all letters are backwards until attached to the permanent backerboard with thinset. The schedule for the whole project is non-stop, and I’ll be in classrooms until the last day of school. Kids are loving it, I heard at least 2 students proclaim, “This is the best art class EVER!”
We are able to complete between 80 and 90% of a panel in the elementary schools so far; the remaining sections will be worked on at Mohawk. At the end of May I will be working with Middle and High School art classes and after school with kids that just can’t get enough of the mosaic process.
Community participation opportunities will occur during the summer. It is a lot of fun and a nice introduction into the mosaic medium, so please come and give it a try!
Galleries
As you stroll up and down the sidewalks at both ends of the Bridge of Flowers you will find many artist-owned galleries with their workshops 'in the back'. This eclectic mix encompasses the creative talents of painters and potters, quilters and leatherworkers, and glassblowers to watch most weekends. Right in the center of Shelburne Falls you'll find a co-operatively run Arts and Craft Gallery representing over 70 juried artists who are all local and uniquely talented. Go see the delightful results. Other galleries exhibit high-end American-made art. Be sure to check out the many galleries and local craft workshops along the Mohawk Trail and in surrounding towns. You may even be able to find a slightly imperfect ‘second’ in the back room that would normally sell for thousands, and you can steal for a song!
For a listing of galleries,
