Cabin Fever Arts Festival February 28, 2009

The days may be short and the weather may be taking its toll, but there’s always something to look forward to in February—the Cabin Fever Arts Festival!

This annual event is organized by the Appalachian Artists Guild in conjunction with the Southern State Community College art department, sponsor of the Area High School Art Showcase Exhibition, a competition which culminates the day of the festival (see information below).

The Cabin Fever Arts Festival is a celebration of traditional Appalachian arts and culture and is held at the Southern State’s Appalachian Gateway Center, 12681 U.S. 62, Fincastle, Ohio. There will be food, live music, and many booths featuring handmade traditional arts and crafts exemplifying the Appalachian experience.

ARTS & CRAFTS VENDORS

Arts and crafts vendors for the 2009 festival include: Pam Anders (decorated hard-shell gourds); Terri Anderson (organic wire and silver clay jewelry); Brenda Armstrong (bandboxes, bears, bookmarkers); Jr. Bradley (wood intarsia and fretwork); Sue Burden (paintings); Sherri Cone (nightlights fashioned from gourds); Debbie Cook (lavender and lavender-related items); Jerry Davis (walking sticks and canes); Betty Fischer (sewn and quilted items); Sue Frump (dulcimer music and CDs); Melanie Harper (jewelry, pouches and dream catchers); Diana Harvey (wood products); Sarah Kisling (brooms and walking sticks); Kathy Lohse (quilting); Ben Lander (leather crafting); Mary Lowery (painting); Penni Lowery (ceramic tiles, vessels and jewelry); Jack Miller (blacksmith); Carla and Savanna Newman (weaving and spinning); Marta Padgett (carved eggs); Bootsie Robison (spinning and knitting); Gary Sager (handmade mountain dulcimers); Charlotte Sampson (handblown glass); Virginia Spillman (dulcimer music and CDs); Eli Stutzman (baskets); Diana Thieryoung (stained glass); Terry Vance (pottery); Jennifer Rooks Wenker (pastel and watercolor paintings); Skip Werline (paintings and limited-edition prints); Margaret West (dolls, afghans, pillows, baby and doll blankets); Linda Wilkin (purses, totes and jewelry); and Kristy Williams (drawings, quilted items and wooden benches).

Several of the artists will also be demonstrating how they create their work.

HIGH SCHOOL ART SHOWCASE EXHIBITION

Don’t miss the annual Area High School Art Showcase Exhibition, a collaboration of Southern State Community College and the Appalachian Artisans Guild, which will be on display throughout the Cabin Fever Arts Festival event.

An awards ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, honoring the winners in several categories, including commercial art, ceramics/glass, computer graphics, drawing, fibers, film/video/web design, jewelry/enameling, mixed media, handmade paper, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture/installation art. Winners will be recognized in each category, as well as best-of-school and best-of-show awards. One young artist will be named as the Appalachian Artisans Guild Cabin Fever Award winner.

The winner of the Visual Arts Scholarship—open to all high school seniors—will also be announced at that time. Those interested in applying for the art scholarship to Southern State Community College will need to complete an SSCC scholarship application, complete an essay outlining career interest in the art field, submit an entry in the Area High School Art Showcase Exhibition, and participate in a portfolio review. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact James Werline at 1-800-334-6619, ext. 3669.

The high school showcase exhibition will be on display Feb. 26-28 at the Appalachian Gateway Center on Southern State Community College’s south campus in Fincastle. High school students in the Southern State service area—Adams, Brown, Clinton, Fayette and Highland counties—were invited to submit up to three pieces of original artwork. Professional artists were asked be jurors for this year’s competition and judging is set to be held Feb. 18.

WORKSHOPS & DISPLAYS

Three workshops will be offered during the Cabin Fever Arts Festival. Each workshop is $9, with preregistration required. Participants must be at least 12 years of age. Workshops include: Acrobat Toy (participants will paint and assemble a replica of a vintage wooden toy, 11 a.m.); Decorated Egg (participants will learn the old Hungarian art of etching designs on dyed eggs, 1 p.m.); and Wool Pincushion (participants will construct and decorate a pincushion using basic needle-felting techniques, 3 p.m.). To register, send an email to member@appartguild.com. Payment can be made the day of the festival. For more information, please visit www.appartguild.com.

On display at the festival will be handcrafted quilts by three local quilting groups: Bits and Pieces (Greenfield), Country Quilters (Hillsboro) and Highland County Quilters (Hillsboro); miniature antique farm implements; and photographs and table displays of Civil War weapons, maps, equipment and food to illustrate the life style, struggle and accomplishments of the local Civil War soldier.

The Master Gardeners of Adams County will be donating their time to assist with registering guest, providing information, handing out door prizes and helping guests navigate around the building. They also will be manning their own booth to answer questions about their organization.

For more information about Southern State Community College, please visit www.sscc.edu or call 1-800-628-7722.

Official Website: http://www.appartguild.com