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Shop and DtYCmttnr j VVWW.TREEHOUSEKiDANOCRAFr.COM
GerriN' Crafty
T en years ago, Serra Ferguson owned a store called
Remnants that was housed in the small space next to
Agora on the comer of Clayton and Pulaski streets that
is now Hot Breath glass studio. She sold locally handmade
items, a natural continuation of her experience as a craft fair
organizer. When Remnants failed to make it, and Big City Bread
discontinued its craft fair, she started Craftstravaganzaa in the
parking lot of Agora with two weeks' notice. Over the past five
years, Craftstravaganzaa has become Athens' largest craft fair.
'My mission has always been to provide a forum for
artists to sell their wares,' she says. *1 wanted to make
Craftstravaganzaa the kind of fair that I was attending in
Chicago or Brooklyn, something that had more of a cosmopoli
tan or big-city feel."
Ferguson's experience made her aware of Craftstravaganzaa's
context and potential. She uses her connections around the
country to invite nonlocal crafters to visit Athens and sell
products that are new to the Athens crafting scene. While many
out-of-town crafters
see the city for the first
time, Athens continues
to gain a reputation as a
legitimate handmade arts
conlmuriity.
'A lot of the musi
cians here are artists,
too, but that doesn't get
promoted as much. It's
important that it gets
talked about that there is
a whole creative commu
nity going on here that's
not just the bar scene,
thafs not just rock and
roll and late-night."
The inclusion of non
local vendors has caused
some 'grumbling" among
some of Athens' artistf, but Ferguson wanted to avoid the
stagnation of accepting only local artists, many of whom have
sold their crafts locally for years.
'I want to keep things fresh; I want to keep things compel
ling and give people a reason to '“ome," said Ferguson. 'It's
inspirational for other people to see things and think, T can do
that' or 1 would like to do something like that."
As a leading entity in the local craft movement,
Craftstravaganzaa is fertile ground for assessing how the can-
do attitude of making something by hand can be dismissed as
facile, or even foregone in favor of the ease of consumerism.
"I think a lot of people might go to these craft shows and
say, *Why would I buy that when I could .just make it? which is
sort of a belittling attitude to someone who has spent time on
something," says local crafter Deanna Perlman. "People don't
realize how much time and passion and heart go into it."
However, Perlman has sold her knitted and crocheted goods
at the Craftstravaganzaa and other Athens craft fairs and finds
her success promising. "It's encouraging to think that maybe
we're moving in the direction of buying things not solely based
on them being cheap," says Perlman.
For Ferguson, the goal of the Craftstravaganzaa is to show
the richness available in thoughtful local and sustainable
crafts. "The main importance is being able to purchase some
thing that is unique and handmade that's imbued with the
spirit of the person who is making it" she says.
This year's fair features handmade products and vintage s
items, local'food carts, a photobooth, DJ Mahogany, interac
tive workshops, live music from Zeke Sayer, Old Smokey, Cicada
Rhythm, Bronson Tew and The Jackson Purchase.
Sydney Slotkin
Talk About It
If you have a friend you think may be in
an abusive relationship, talk with her or
him about it. Don't ignore the problem;
it will not go away. You can make a
difference by starting a conversation
with your friend or coworker. You don't
have to be an expert to talk about abuse,
you just need to be a friend. Listen to and
believe what your friend is telling you.
Our hotline advocates are here to help
if you have questions about how to start
the conversation.
706-543-3331
Hotline, 24 hours/day O
Unea de crisis, las 24 boras del dia
* We are conducting a research study on smoking.
»Participation will include two in-person assessments,
including one magnetic resonance imaging scan.
> You will be paid up to $65 for ~5 hours of participation.
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Call 706-542-6881 for more information
8 FlAGPOLE.COM • APRIL 25,2012