I am a married (40 years) and a mother of one son (35 years old) who is also an artist in Columbus. He is a painter and muralist who works at West Elm as a visual merchandiser. My husband is also an exhibiting artist for over 40 years who taught art and art history at the high school level for 35 years. He is an etcher. I have been a self taught artist for 20 years. I retired two years ago after a career of 40 years in banking. My husband and I exhibit our work in galleries, outdoor festivals and art shows and events throughout the year.
Meet Angel Neal of Fallen Angel Bakeshop...
I discovered a passion for food when I was a toddler. My grandmother, Sophia, was raised in a Ukrainian family of 14 during the depression. Since she was the elder, she was in charge of cooking and caring for her siblings. She learned how to cook in bulk combined with love to make tasty foods and desserts. I was the first granddaughter and we spent a lot of time together since we lived in the same house. I have pictures of us baking traditional Nut Horns while I was still on the bottle! She even bought me a little rolling pin to match hers along with a matching baby coffee mug. We spent countless hours creating wonderful things as we sipped our "coffee".
It was during my years in high school that I decided to study
at the Pittsburgh Institute of Culinary Arts. My mother always told me
that I could accomplish whatever I put my mind to. This was against
the repeated pleadings with the school guidance counselor, who said,
"You are an honor student, why go into cooking? What will you learn?
How to use a knife?" After studying culinary, I moved back home to Cleveland and decided
to leave the culinary field for a while to work in non-profit. Years
later, I was asked to vend with my cousin at a local church craft fair
to keep her company. I sold out everything on my table! As time went
on I keep applying to work more and more shows and gained a repeat
clientele. I decided to make baking a permanent part of my life. It
gives me the opportunity to do what I enjoy and become a part of others
life celebrations! My team consists of the most charming lead salesman
anyone could ever have, my husband
Gregg and my right hand sous chef, my teenage son Payton! What more
could anyone want?
Meet Brittany Miller from Ivy Axe...
I have been creating since I was a kid. Drawing,
painting and using my imagination to make things in the woods is what I
did growing up. My creation started rolling as a part of normalcy when
friends and I started making zines around age 14. Everything escalated
from there and it became a defining part of my life. Usually I would
make personal items, using mixed media or wood and I often made gifts
for people in my life. After traveling for a while and feeling
unsteady, I grabbed onto projects for stability and soon Ivy Axe was
born. This is my first Avant-Garde Art & Craft show. I am very excited!
My
creative process is determined by my resources. It always has. It's
caused an ingenuity to brew inside of me which I use in everyday life. After I analyze what resources I have, I start thinking. Then I create
items from ideas in my head. This enters a new process which involves
trial and error and evolves my ideas further as well the method used to
create these items. My items are created from repurposed wood,
branches, bark, concrete and twigs.
Ultimately I would like to use my talents and
visions to benefit people in a bigger way than just home decor. I
would like to learn more about primitive crafts and methods and start
creating furniture. In five years I will be happy if Ivy Axe has turned
into a supplier of traditional furniture.
I feel like humanity has been deceived since the
Industrial Revolution. Some of its accomplishments have implemented
great things but as a whole we have gotten away from what it's all
about. It's about people for people, about nature, about reusing, being
carefree and doing things for yourself the old way. It is so much
simpler than we perceive it at times. I embrace this simplicity through
my products. Simple is beautiful.
Meet Cameron St. Clair from Knits About You...
I am currently a senior at Avon High School. In the
fall, I am going to Kent State University to pursue a degree in fashion
merchandising with a minor in public relations. In my spare time, I like to
shop, go to movies, and read. I started
to arm knit just a few months ago as a way of making homemade Christmas gifts
for my friends and family. This will be my first Avant-Garde craft show and I
could not be more excited!
I am inspired by my friend’s and
families’ style. As a fashion major, I am always looking for clothes and
accessories that are currently trendy. I feel that infinity scarves are great
for keeping warm in the winter and for expressing your individuality! My mom
inspired me to start arm knitting. We are both inspired by the DIY ideas on
Pinterest. She started to have success with her projects, and when I saw arm
knitting on Pinterest, she encouraged me to start making scarves. After I made
a few for friends, I received messages asking if I could make some, and just
like that Knits About You was born! I watched a few tutorials of girls arm
knitting until I found a video that really clicked with me. The initial scarf
was a bit of challenge, but after that I picked it up quickly, and now it only
takes me about 30 minutes to make a scarf.
My creative process is atypical.
First, I think of colors that most people would like. I try to pick either
neutrals or a “pop of color” yarn. If I don’t have the color that someone might
want, they can special order! From there, I just find spare time to create the
scarves! Five years from now, I hope
that Knits About You is continuing to thrive. I see college as an exciting
opportunity to expand my brand and make connections, so that one day my scarves
are in stores.
The message behind my work is to
pursue your passions. I never expected that I would receive orders from people,
and it would turn into a business. However, I am so grateful that it did, and
it taught me that you are only limited by your thoughts; you can whatever you
set your mind to.
2014 West Side Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
Saturday & Sunday, March 22nd and 23rd, 2014, 10:00am-5:00pm
Rocky River Memorial Hall
21016 Hilliard Blvd.
Rocky River, OH 44116
For more information, contact Becki Cooper, Event Coordinator at info@avantgardeshows.com
