Artisan's Village at the State Fair

For eleven days each August, the Friends of the Visual Arts partner with the Oregon State Fairgrounds to manage and operate the Artisan's Village at the Oregon State Fair. Artists and craftspeople come to the Village to teach, demonstrate, and show off their skills. Many will invite YOU to try your hand as well!

Our History with the Artisan Village

The 2009 Village Artisans

• Pottery and Raku Ceramics, sponsored by the Willamette Art Center.

  Not only do we host the Artisan's Village, we put on our own exhibit. Choose a handmade ceramic pot, glaze it, and we'll fire it on the spot in our Raku Kiln. In an hour, you can come back and pick up your own creation.

• Village Stage Music, sponsored by the KMUZ 88.5 FM Radio Project of the Salem Folklore Community.

  Celebrating the Art of Music. Buy a CD from your favorite Village Stage Musician and a portion of your purchase will help fund Salem's rising new Community Radio Station.

• Berg Artworks, featuring Sharon Nyberg.

  Sharon uses a Lampworking torch to melt glass strips or rods to make glass beads. If you're a bead lover, you'll want to pull up a chair and watch--and you'll go crazy over her detailed, dichroic creations!

• Polymer Clay Sculpture, featuring Jenny Armitage.

  "Whimsy without cuteness," Jenny's colorful sculpted animals will make you smile.

• Cool Shoes & Moccasin Co. featuring David and Penny Peek.

  Hand-made footwear "from the ground up!" Watch David tool the leather and create shoes sized Just Right, on the spot!

• Lavender Thyme Herb Farm, featuring Taffy Donalson.

  A booth of Wonderful Scents, including farm dried lavender bouquets, linen mists and lavender oil.

• Carvings by Dave, featuring Dave Disselbrett.

  Whittle away the warm afternoon with Dave and his gallery of marvelous animals and characters, all hand carved and painted.

• Art of the Grande Ronde, featuring Patricia Allen.

  Watch Patricia do intricate beadwork on leather, along with other arts of Northwest Native Americans.

• Elizabeth Jewelry featuring Molly Rahe.

  Uniquely handcrafted Jewelry. All genuine Sterling Silver, gemstones, freshwater pearls and swarovski crystals with a touch of the increasingly popular cubic Zirconia beads.

• Center Stage Puppets, featuring William Walther.

  William has been a master puppeteer and artist for 30 years, and is a popular guest artist at many Oregon schools. Watch a puppet show, or learn how to make your own!

• The Capitol Woodcarvers.

  Members of the Capitol Woodcarvers guild--the same folks who created the beloved Salem Riverfront Carousel--will demonstrate all aspects of the time-honored art of wood carving.

• Glassblowers Local 503.

  This booth is HOT! Watch in amazement as molten glass takes shape right before your eyes.

• Stone Polishing by K.K. Creations, featuring Wes Kesten and Gretchen Kirk.

  Watch Wes take a "boring old rock" and reveal incredible beauty within, as he carves and polishes geodes, Oregon Sunstones, and much more.

• Art in Oils, featuring Markus Willis.

  Come see why Markus has the longest-running booth at the Artisan Village. His oil paintings are rich and unique--many of them are painted on tiny canvases that are assembled into a final montage. As always, Markus will be painting in the booth throughout the fair--come learn some tips from a master!

• The Dramatic Arts, hosted by Salem's Pentacle Theatre.

  In the booth are all the details of dramatic arts, including costuming, stage decoration, acting, directing... everything it takes to Make The Show Go On. Check the Village Stage schedule for daily performances of song, dance, and drama!
  
  

• Blacksmithy, featuring Nick Marcejlas of Red Troll Forge and Eric Grip of Iron Grip Forge.

  Hammers pound as Nick and Eric make incredible tools, household items and jewelry out of Red Hot Iron!

• Beaver Meadow Baskets, featuring Kim Black.

  Woven pine needle baskets and decorative gourds--watch Kim make one just for you!

• Fabric Collage, featuring Connie Veenker.

  Connie uses fabric to build abstract images full of texture. Each is different, some having felting, beading, vintage fabrics and painting incorporated into the final design.

• Yarn and Fiber Arts, sponsored by the Aurora Colony Handspinners' Guild.

  Spinners, knitters, weavers and other fiber artists will knock your socks off--and then make new ones--amidst beautiful yarns and wool garments hand spun, dyed, and crafted here in Oregon.

• Pyrofuse featuring Robert Fox.

  Robert uses the Lampwork torch technique to create glass pendants, earrings, and whimsical mermaids.

• Chainsaw Carving, featuring the Whited Brothers.

  Who runs this family, anyway? Watch the Whited Brothers Rip It Up with their chainsaws, creating art as big as a tree or tiny enough for your desk.

Sponsors

The Village Stage, featuring family-friendly music all day, every day, thanks the following donors, whose contributions to our stage bring you these great performers!

Chip Paluska, DMD

Mike and Kellie Swaim

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