Handcrafted in Connecticut Craft Sale opens at the New Milford Railroad Station on November 26 & 27 and December 10 & 11 with hours from 10-5 on Saturdays and from 10-4 on Sundays. The show features fused glass, jewelry, pottery, cards, silk & woven scarves, hand-made soap and more. A percentage of the sales are donated to New Milford Animal Welfare. Artists participating in the show include Linda Banks, glass artist; Cynthia Battista, jewelry artist, Celeste Battista, weaver, Kathy Kairawicz, pottery artist and painter and Maryann Meken-Silvestri, a fused glass artist.
About the artists:
Linda Banks is a multi-media artisan and owner of Banks Art Studio in New Preston, CT. Linda says her love of life is shown through her passion for glass with it's colors, transparency, and sparkle. She has worked in glass for over 20 years, teaching locally at Brookfield Craft and throughout the states. Linda has taught at the Washington Art Association and other school programs for over 35 years. She continues to explore new ideas and techniques through advanced glass classes at the Corning Glass Museum's Studio.
Cynthia Battista began her professional career as a surveyor in New England, where mapping and measuring the land means spending a great deal of time in the woods. She says, “Whatever led me there compels me still, as the same themes—from geometric shapes and mathematical precision to the patterns, colors and textures of nature—can be found in my jewelry. Perhaps that explains the primitive, earthy feel I’m after. I want to make jewelry that looks as if an archeologist had just dug it up. I want to make, not just art, but artifacts.”
Celeste Bellemare is a Litchfield County artist and weaver. She learned to weave while working with a tour company in Ireland, and her woven items reflect the colors and texture of the Irish countryside. Her silk painted scarves mimic the shapes and colors found in nature. She uses flora and fauna as her inspiration. Celeste says, “Each scarf begins as a white blank. French fiber reactive dyes are used to produce the vivid colors and the designs are created from a combination of craft salt, alcohol, sugar and shapes from nature. After painting, each scarf must dry for at least 24 hours, steamed to set the dye, dried again for 24 hours before a wash in cold, then warm to hot water. The finishing touches are then added to create a unique and beautiful creation.”
Maryann Meken-Silvestri is an award winning fused glass artist who currently operates The Eclectic Glaziery, her studio in Danbury, CT. A former public school art teacher, she holds a BS from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut and an MS from Western Connecticut State University. Additionally, intensive study in glass at Hot Glass Horizons in Corning, New York, San Francisco Glassworks II, The Brookfield Craft Center as well as private instruction continues to expand creative possibilities. She has exhibited her work in various galleries, universities, art associations and charity shows in Connecticut. Her work has been included in private collections around the United States and in Europe.
Kathy Kairawicz makes functional pieces such as bowls, dishes, casseroles, pitchers, and bottles with a variety clay bodies; assorted stoneware, raku, porcelain, and imported clay bodies. She also makes sculptural forms which can be used as garden ornaments such as leaves, birds, garden face pots and jugs. She can be reached at kkairawicz@optonline.net or 203- 592 2084.
New Milford Railroad Station is located at Bridge St. and Railroad St. in New Milford CT. For further information regarding the show or artists email Maryann at mmrms1@comcast.net or call (203) 778-3982.
