Resident makers and artist tenants at The Mill at Shelburne Falls are hosting a Harvest Makers and Art Market on Saturday, October 10 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The outdoor market features work in a multiple of mediums including oil and acrylic, fine woodworking, glass, pottery, textile arts, handwoven goods, weathervanes, metal fabrications and sculpture. The Mill has onsite parking at 49 Conway Street and is located on the Buckland side of the Iron Bridge at Shelburne Falls. Admittance is free and the wearing of masks and the observation of social distancing protocols is required of all attendees.
Two dimensional artists include Ann Lofquist and Yani Counelis. Lofquist’s painted landscapes begin with what she describes as "an intense observed experience." Having taught for several years at Bowdoin College in Maine, she became recognized for her New England paintings that combined a contemporary visual awareness with the evocative subtleties of George Inness. Note cards and prints of her originals will be for sale. A native of Greece, mixed media artist Yani Counelis spent much of his professional life as an architect. Many of his paintings reflect his architectural sensibility combined with the written word. He translates and illustrates famous poet’s books and adds his own custom frames.
The metal artists at the market exhibit work of two different aesthetics. Sculpture and metal artist Bruce Fowler never lost touch of the joy and wonderment of making objects out of discarded parts from interesting machinery or consumer products. For Fowler, taking things apart is just as much fun as putting things together with a focus on finding things that fit together to make an original object. Weather vane maker, Marian Ives graduated from the School for American Craftsmen at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Since 1972 Ives has made the creation of custom copper weathervanes her primary focus. Her work adorns homes and barns in the New England area and throughout the US. With a lifelong love for birds and wildlife she started making ornaments about thirty years ago.
The Mill’s fine woodworking studios are represented by the Conway Chair Company and Kuklinski Woodworking. Pat Moriarty is the guiding hand behind the Conway Chair Company, a family owned woodworking company that makes heirloom quality hand sculpted chairs. His chairs and stools are recognized not only to be of the highest quality but for their ability to stand the test of time and to be proudly passed down and enjoyed through generations. Tom Kuklinski uses the finest local materials to create handmade furniture and accessories that are functional works of art. He strives for his work to deepen the connection to ourselves, with others, and to Nature.
Textile artists Heather Wynne and Sue McFarland share a cooperative studio in the Polishing building at the mill. With a focus on upcycling and sustainability, Heather Wynne creates one-of-a-kind pieces, limited-edition collections, and sewing patterns. Her work includes canvas bags and packs, pillows, unique accessories and cloth facemasks. Sue McFarland, a hand weaver and felt maker produces functional fashion accessories, sculptural and hanging work. Featured work for the market includes handwoven and felted scarves and seasonal home decorative accessories.
Artist Jeremy Sinkus uses flameworking to manipulate glass. A specially designed oxy/propane torch gives him point control of both tiny details and larger masses of glass. With kiln casting Sinkus achieves larger more architectural forms of glass and coldworking the glass like one would cut and polish gemstones allow him to produce unique, nature inspired forms and sculptures.
Other featured participants include members of The Handle Factory Community Clay Center founded in 2019 by Molly Cantor, potter and pottery teacher, with ceramics for sale in a variety of different styles. Additionally, stylist Kirsten Oxboel will present a carefully curated collection of vintage fashion and home décor. The former visual merchandiser for Urban Outfitters is known for her unique and whimsical taste