The Paradise City Arts Festival continues Sunday and Monday.
5/28/11 Northampton - Staff photo by Michael Beswick - Fran and Ginny DeSantis of Springfield admire the clay fish made by Allen and Rosemary Bennett of Bath, N.Y. at this years Paradise City Arts Festival at the Three County Fairgrounds. They are made from stoneware and porcelain and are both bisque and glaze fired.NORTHAMPTON – For shoppers such as Carol Barr, the Paradise City Arts Festival is like paradise.
“The creative process is so powerful here . . . this is one of the best shows, the finest craft shows and the finest art shows that I have ever attended,” Barr, of Francestown, N.H., said on Saturday, the kickoff to the three-day festival.
In addition to buying a necklace with a glass pendant from North Country Glass and bowls from Touchstone Pottery, Barr was also there to scout for talent for the Labor Day arts and crafts festival in her community.
“I first came three years ago and I was in absolute awe of what I saw,” Barr said.
There is a little something for everyone at the festival, from flowers made of clay and a life-size wolf made of steel, to intricate embroidered art, fused glass coasters, furniture, silk clothing, jewelry, wooden trains, clocks, belt buckles, children’s outfits and vinyl purses shaped like old typewriters.
5/28/11 Northampton - Staff photo by Michael Beswick - All of the toys made by Russell Fullone of Heirloom Toys are handcrafted from select hardwoods, no stains are applied during the sealing process.Tatarzyn Photography had photographs of wild animals, the result of traveling to seven continents. A large photograph of hundreds of penguins attracted the attention of passersby.
Susan C. Arnold, of East Hampton, Conn., said she often attends the festival. She was browsing glass ornaments at the Cicada Glassworks booth. Arnold said she had already purchased a $150 3-D-style picture depicting laundry day and a $120 bronze pear. She plans to start collecting the pears.
“I just love it,” Arnold said of the festival. “If money were no object I’d be buying a whole lot more.”
Herbert H. Hodos, of Florence, bought some colorful stockings with flowers and paisleys on them for $20 as a birthday present for his 16-year-old niece.
“We come probably once a year,” said Hodos, who said he enjoys talking with the craftspeople. “There’s a lot of good stuff.”
Wendy Costa first paints her designs, then silk-screens them so they can be used on her stockings. The New York artist said this is the first time she has sold the socks, and said they turned out to be popular with women of all ages, little girls to grandmothers. She also sells the vinyl typewriter purses for $160.
Robert Alan Hyde, of Washington, makes sculptures out of brass and steel. It took him about four years to make the life-sized wolf, which he is selling for $15,000. The rods used in the sculpture resembled fur. Hyde said he draws upon nature for inspiration for his works.
Nita Fournier, of Holyoke, is a Paradise City Arts Festival regular, so she brought along a friend who had never been before, Denise A. Forgue, of Springfield. Forgue found hand-carved wooden spoons with a spiral design for $36, and a spoon rest for $22.
“I love it,” Forgue said.
“You can always find something at a moderate price,” Fournier said.
The festival continues Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Monday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Three County Fairgrounds.
