May 21, 2003
Creative capitalism
Youth sell their works at Children's museum art fair
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Budding entrepreneurs and artists gathered Sunday afternoon on the lawn of the Great Lakes Children's Museum to sell their creations.
The youth art fair drew two dozen vendors ages 6 to 14 where they sold arts and crafts ranging from soaps, magnets and greeting cards to paintings, picture frames and jewelry. Madeleine Battle, 8, impressed fairgoers with her Jackson Pollock-esque splatter paintings. Beaded critters, fairies, hair wraps and keychains rounded out the offerings available under the fair's tents.
Samples of the participants' work will be on display in the museum for two months, including Battle's large canvas entitled "Fireworks."
A good percentage of the sales were kids buying from each other, although people visiting the museum also stopped under the tents to shop.
The Swaffer family of Traverse City was out in force at the fair, with siblings Rachel, 11, Zachary, 9 and Marea, 7 sharing the duties at their table. All three collaborated on the soaps, which included molded shapes small and large as well as loofah sponges saturated with scented, colored soap. They also brought along a tablecloth to cover the table and make their display look nicer.
"This is our first time at an art fair, I like making the money," said Rachel, 11, a homeschooled student. "We prepared for a week and a half or two weeks."
The event drew two dozen presenters and the museum is considering making this an annual art fair for children. The museum also plans to host another children's art fair during the National Cherry Festival, on Children's Day on Thursday, July 10.
"We were looking for a way to showcase what kids can do and give them a more hands-on experience," said Mary Manner, director of education for the Great Lakes Children's Museum. "This way they do the planning, doing and selling and they have the opportunity to sit behind the counter."
"I am so impressed with the quality of the work and the ideas of the students," she noted, summarizing the art fair as: "The kids loved it, the parents loved it and we loved it."
Kayla Cragg, 7, enjoys crafts and was pleased to have a venue to sell some of her work. She brought a variety of items she made, including fairies, hot pads, bracelets, pictures and decorated boxes. She began compiling her stock two months ago and plans to donate any profits to the charity Operation Christmas Child. This charity sends shoeboxes filled with personal care items, school supplies and toys to needy youth around the world.
"I have ten to do, six done so far," said Cragg, a homeschooled student who is working on that project with her sister, Kelsey, 5.
Corey Shrift of Traverse City was pleased at the opportunity for her daughter, Abigail, 8, to learn about running a business and being responsible to customers. Abigail brought a variety of beaded items, ranging from French braid wraps and eyeglass holders to bracelets and bookmarks. She spent part of the afternoon making additional items from her bead box.
"She loves to make things and I think it is neat to teach them about business," Shrift said. "We talked about the cost of making them."