August 25, 2004
Young artists exhibit creative side
Great Lakes Children's Museum sponsors second annual Summer Art Fair
By
Herald staff writer
The imagination of a young artist has no limitations - that much was apparent as more than 20 young artists displayed their creations during the Children's Summer Art Fair, sponsored by the Great Lakes Children's Museum, during Friday Night Live in downtown Traverse City last week.
In keeping with the Great Lakes Children's Museum's mission to provide children with hands-on experiences, allowing them to explore and discover the world in a safe and nurturing environment, the museum sponsored their second annual Children's Summer Art Fair.
The Fair supports children's participation in and enjoyment of the arts, providing the right mix of fun, challenge and authentic experience to stimulate children's intellectual, social and emotional growth.
Open to all children under the age of 17, the arts and crafts exhibited for sale must be handmade or assembled by the young artist.
"We've been working on this stuff for a long time to get it ready," said 12-year-old Eliza Foster who along with sisters Savannah, 11 and Chloe, 9, created clay plaques and figures in the Japanese Raku method.
"Raku is a way of firing the clay to make smoke patterns and crackle effects in the glaze. Our dad is a potter and he taught us how to do it," Eliza noted.
"It was fun getting ready for the fair, I hope we can do it again," said the first time exhibitor.
Along with the Foster's Pixie Dust Pottery table, patrons had their choice of beaded earrings and necklaces by the "Queen of Pink Beads," Linnea and Jamie's "Magical Pocket Purses" made of blue jean pockets, etched glass bottles, pot holders, beaded dragonflies and original paintings by Lindsey Fox.
"I been painting since I was really little. It was fun to be able to sell some of my art work," said Fox, a 13-year-old Omena resident who will use her profits to help fund a school trip to France next year.