Treasures of the Earth @ Peace Church, March 23

Susie's Crayon Creations to help fund Kids' Kitchen.

This week is the start of a new season... Spring. I have yet to hear any complaints about the weather forecast for the week ahead.

Two events of note for this coming weekend. The first, Friday evening, will be at the Joseph Nease Gallery. Info below. The second: On Saturday March 23  Peace Church is hosting its Treasures of the Earth Green Art & Gift Fair. All the goods, arts and crafts are made from recycled materials or natural materials, by local artisans. There will also be nature photography and artwork featuring the beauty of life on earth.

It's been a long, snowy winter, but the forecast for next Saturday is mid-fifties and sunshine. It's time to come out and stretch. Maybe pick up a gift for your mother or something new for your yard, home, or office. Several of the vendors this year are new to the fair and there are plenty of 'regulars' with their quality, locally-made items you won't want to miss, including Susie's latest Easter Edition Crayon Creations made from recycled crayons. Easter Edition crayons are a perfect little gift to put in a child's Easter basket, something that is NOT sugar for a change. Best of all, 100% of her crayon sales goes to the Damiano Center Kids' Kitchen.

Yes, they are crayons, not candy.

Susie's Gift Original Box Designs 

Treasures of the Earth will have all manner of treasures.

Here's a request from Wendy Up North:

Tote bag example.

IF ABLE, PLEASE BRING ANY EXTRA SHOPPING TOTE BAGS TO DONATE TO CHUM TO USE AT THE FOOD SHELF (to reduce use of plastic bags). The Great Lakes Aquarium has been collecting some and over 500 have been brought in so far to CHUM. There will be a drop off spot at Treasures near the entry table. Many people tend to accumulate them at conferences and such so this is a good opportunity to share them with others. Larger ones are especially useful. Bring a couple and add them to the colorful pile of bags to share.

For more information, visit the Treasures of the Earth Facebook page.

If you know people who want to be in the fair there will still be room.
 
Nutshell version of this story:

What: The Treasures of the Earth Green Goods, Craft & Art Fair
When: March 23 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Where: Peace Church, 1111 11th Ave. E., Duluth
Who:  Local artists making things from natural materials (rocks, wood, fiber) or reused/recycled materials will be part of the fair.

* * * *

THIS FRIDAY @ the JOSEPH NEASE GALLERY

Opening Reception
Friday, March 22, 5-8 p.m.
Artist’s Reception: Sirpa Särkijärvi, 23 W. 1st Street

"Sirpa Särkijärvi is a painter from Turku, Finland. More than 20 of her newest paintings will be on display in this exhibit."

FOR a list of MORE ARTS EVENTS in the Twin Ports

Visit the Twin Ports Arts Blog

ART is at the HeART of our Region.

Lego® Crayons: The Down Home Creator's Latest Crayon Creations

I don't know if it's the water, but there sure is a lot of creativity around here. Susie is forever coming up with new ideas, in part as an outgrowth of her volunteer work with children since her own creative kids grew up. Her latest idea was to make crayons using molds. Here are a few examples--Legos, puzzle pieces, flowers and critters, or whatever they be. I thought it best to let Susie tell the story here in her own words.

The Story and Symbolism Behind Crayons! 

EN: What is the Damiano Kids Kitchen and how did you get involved?

These are crayons, not Legos.

Susie Newman: Damiano Center began as a soup kitchen in 1982, and has since expanded into various other programs to try to meet the many needs in the community. One of the programs is Kids' Kitchen, a drop in center which emphasizes nutrition education for kids. They have an organic garden there during the summer, and provide other activities such as art.

In July, while in an art sale I met an amazing 83-year-old woman, "Grandma Nancy," who really liked my paper art. She has been a long time volunteer at Kids' Kitchen but was running out of art project ideas. I said I was brimming with ideas but had run out of an audience of kids to do them with since my mentees from Mentor Duluth have grown up. So we struck up a friendship and are now doing art together with kids there. It's such a perfect fit for my interests! I have long been a vegetable gardener, interested in healthy food, and an artist who especially enjoys working with kids who have not had so many advantages in their lives.

EN: What is it that has gotten you so excited about this crayon project?

Susie: Kids' Kitchen had been given a large donation of a huge box of crayons, which were all only red, blue, yellow and green. They were about to get thrown away as they were not being used. I had an idea. I had seen cute silicone molds of various shapes. I also found that with some mixing and melting and using my background knowledge of tints and shades I could come up with a wider variety of colors. To me this all seemed symbolic. Some kids who may not have had many advantages in their lives could be seen by our society as "throw aways" but with some creativity and effort they might become something pretty cool!

EN: Do these Lego crayons work just like real crayons?

Susie: They do! Just the shape is different.

EN: They look like great stocking stuffers. Where can people buy them?

Susie: They were a hot item at a craft/art sale I was recently in. They are a fundraiser for Damiano Kids' Kitchen and all proceeds will go to them.

I will have them at a sale at Peace Church on Dec. 1st, at a holiday sale at Oldenburg House on Dec. 7th, and a Down Home Creators Holiday Sale at our home on Dec. 15th. Or you can contact me directly at downhomecreator AT gmail.com.

EN: Anything else you wish to add?

Susie: A thank you to Grandma Nancy for generously covering the expenses of this project, and to friends who have helped cut paper off crayons.

Learn more about the work of the Damiano Center in Duluth's Central Hillside. Visit https://www.damianocenter.org/programs

Lego® Crayons, by Susie

Puzzle pieces that you can color with as well.

And other designs as well to color your world.

All proceeds from the sale of these crayons 

goes to support Kids’ Kitchen at Damiano Center.

Meantime art goes on all around you. Get into it.