Elkhart's
Artisan Craft Fair features gourd artist
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[April
17, 2013]
ELKHART -- The Elkhart
Artisan Craft Fair will be open in historic downtown Elkhart from 10 a.m. to
4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 20 and 21, and again April 27 and 28. The
fair is part of Elkhart's "Celebrate Spring!" weekends this April and will
feature Liz Drake, gourd artist from Springfield.
Drake has won blue ribbons for her
gourd art at the Illinois State Fair in 2008-2012, including the
"Best in Hobbies" award in 2011 and 2012 and "Best in Show Floral"
in 2010. She has exhibited and won blue ribbons at the Illinois
Gourd Society Annual Show in 2008-2011 and the Kentucky Gourd
Society Annual Show in 2009-2011. |
She published and illustrated the book
"Bedtime Stories for our Gourdchildren," which includes folk tales
featuring gourds.
She is founder of the Lost Gourd
Society, active in the Illinois Gourd Society, and a member and
District Illinois co-director of the American Gourd Society.
In explaining her art, Drake says:
"When I work with gourds, the world fades away and leaves me totally
free to hear the whispers, the stories, the songs and the delights
as well as the tears and struggles of growth that comes with the
maturity of the fruit. There is a depth of layers to explore and
enjoy. When I release the voice of the gourd, even the casual viewer
experiences the beauty."
Sharing her talents, Drake has
taught classes in gourd art at Morton Arboretum, Springfield
Ceramics and Crafts Club, Lincoln Memorial Gardens Indian Summer
Festival, the Lost Gourd Society, and Cross Evangelical Lutheran
School in Yorkville. She has shared her experiences as a gourd
artist with the Springfield Civic Garden Club, POE groups, the
Master Gardeners and Chautauqua group.
Drake tells others: "Each gourd leads
me to find the colors and embellishments that will allow it to
sing."
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column] |
With over 20 booths, local crafters
at Elkhart's Artisan Craft Fair will showcase a variety of handmade
items to purchase, including children's items, jewelry, wood crafts,
bags and totes, walking sticks and canes, hand-sewn items, purses,
wine glasses, and tarts and warmers for shoppers. Vendors invited
this year are Scentsy, Avon, Grace Adele, Longaberger and
Tupperware. Jimmy B's Salsa of Springfield will be available on
April 27 and 28.
For a complete listing of Elkhart's
"Celebrate Spring" events, including dates, times and reservation
information, see
www.explorelogancounty.com/ElkhartIL, or visit the Welcome
Center in the Village Hall, open Saturdays and Sundays from 8:30
a.m. to 4 p.m. on Gov. Oglesby Street in the historic downtown. |