Artists display handmade products at annual fair
Handmade jewelry, animal-shaped mirrors and abstract art-inspired felt dolls — every imaginable craft was represented at the Feast, all housed under white tents that fought the wind and rain throughout the afternoon.
The fair, which was scheduled from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., was delayed until noon because of the weather, and although the conditions proved to be a hassle for vendors — with a few gusts sending crafts, tents and business cards flying — Feast-goers still came out to support the local artists.
One of the first vendors on College Street's craft row, set up right across from the Byrnes Building, was E. Brenton Sadreameli, the founder of Mr. B's Glassworks and Bottleneck Guitar Slides. Sadreameli's works included recycled glass beer, wine and liquor bottles turned glassware and bottleneck guitar slides.
Some of the more simple glasses were fit for the china cabinet, while others were more obviously recycled, sporting Rolling Rock, Corona and Grey Goose logos.
Sadreameli, whose glassware is also available at the State Museum and Columbia Museum of Art, first started making the glasses as gifts for friends, and dishware for his studio, located on State Street. He also does woodwork and metal work, but the glassware and guitar slides are his main gig.
Elizabeth Squires, who drove from Bloomington, Ind. for Crafty Feast, showcased a table full of "Cornfed Crafts," and performed tarot card readings at the fair.
She sold a nice collection of handmade, pop-culture jewelry, buttons, tacks, paintings and candles, bringing a lot of beer-related paraphernalia into her designs, admitting, "I don't drink beer though, so it's kind of weird."
Squires' collection favorites are candle-filled glasses that she's dubbed "Your Own Personal Jesus." Painted with outlines of "St. Prince" and "St. Elvis," they are known as the "hipster cannon of saints."
The Indiana native also drew fair-goers to her table with her tarot card readings, which cost $1 for every card, using tarot reading skills she learned from her elementary school Girl Scout leader. The "Cornfed Crafts" can be found at bsqu.tumblr.com.
Lucas Sams, a fourth-year art studio student, set up shop on Main Street, selling his paintings and adding to his creations in the middle of the street.
Friends and bassist from Sams' band Pray for Triangle Zero played the keyboard, violin and guitar in front of his display, luring in the crowd. Sams offered his 3-D glasses to visitors saying, "It's like you're on LSD."
Sams has done a lot of work with Toro Y Moi's bassist, including one large painting priced at around $350.
Crafty Feast represented all of the best from Columbia's undercover arts scene, bringing some of the most talented artists out of the woodwork and highlighting some of the most original and high-scale crafts in town.
Aside from the rows of vendors, the cultural experience was made complete with live music, beer and food from College Grounds Cafe, Hunter Gatherer and other local eateries.
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