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Bored by the idea of bestowing boxes of chocolate or clichéd red roses? Have only a halfhearted interest in buying your beloved an iPod, cozy slippers, or a silky garment? Fear not: The “Artisans Valentine’s Gift Show and Sale” at Ashawagh Hall this weekend features unusual gifts to express tender feelings for partners in romance.
To put together a Valentine’s Day show that pulls at the heartstrings, jewelry maker David Posnett and photographer John Todaro gathered a handful of area artisans who marry technical accomplishment to artistic vision.
The result is a collection of fine crafts that are more typically seen in outdoor craft shows or specialized exhibitions. The one-day holiday show features pressed petal art, sea bird and cetacean wood carvings, handmade jewelry, fish prints and photography
The show is being presented on Saturday only at Ashawagh Hall in Springs—a place better known for exhibitions of paintings, sculpture and drawings. Mr. Posnett, Mr. Todaro and fish printer Annie Sessler said they borrowed a page from both types of presentations for the format of the Saturday show.
There is no opening reception: the doors will be open for viewers and shoppers without fanfare for six and half hours on Saturday. Unlike craft fairs, there is only one representative of each genre. Pieces will not be presented in three-walled booths and each exhibitor will have plenty of space to stretch out. In fact, the show and sale will resemble an art exhibition more than a craft fair, said Mr. Posnett.
“You’re not going to see a lot of jewelry and photography,” Mr. Posnett said. “You’re only going to see one jeweler and one photographer. We invited only one person representing each type of work.”
“We didn’t want to have a craft show with hundreds of booths and a range of quality,” Mr. Todaro said. “Everyone in the show is from the local area and they’re accomplished at what they do. Being from the local area was important to us. I think people go to Ashawagh Hall to see artists who are living and working here. We wanted our show to represent the craftsmen and artisans who are all local.”
The Artisans Valentine’s Gift Show and Sale features fish print rubbings by Ms. Sessler of Montauk. Her fish prints transfer the fish’s unique attributes onto fabric or paper. Eels, salmon, bluefish and tuna have all been captured by Ms. Sessler. (eastendfishprints.com)
Pressed botanical art by Ms. Anderson of Sag Harbor captures life of another kind: her Zen-like arrangements of pressed flowers or plant petals bring a bit of spring and summer to every composition. Petals are pressed onto patterned or textured paper. The botanicals are layered to achieve a lush yet understated look. Each composition is paired with an accentuating frame.
Visually compelling tabletop sculptures by decoy carver Matthew DiBernardo of East Quogue are part of the show. There will be rustic wood carvings of whales and chunky penguins plus the more delicately detailed shorebirds, ducks and waterfowl carvings. His latest works depart from his textured and realistic waterfowl carvings. Instead, realism is funneled through paint brush alone. His whales and penguins stray from realism to find a fun and near-whimsical presentation.
Some of Mr. Posnett’s jewelry features beach stones from East Hampton. Operating under Maidstone Jewelry, Mr. Posnett makes fine jewelry that also incorporates shells or found objects from the beach. His unique wedding rings and heart jewelry will be part of Saturday’s show. (maidstonejewelry.com)
Distinctive color photography by Mr. Todaro of East Hampton will also be on view. Mr. Todaro’s landscapes strive for simplicity that startles and compels the viewer to spend time with the image. Images include a canoe resting beachside, a foggy Amagansett lane, orange skies bursting above East Hampton waters and textured sands beside a blue ocean. (johntodaro.com)
All of the artisans hope the show will help Valentine’s Day shoppers discover a unique gift that will bring a smile to the face of the recipient. “I hope that people come to the show, see the work and enjoy themselves,” Mr. DiBernardo said. “As always, selling something is a plus.”
If all goes well, this type of show won’t be so rare, Mr. Todaro said. The organizers plan to make the show celebrating romantic love an annual tradition. A summertime show at a different venue may also be on tap.
“Most of us have shown together at South Fork Craft Guild shows,” Mr. Todaro said. “We already know we like each other and admire each other’s work. The people might not always be the same, but this type of show is something we want to continue.”
The Artisans Valentine’s Gift Show and Sale will be held on Saturday at Ashawagh Hall on Springs Fireplace Road in Springs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; admission is free. For information, e-mail studio@maidstonejewelry.com or call 631-379-2200.
on Feb 9, 2010