Thursday, April 7, 2011

Featured Artisan: Erich Breimhurst

Erich Breimhurst
Woodworking
Website: www.driftwoodmountainonfacebook.com

BIO: I like to create functional and artful objects from found or discarded wood.   I enjoy searching the rivers and forests of Pennsylvania for these materials, other times I simply rescue them from other woodworkers or from dumpsters near home renovations projects.  I hope to bring the wood back to life in the furniture and carvings I make.  I feel that its very important to keep the wood out of landfills or from being burned.



Underground Artisans Marketplace will feature Erich Breimhurst and 15+ other artisans this coming Saturday, April 9th. 1pm-5pm at Schlow Library (211 S. Allen St., Downtown State College).

Free Parking, Free Admission, All Ages. Support Local Art! Support Schlow!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Featured Artisan: Katie Blevins

Beaded jewelry, decorative items

I have an intense love of color that I credit to growing up in the Southwest and lots of finger painting. I lived in the tiniest apartment once on impulse because the rooms were painted red, teal, purple, and lime green by a previous tenant and all of my stuff matched when I moved it in. I like to make things with lots of color and often with little rhyme or reason to what I make. Most of my current projects involve beaded jewelry and decorative items.




Come out to see art by Katie Blevins and 15+ other artisans at the Underground Artisans Marketplace on Saturday, April 9th. 1-5pm at Schlow Library (211 S. Allen St)


http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149109751811287&ref=ts

Monday, April 4, 2011

Featured Artisan: Marie Taylor of Cassia Elements

Natural soaps, body care, cleaning products.

BIO: Cassia Elements began as an experiment in essential oil blending to create natural, safe, inexpensive and great smelling soap, body care, and cleaning products for founder Marie Taylor, her family, and her pets. The therapeutic properties of essential oils fit perfectly into Marie's ideas about holistic health and natural medicine, and it made sense for her to create a product that not only smells delicious, but is also close to nature in its simplicity of ingredients. Cassia products use only the finest therapeutic grade oils, and are synergistically blended to engage your mind and body.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Featured Artisan: Ellen Buchanan Weiss


Metal jewelry

Website: http://ellenbuchanan.etsy.com 

BIO: I'm a 29 year old State College metalsmith.  I went to college first at Marlboro College, a tiny liberal arts school on a converted farm in Vermont's Green Mountains, and then at Penn State where I got a degree in philosophy and then later went back to study metalsmithing (right before the department closed, sadly).
Metalsmithing is my true passion and gives me deep and ongoing joy and satisfaction.  I love being in my studio forming a material that seems cold and unmoving into something beautiful and inspired.  I spend part of every day reading about and studying metalsmithing information and techniques and I like allowing my work to evolve as I do.
I love custom orders and working with somebody to turn their vision into reality. I believe in using recycled or responsibly sourced gems and metals wherever possible - doing so, in my opinion, adds beauty and meaning to art.


Monday, March 28, 2011

Featured Artisan: J. Harlan Ritchey

 J. Harlan Ritchey

Art prints, shrink plastic magnets

BIO: J. Harlan Ritchey is an illustrator, cartoonist, and designer based in State College, PA. He is self-taught. He works primarily in pen-and-ink but is incorporating computers into his process. Previous clients include 4-H, the Goodling Institute for Research in Family Literacy, the Pennsylvania Center for the Book, Centre County Reads, and area musicians. He is inspired by shamanic cave painting, Breughel forgeries, Victorian zoological illustration, calligraphy in imaginary languages, poststructuralist interpretations of skateboarding, and beer labels.



Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Featured Artisan...Dani Kaulakis


Renaissance-style clothing and accessories.

I've always liked to play dress up. Now that I'm a grownup, I find
myself gravitating towards hobbies that give me the chance to dress in
imaginative ways. I'm a historical reenactor, I sword-fight in frilly
dresses and I love vintage, neo-victorian and steampunk fashion. While
I make a living as a freelance illustrator, I spend the bulk of my
personal time sifting through antique malls and putting my crafting
abilities towards creating something fun and interesting things to
wear.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Featured Business....The Music Underground


The Music Underground is your one and only locally-owned and independent source for new and used vinyl records, CDs, tapes, turntables and stereo equipment, as well as hi-fi repair.  We restock new and used vinyl regularly, and offer special ordering from our many vendors and distros at fair prices.  There's not much out there we can't track down for you in a reasonable time frame.

We also have a selection of vintage, fully functional home stereo equipment, including: receivers, turntables, speakers and boomboxes.  Home hi-fi equipment peaked in quality in the early-80's, so most of our stuff is from that era.  They don't make stuff like they used to, and we seek to preserve, refurbish, and reuse that valuable equipment.

We can repair most quality hi-fi components at reasonable rates. 

Check out The Music Underground (224 W. College Aveune) and at the Underground Artisans Marketplace on April 9, 2011 from 1-5pm at Schlow Library.

Benefits Schlow! Free Admission! Free Parking!

Friday, March 18, 2011

Featured Artisan...Suzanne Bruening

 Fused Glass, 2-D and 3-D Collage. 

A 2001 Penn State graduate, with a bachelor of fine arts degree in sculpture and a bachelor of science in art education. She took her first fused glass class at The Creative Oasis in 2003 where she fell in love with the process and technique.  She bought her first kiln before the class was over. now, after 8 years of working with the medium, her kiln collection has increased and her abilities to make unique items for the home and body. 



Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Featured Artisan...Dory Ferguson

Beadwork with kumihimo & lor knit accents. Glass, sterling and fine silver.

BIO:As an only child, I was encouraged to be creative from a young age in order to to entertain myself. My grandmother gave me a tin of buttons and beads and a new passion was born in me.  Lynne Merchant's hands-on approach to cold worked wire dazzled me, my friend Ceph taught and encouraged fiber-fiddling, and Ben Cunningham, a professor I had at PSU, really made me understand that personal adornment is the ultimate form of artist appreciation. I try to be conscious of where my materials are coming from and at what cost, both for original source items and up-cycling older pieces. Often times, I find beads that just are not made today.


Sunday, March 13, 2011

Featured Artisan: Julia Lukowsky


Wheel thrown and hand built pottery.
 
  I create functional pottery with slight sculptural elements.  My work is primarily wheel thrown and altered porcelain with in some cases hand-built attachments.  I would like my work to reflect the soft curves of the female form and also mimic the gestures and attitude of the body.  I am interested in conveying a sense of movement in some of my pots.  In a way that you are forced to pick up the pots and examine them from all angles.  I am also drawn to the contrast between sharp angles and smooth curves.  For glazes, I like to explore the full spectrum, from shiny browns to matte pinks and anything in between.  I am fascinated with the chemical changes that occur inside the kiln during the final firing stage.  I love the variation and surprise when you open the kiln to discover the finished works.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Featured Artisan: Kasey Cannon of Kay.em.Kay


Hats, Handmade dresses, bags, upcycled vintage, art, misc.
Website: http://www.etsy.com/shop/kayemkay
BIO: my parents bought me a sewing machine for christmas when i was in high school. i touched it only a few times, making square pincushions... and larger square pincushions which i referred to as pillows. I hated threading the machine, so it wasn't long before i gave up.Though, i still don't derive any pleasure from threading my machine, i am very pleased to make things that my friends call "cute". Now i spend my free time making purses and recycling old thrift finds. I'm always up for trying something new; shoes, hats, upholstery. I hope to be able to make something you like, something that you'll call "cute".