Five East Bay Artists You'll Want To Meet At Sunday's Craft Fair

The KPFA Crafts Fair showcases the brightest talents in contemporary art and craft, highlighting both experienced and emerging designers who produce one-of-a-kind, handmade and limited edition goods in a wide variety of media.

Going on Sunday, December 21, from 10am-5pm at Craneway Pavilion at the Richmond Waterfront - 1414 Harbour Way South, Richmond, CA 94804. www.craneway.com

Meet five featured artists from East Bay: Allysyn Kiplinger, Itsuko Zenitani, Merryll Saylan, Niknaz and Malena Lopez Mossi.

1. Allysyn Kiplinger and her company Artha Handmade Hemp Soaps rely on strict environmental ethics, employing coconut, olive & hemp oil and essential oils from plants to make aromatically, hand poured and hand cut soaps. Infused with natural plant dyes for color and plant essences for fragrance, these soaps contain no non-renewable materials. www.arthasoaps.com

2. Itsuko Zenitani Ceramics carries the tradition and aesthetics of Japanese culture to the West, in a wide array of modern, functional ceramics, hand thrown on the wheel and high fired in a gas kiln, decorated with wax & hand carving. Itsuko’s pots are made of porcelain clay, very challenging to throw on a wheel, but resulting in vibrant, elegant product, in a technique that has taken the artist decades to develop and perfect. www.itsukoceramics.com

3. For woodworker Merryll Saylan, form, contrast, pattern, texture and color are primary themes in her work. Wood bowls, vessels, discs, and plates are canvases where she explores surface manipulation and visual images, and presents these utilitarian items as contemporary art pieces. www.merryllsaylan.com

4. Niknaz Artwear is a collection of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, brooches and hair accessories. Inspired by the natural beauty of California, Niknaz developed an organic style of jewelry that reflects the spirit of place and the artist’s desire to create a special bond with her collectors. Her current work uses her unique technique for incorporating leather lace, semi-precious stones and silver highlights in forms that are evocative and fresh. www.niknazartwear.com

5. The Xocolate Bar features an array of chocolates from dark chocolate bonbons, to bark, caramels, dipped fruit, bars, and rich sipping chocolate, with a large-scale selection vegan chocolates and their couverture is organic, fair trade and delicious. Fueled by a passion for food, art, and experimentation, Malena Lopez-Maggi and Clive Brown continue to develop unique recipes with high quality ingredients. The duo launched The Xocolate Bar in 2006 and at the 2007 San Francisco International Chocolate Salon, they took home five awards including Best in Show. www.thexocolatebar.com

Previous on Patch: Massive Crafts Fair Coming This Weekend To East Bay

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