Story and Photography
by Paula Antolini
Many people have described the town of Bethel as "charming" and the Artisans & Vendors Festival, organized by the Bethel Historical Society, simply added to that fact. The event was held on Saturday, October 5, 2013 at the Bethel Historical Society, 40 Main Street, Bethel, CT, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. A display of hand crafted and antique items, lovingly made, showed local talent at its best. Photos of some of the work can be seen on this page.
The Bethel Historical Society (BHS) had a display of books for sale that were not only informative but absolutely beautiful. One set of books included journals about Bethel-related topics, hand-crafted by Marc Moorash, owner of Seraphermera Books and Garbanzo Literary Journals. The antique-style pages had old photos interspersed with blank pages in which to write. You can purchase individual books at $30 each or the set of six for $150, soon to be available on the BHS website, said Patricia Rist, President of the BHS. Moorash also had many of his other hand-made books for sale at the show.
Talent abounds with Bethel resident Chris Bray Jr. who was selling hand-made pens he created mostly from blocks of various kinds of wood, however some were pretty patterns in acrylic too, all turned on a lathe. The most unique pen was made from a corn cob! Bray is a 5 year Bethel resident, who grew up in Newtown CT, and works out of his home.
Kathy McDonald took an old idea and made it new by using chocolate molds to create chalk ware figurines that she then hand painted. Her work was selected to appear in Early American Life Magazine which features period style antiques, architecture and history. McDonald has lived in Woodbury Ct for twenty years.
An incredible collection of antiques where on display by Guy and Janice Gioielli of Fox Ridge Antiques and Collectibles. They are Bethel residents for thirty years and they also sell in the Great Barrington Antiques Center in MA. They specialize in antique items from 1850 and beyond, and brought along numerous old wooden boxes, antique kitchen implements, small wooden tables and wood-framed mirrors for this show.
There was a large display of photos from Noetic Light Photography from Ava Dawn Heydt. Her photography is described as, "A wide example of work...from the living to the inanimate, the portrait to the product...when each is understood in its space, the outcome is a moment that one only captures if they dare not blink."
Artist/blacksmith Chris Doherty, of Brookfield, owner of Semiosis Forge, was selling a collection of hand-forged iron and steel items in kitchen utensils, tools and fixtures. In the ancient art of the blacksmith items are formed in shaping hot iron with a hammer and anvil. She tries to keep tradition as the core of her work. "It's all about the subtle curves and, the tapers, and the graduated twists, that can only be achieved working at a red heat" she said.
Wendy Smith's card collection was creative and whimsical, her company is named "Send a Smile" because she said she believes that "when you send a card you send a smile."
Painter, writer and poet Gillian Grozier of Casspi Design, had wonderful watercolor illustrations for sale. She is represented by the Virginia Barrett Gallery in Greenwich, CT.
Morna Crites-Moore owner of the Wicked Waif, displayed many hand-crafted items made from bits of old textiles, sparkly jewels and metal. She describes her work as "meditative" and she loves to sew by hand. "Making things keeps me centered" she said.
There were many more artists to see, I've just named some of them here. We hope the Bethel Historical Society will hold more of these events soon, featuring such dedicated artists.
Yes, Bethel is a charming place.
