Vendors Travel Far for Highly Regarded Art Show in West Bloomfield

For jewelry designer Stacy Givon, the in West Bloomfield is one of many stops on an art show tour of the United States.

Givon and her husband, Dan, travel from Jerusalem twice a year for two to three months at a time to sell her one-of-a-kind silver and gold rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces and brooches. They visit shows in Chicago, New York, and several in Michigan. This is Givon's second year at the show.

"This show was very good to us last year," said Givon. "That's why we're back."

Givon combines sterling silver and 24-karat gold vermeil to create a timeless design, giving pieces texture by hammering or brushing different sections.

"A painter has all different colors to work with," she said. "I only have silver and gold, but the two of them together combined with texture give it so much depth that people don't see otherwise."

Givon and her husband found the temperatures at the show's opening day on Friday, topping out around 90 degrees, to be a relief from the Ann Arbor Street Fair, where they set up shop last week. Givon said that the booth then was 117 degrees inside, and sales were down as a result.

"We're hoping the break in the extreme heat will bring people out today," said Givon.

Melvin McGee, a contemporary painter from Green Bay, WI, made a good number of sales within a couple hours of the West Bloomfield show's opening at 5 p.m. This is his first year at the show.

"I got something in the mail about it and decided to apply," McGee said. "I did the Ann Arbor show last week."

McGee grew up on a dairy farm and was drawn to art in his early 20s.  Now he's a full-time artist and serves in the Marine Reserves.

"When I started to paint, I loved being able to think for myself and use my mind, my imagination," he said. "Art is limitless when you let your mind go."

Ron Loy and his wife, Susan, set up their calligraphy booth at the West Bloomfield show after visiting other Michigan art fairs. They live in Moneta, VA.

"This time of year, artists come to Michigan," said Loy. "Michigan people like handmade things with real craftsmanship."

His wife's background in literature, art history, and photography led to her unique "literary calligraphy" that features poems and quotations from writers such as William Shakespeare and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, as well as well-known prayers and the U.S. Constitution.

"We wouldn't come (to the show) if it weren't worthwhile," Loy said.  "It's part of our Michigan tour."

The art show runs Saturday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. in the West Bloomfield Plaza, 6668 Orchard Lake Rd. The suggested donation is $5.