Green Arts Marketplace
New for 2010- creators and vendors of products that reuse and recycle. Helping us all tread a little more lightly on our earth.
Artists
- Blue Moon Soap, Michelle K. Corbeil
- Broom Winder, Henry Tschetter
- Brown Joey Designs, Cori Thackery
- Cangles, Shannon Rose, Jewelry made from aluminum cans
- Carla Iansiti, bags from recycled food packaging
- Clamored, Jaclyn Dreyer
- Empty Nest, Lisa Portenga, typewriter jewelry
- Forest Concepts, Sara Jo Cash
- Jay Prosch-Jensen, metal sculpture
- The Little Craft Closet, Nichole Drysdale
- Mecca, Marcy Gruzien
- Recyclica: repurpose driven design, furniture from skiis
- Rewoven Designs
- Rico Oeste, recycled furniture
- Runaway Creations- recycled wine bottles
- Rocknrecycle Purses, recycled album covers
- Sarah Roemer- Hand Made, recycled pop tab purses
- Second Life Studio, Kate Hetzel
- Shrunk Woolery, Jessica
- Smittens, Susan Cappon
- Sweet Plum Vintage, Cara and Karen
- Tin Aviary, Zabby Cox
- Too Cool T-shirt Quilts, Andrea Funk
- Weird Sisters Fine Arts Studio, Robert Fitzke
Other Green Vendors
-Pisat Solar
-Smart Car
-Solar Circle
-Solar Works, LLC
The 2010 Festival will also feature a few favorite artists from years past.
Anshu Varma (Okemos, Michigan)
Meh'ndi (Henna painting) artist
Anshu Varma was born in north India and grew up in Calcutta and New Delhi. As a child she was fascinated by the tradition of meh'ndi, a paste of henna used to decorate the hands and feet with ornate patterns, the result being like a temporary tattoo. Greatly inspired by her mother's artistic creations meh'ndi, Anshu learned the art of meh'ndi, sometimes simply called henna, at home.
Henna plays an important role in maintaining cultural and traditional identity in India. The tradition in India is associated especially with wedding ceremonies where putting henna on the bride's palms and feet represents "dressing" the bride. It is, however, appropriate to be decorated with henna at all festive events. Being dressed in henna sets the celebratory mood of the community.
Today, Anshu is a master of the art. Now living in Michigan, she continues to teach the art of henna at public libraries statewide.She was a recipient of a Michigan Traditional Arts Apprenticeship award in 2002 and 2003. She is a regular participant at the Great Lakes Folk Festival where, for a small fee, she "dresses" visitors with meh'ndi, then generously donates these fees to the Michigan State University Museum to support the Great Lakes Folk Festival. Join her to get a fun henna tattoo*.
*unlike a traditional tattoo in which ink is inserted into the skin, henna makes a rust colored stain that stays on top of the skin and fades gradually.
Lula Williams (Detroit, Michigan)
Quilts
As a young child, Lula Williams occasionally helped her mother quilt by putting colors together and piecing. However, she only returned to quilting in the late 1970s when her young teenaged son encouraged her to take a course in it at his high school; she remembered her mother's techniques almost immediately and has been quilting ever since.
Lula has made more than 120 quilts and won numerous awards. Her work reflects many traditions . She is a needle worker keenly interested in the latest techniques and patterns; she is an African-American committed to conveying information about her heritage; she is a woman of faith who communicates her beliefs through her quilts; she is an individual proud to be an American. One series of her quilts using African cloth pays homage to Martin Luther King, Jr. Another series is of red, white, and blue fabric with designs of stars and stripes. A special quilt, her original "I Am" design, depicts the times Jesus utters "I am" in the Bible as well as the declarations of "I am" by African-American preachers in their sermons. She is perhaps best known for her baby quilts, of which she has made scores as gifts for family and friends.
Lula's excellent craftsmanship has won her invitations to participate in shows within the African-American community and beyond. In addition she has taught quilting for a number of years at the Evans Recreation Center on Detroit's northeast side, at the Michigan State Fair Senior Center, and at Detroit's Westside Tindal Recreation Center and readily assists those who seek her help. She has been recognized with awards of Michigan Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grants to teach her skills to other aspiring quilters in her community. In 1997 she was honored with a Michigan Heritage Award.
Plus more to come.
