Greenbelt Art and Craft Fair Showcases Local Artists, Non-Profits

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Saturday, December 2, 10 am - 5 pm and Sunday, December 3, 10 am - 4 pm. Greenbelt Community Center, 15 Crescent Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20770, Ph. 301-397-2208 Sponsored by: Greenbelt Recreation Department Arts Program The Greenbelt Recreation Department Arts Program’s 2017 Festival of Lights Juried Art and Craft Fair promises an impressive array of hand-made wares by local artisans, plus a hands-on workshop, prize drawing, live music, open studios and more. This event takes place at the Greenbelt Community Center located at 15 Crescent Road on Saturday and Sunday, December 2 and 3. Parking and admission are free. Saturday hours are 10am-5pm and Sunday hours are 10am-4pm. The Art and Craft Fair will showcase the talents of about 75 regional artists, artisans and authors. Visitors will find beautiful and useful gifts for all occasions. A wide selection of functional pottery and ceramic art will be presented by the Center’s Artists in Residence, instructors, Greenbelt Pottery Group members and other participants in the Recreation Department’s robust ceramics program. Additional wares will include clothing, accessories, jewelry, toys, paintings, photography, housewares, bath and body products, books by local authors and more. Roughly one third of the exhibitors participating this year will be new to the fair. Among the highlights, internationally-exhibited “visionary artist” Brian Dowdall will present his lively panoply of animal spirits painted on recycled cardboard. Greenbelter Damien Ossi and fellow members of the DC Area Spoon and Woodenware Carvers will offer a variety of beautiful bowls and utensils for the kitchen and table. Martina Sestakova will have colorful, hand-made scarves using textiles which she designed based on her own paintings and photography. Also new this year, Kate Thomas will offer seated massage. Three non-profit organizations will enable shoppers to extend their holiday cheer to the broader community. Gift cards, memberships, mugs and t-shirts will be available from Friends of Greenbelt Theatre which operates the city’s historic cinema in Roosevelt Center. Friends of the Greenbelt Museum, which sponsors free local history programs throughout the year, will offer a delightful array of wares with vintage flair in addition to Museum memberships. The Greenbelt Arts Center (GAC) will operate a café during all fair hours, with vegetarian options available; GAC is a black box community theater with an ambitious annual calendar of in-house and guest productions for audiences of all ages. On Saturday, December 2, enjoy performances by the Eleanor Roosevelt High School Dixieland Band and other ERHS musical ensembles from 2:30 – 4:30pm. Also on Saturday, enter a drawing to win $50 in Art Bucks to spend at the Art and Craft Fair by voting for your favorite artisan in each of the show’s five rooms on the first and third floors. Entry forms will be available at the Recreation Department Arts Program table in the gymnasium, in front of the stage. The winner of the drawing will be contacted on Saturday evening and will have all day on Sunday to shop. Special activities on Sunday will include a free craft workshop from 1-3pm in which guests can make lanterns with artist Amanda Demos Larsen. From 1:30 – 3:30pm, enjoy a lively klezmer concert with Seth Kibel and Friends. From 1-4pm, enjoy a studio open house and sale with the Greenbelt Community Center’s Artists in Residence. Just a short walk from the Community Center, the Greenbelt Farmers Market will host their annual outdoor Holiday Market from 10am – 2pm. The Art and Craft Fair does not currently have any openings for additional vendors. Local artisans and authors are welcome to apply online for the show’s waitlist. Application links are provided at www.greenbeltmd.gov/arts. For additional arts program information, follow Greenbelt Recreation ARTS on Facebook or call 301-397-2208.