What’s in it for me? (say the kids) Art is Smart!

Hopefully by now we have managed to get you really excited about the seasonal entertainment and the beautiful, locally handmade items that you can buy at Festival Fete’s Holiday Market in Garden City (on December 1st and 2nd), and you’re definitely planning to go. But don’t leave the kiddos home!  A Festival Fete Festival is a day for the whole family – which is especially nice at holiday time

Festival Fete’s non-profit, Art is Smart is an important part of each Festival Fete production and is a great opportunity for kids to support kids through activities such as the Creation Station and the Young Artists’ Booths. There are booths at the Holiday Market that have been awarded to kids in grades 1-12 to showcase and sell their art. In lieu of booth fees, the Young Artists donate 10% of their sales to support Art is Smart. My kids are looking forward to doing some of their own holiday shopping, and love to buy from other kids!

A Little Bird Origami Jewelry by Zoe

Art is Smart supports public school art teachers by donating funds to help them purchase supplies for their art classes. The money raised by Art is Smart at Festival Fete’s Holiday Market in Garden City will go directly to a Cranston, R.I. Art Teacher.  If you are an art teacher interested in requesting funding, please contact Jennifer Neuguth by email for more information. It’s a simple and straightforward process for raising and distributing funds. Art is Smart is based on pure passion for the arts, and supporting art education for children.

Paints for Johnston Elementary

Festival Fete continues to be a wealth of inspiration  for students in elementary Art classes in Johnston. Artwork by a child creates a memory of a lifetime and through Festival Fetes generous donations, students gain confidence and appreciation for art, and they are able to create works of art for the family to display and enjoy at home.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! – Dawn Forte, a teacher from Johnston Elementary.

Johnston Elementary Student Artwork – You’re welcome!

Everyone attending the festival is a contributor to the program, even if you don’t have young kids. For the Holiday Market in Garden City, there is a $3 suggested donation entrance fee. Other ways to help support Art is Smart are by making a cash donation, purchasing some really stylish Art is Smart merchandise such as t-shirts and mugs, or by participating in one of the projects for kids in the Creation Station that have a small fee (Beeswax Candle Making or Kite Stars/paper lanterns).

So yes, Art is Smart for the kids!

Check out our sponsor MOO for custom business cards, Mini cards, post cards and more!

Holiday Market Featured Artist: Honey Hive Handcrafts

Take a look at this picture. Do you see a delicious bakery treat? Think again – this is one of Laura Winward’s creations; a confection of color and wax blended with her careful hands into a candle!

Laura has had a passion for soap and candle making for many years and hopes to reach national distribution while keeping her hand in production. Like many artists, her dream is to be able to turn her craft into something she can do full time.  She got started in her business when she went to an art show and met someone who made their own bath and body products. She was intrigued, and interested in expanding her craft of making beeswax candles, so she bought the products and “was hooked on the spot”. Laura used her experience as a research scientist to develop her own unique approach to scent, color and design. “Much like artists who paint, we can all start with the same basic ingredients and come up with products that are completely unique to our own style. I’ve been selling (my products) around RI, MA and CT for better than a decade, and I haven’t seen anyone else doing bakery/food themed candles and bath products similar to mine.” says Winward.

Laura has managed to fuel her passion for her craft and channel it into several businesses – all while maintaining her “day job” as an environmental biologist. In addition to her candle and soap business, Honey Hive Handcrafts, she owns an artists’ co-operative store in Wakefield called Waves of Creation. Her store offers classes and parties for children and adults, and also features the work of other artists of all media, whom Laura considers her inspiration. She appreciates being a part of the soaping community (did you know that there is a Southern New England Soap Makers group?) that is very generous with their knowledge and expertise. When asked if there is a “fun fact” about her that we should know, it was no surprise to hear her say, “I’m addicted to cupcakes – the real ones!” because you can see the love in her creations.

Make sure to visit Laura’s booth at the Festival Fete Holiday Market on Dec. 1^st and 2^nd at Garden City Center to see these tempting candles. If you are an artist interested in participating in the Festival Fete’s Holiday Market, there are a few booth spaces left. Please visit www.festivalfete.com and click on the link for a vendor application.

 

A special thank you to one of our wonderful sponsors, Whole Foods Market of Garden City, Cranston.