Three shows return with live events
The Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale took place Sept. 9-12 at the Snow King Events Center in Jackson Hole, Wyo. The annual event showcases Western-inspired, hand-crafted functional art and brings together craftspeople, collectors, architects, interior and fashion designers with a passion for the West. It operated as a virtual show in 2020.
Allison Merritt, the show’s executive director, says the 2021 selection committee accepted a record number of artists eager to unveil new works and trends in furniture, fashion, jewelry, accessories and interior design.
“We had a great show, back live and in person,” says Merritt. “Roughly 40 percent of the show is woodworking or mixed media with wood, metal and other mediums. We limit the show to 100 or less juried exhibitors per year in our 28,000 square foot location at the Snow King Center.”
Table by Lake AntlerWorks at Western Design; work by Paradise City exhibitors Bayley Wharton and Scott Sober.
The event opened with a preview party on Sept. 9 that included a live runway fashion show where models showcased handmade jackets, wraps, clothing, custom boots and other wares available for purchase. In the following three days, attendees explored five rooms in the Designer Show House while interacting with artists.
The 2022 show is scheduled for Sept. 8-11.
For more, visit westerndesignconference.com.
A doubleheader
The Paradise City Arts Festivals resumed with two live shows last fall, Oct. 9-11 at the Three County Fairgrounds in Northampton, Mass., and Nov. 19-21 at the Royal Plaza Trade Center in Marlborough, Mass.
The 27th annual Northampton show featured 220 juried artists exhibiting original works in furniture, painting, decorative fiber, mixed media and more. The Marlborough show featured 175 juried artists and makers.
“There was a total of 21 woodworkers and 17 furniture makers who work in wood counted as individual exhibitors. This doesn’t double count artists who participated in both shows. About half of them did both shows,” says Linda Post, the shows’ founding director.
Three pieces at Western Design — Secret Spirits, Porta De Soul and Wild Blue — from MosArt Furniture in New Market, Md.
For more, visit paradisecityarts.com.
This article was originally published in the February 2022 issue.
