Getting right to the main details, the Corvallis Fall Festival returns to Central Park this Saturday, September 26, from 10 - 6pm, and Sunday, from 10 - 5pm. Admission is free. There is also a Saturday Night Street Dance, which will keep the music going from 6pm to 9:30pm.
(Photo: www.corvallisfallfestival.org)
170+ art booths will paint Central Park this year with a dash of everything from ceramics, paintings, prints, photography, jewelry, glasswork, textiles, woodwork, and other creations.
There will also be two entertainment stages, food and drink vendors, children’s activities in the Art Discovery Zone, and a marketplace where artists ages 8 to 18 can sell their own work.
Corvallis aquatic ecologist Emma Svatos created the block print that was selected as the festival’s official poster this year. Svatos began printmaking in college and later discovered that art could help her communicate scientific subjects. Her festival poster depicts what she described as a collection of “small, magical local moments.” She can be found at booth 65 under the name ShyMinnow.
Another local artist to look at under a magnifying glass is Jennifer Ivory of Insectworks. Ivory makes realistic looking butterflies, beetles, dragonflies, and other insects from paper, film, ink, and acrylic paint. Each insect is drawn, painted, cut, shaped, and sealed through a process that can involve as many as 17 steps.
Her goal is not to trick patrons of her booth into thinking the insects are real, although she says that reaction is “particularly satisfying.” She also hopes the work will encourage greater appreciation and conservation of the insects on which ecosystems depend. She will be occupying booths 125 and 126.
Daria Tessler’s work at booth 111 will take visitors into a much less realistic world. Born in Finland and raised in California, Tessler studied both mathematics and printmaking before developing Animalsleep, a collection of silkscreen art, illustrations, books, and comics.
In Tessler’s world, eels may drive hot rods, gardens grow from strange structures, and entire towns appear to float through space.
At booth 115, Hui-Yong Kim of Galaxy Clay molds together several ceramic traditions. Kim was born in South Korea and trained under Master Chuan Siang Boon in Singapore. Her wheel-thrown pottery combines the balanced forms associated with traditional Asian ceramics with a dash of spontaneous American influence.
Kim’s work includes raku pottery, decorative vessels, urns, and miniatures.
For people who see landscapes through maps (talking to you Strava users), you might want to check out Ian Petersen’s booth. Petersen founded Map Your Adventure, creating detailed topographic pieces all based on mountains, rivers, watersheds, ski areas, and hiking routes.
Petersen also produces commissioned maps based on personal journeys… no, not those kind… we wish… but what a great way to save a memory from one of those long hiking or biking adventures.
Booth 98 is a monster. Catherine Call’s Artsplosion Studio booth, is populated by colorful handmade monsters. Her creations include mushroom creatures (which we’ll leave open to interpretation), crystal-covered beasts, grumpy monsters sitting on stumps, and one suspicious character checking the freshness of doughnut frosting.
Call describes the studio’s purpose simply as “happy art for everyone.”
The festival’s complete artist directory includes participating artists, categories, booth numbers, and links to their individual websites.
This article was written by K. Hewlitt at The Corvallis Inquirer. Feel free to send us your stories or articles to publish at: editor@corvallisnow.com
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