Blue Island Holds Mai Fest 2022 Arts and Crafts Fair

Just in time for Mother’s Working day, craft fairs are coming again in a massive way with Mai Fest 2022 Arts and Crafts Honest.

This celebration will be held on Olde Western Avenue in Blue Island on Saturday, April 30, from 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. Eighty-eight artists and crafters are planning to participate as suppliers. They will be established up indoors at the Blue Island Beer Organization and outdoors in tents alongside Olde Western Avenue and on the patio of the Rock Island Public Dwelling.

The occasion is co-sponsored by the Blue Island Arts Alliance (BIAA) and the Streetz Artz Alliance (SAA).

In accordance to Joe Leamanczyk, head of the BIAA, the title “Mai Honest” was preferred to honor the German heritage of Blue Island, and the party represents the City of Blue Island coming again to life soon after the COVID pandemic.

The BIAA has quite a few targets with the function, said Leamanczyk.

“We want folks to see there is a creative group listed here, and we want to preserve building and supporting that neighborhood. We hope to make this an once-a-year signature celebration. We also want to convey consciousness to the corporations in Blue Island. The City of Blue Island has been great to do the job with for Mai Fest,” mentioned Leamanczyk.

John Streetz is the head of the SAA and is the organizer and supervisor of the party. He is a crafter himself, producing pop-art-themed objects from perler beads by means of his business enterprise Bead Streetz. Streetz is also a lover of craft beers, and it was offering his goods at functions in breweries that gave him the notion to sort the Streetz Artz Alliance and to technique breweries to keep additional of these events.

The SAA has developed to just about 3 hundred members, all hand crafters, and many shows are now held in the course of the yr in the Chicago space – there ended up 4 in April by yourself.

“The objective is to advocate for the artists and the breweries. It really is about hand crafters, and it is about persons coming out and possessing a superior time,” explained Streetz.

For their aspect, the sellers are joyful that the in-person craft fairs are returning.

A single vendor who feels this way is Dee Castro, who calls her company Boothy Chicago, and will supply t-shirts and canvas luggage with handmade, exceptional types, and barrettes, bracelets and necklaces built from resin and acrylic at the Blue Island reasonable.

“Anyone is enthusiastic about acquiring out and executing items once again,” stated Castro, “and what a fantastic way to do it, celebrating artwork and community. Items are slowly but surely coming back again and it truly is wonderful to see. It really is an honor to be element of it, and I glimpse ahead to it.”

Quite a few of these crafters and artists rely at minimum in section on the revenue from marketing their handiwork, and numerous saw a downturn all through the pandemic. While some were equipped to count on Net or retail outlet profits, this was not a feasible possibility for anyone.

For Katherine Einhorn of Reflections with Kate, who creates 3-D artwork on canvas employing modeling pastes and paints, and also provides gemstone goods, massive and tiny handsewn fabric bags, and artwork designed by pyrography, a burning approach on wood to make products like earrings and plaques with sayings, the in-human being shows are the ideal way to go.

“Providing on the online has not worked for me simply because persons will need to see my work in particular person. It’s three-dimensional. I am pretty tactile, and when men and women walk into my tent, I say, ‘Touch it, get the job done with it, choose it up.’ My stuff is intended to be taken care of, and I appreciate chatting to people,” said Einhorn.

Likewise for Nicole Burns of NiBu Design and style, recognised for her baggage and other items produced from classic, repurposed materials, as well as her “very little critters.” At this show, she will also be premiering her back garden-themed images.

“In-human being call is quite important so individuals can basically knowledge your art and the specifics of your craftsmanship. Images online simply cannot seize this as very well,” stated Burns, who pointed out that despite the fact that a larger and broader viewers might be achieved by providing online, shipping and other charges and concerns also have to be considered.

Susan Larsen of Susan Larsen Design has been providing her good art jewelry for 20 years at art exhibits. She performs in sterling silver and copper, and mixes in other components like gemstones, wood, and pearls.

To Larsen, who does not however promote on the World wide web, “There is practically nothing like the in-person shows, staying in a position to discuss to people today, to examine how you produced the product and your influences. I’ve actually skipped that and I’m keen to get out this summertime and participate in the shows.”

Yet another gain for the vendors is that the conversation among the artists that goes on at the exhibits sales opportunities to supplemental chances. This passes down to the customers in the kind of improved availability of and new products from their most loved crafters.

Attractive Ortiz of Lovely’s Magickal Treasures, who will be displaying wire-wrapped jewelry making use of crystals and stones, and intentional brooms and wreaths, that is, things with messages or intentions incorporated on them, figured out about the Streetz Artz Alliance by means of a different seller.

“I’m tremendous enthusiastic to participate in this present. The networking is incredibly significant. It will help you mature as an artist, moreover I get referrals from other vendors at the exhibit,” claimed Ortiz.

Olde Western Avenue will be shut from Broadway to Canal Streets for the Mai Fest. There won’t be any foodstuff vans due to the fact guests are encouraged to pay a visit to Blue Island’s food stuff and beverage institutions. Inclement weather conditions could induce variations to the programs.

Mai Fest is absolutely free to the community, but a donation of $5 will be appreciated by the BIAA to enable with other programming for the calendar year.

The subsequent is the listing of vendors scheduled to be at the event. There is guaranteed to be some thing to remember to everybody.

ABasqueArtist

Adara Selene Creations

AngMir Hecho con Cariño

Aqueos Creations

Art by Devan

Aubrey’s Attic

AWE Sauce / Comics

Axial Creations

Bella attractiveness

Belonio Doodles

Beverlycraftco

BoothyChicago

Canal Woodturning

Castillo & Co. Jewelry

Cats, Crafts & Cooking

Ceramics by Leo

ChiCityCrafts

Cositas de Clay

Decor Candles

DESSERTS FLORES

Dive Bar Soap Company

Dk tailor made woodwork

Dust Bunny Mafia

EncinoMane Publications

Fine-A-Lea

Fleeting Obsessions

FrankenWerks Studios

Galaxy Skincare

Gary Cost, Artist

Gigawatt Coffee Roasters

HeadCase Studio

Heidy’s Krafts

I tumble for you

Intuitive Visions

Jason Michael West art

John Tamulis Artwork

Jonathan Grimm Art

k cute creations

KP’s Candy Manufacturing unit

Laura Lynne Artwork, LLC

LeonMechelle Artist Studios

Libra Growing By Yoali

Small Really like Affairs Boutique

Lovely’s Magickal Treasures

Luna’s Loops

Madame Soto

Mejor Sana Shop

Moonlight BEEN

MrAntihero

NiBu Style

OG Outfits LLC

Owl Bee Imaginative Studio

Pastry Sue Sue

Penca De Nopal

Phoenix Rising Art

Rabbit Gap of Exploration

Raven Feathers and Bat Wings

Rebel Ice Cream Co.

Reflections with Kate

Reisha Rhapsodies

Rocco bee Collective

Rosemarys31Treasures

Ruta Spencer

Sage & Sunflowers Crystal Kitchen area

SamanthaPaintsOften

ScarabSanctuary

Scary TERRI’S CRAFTS

Self Built Body & Soul

Sid Sauce

Sir Winslow’s Zoo

Smelly Melly Soaps and Candles, LLC

South Facet Pod

Spliff Society

Stray Cats

Susan Larsen Structure

Susanscraftstudio

Tarot by Ptah

Tasty Pickles

The Classics Pomade Co

The Smile On A Pet dog, LLC

The Waxy Lab

This Skip Bakes

Tiendita Recuerdos de Patzcuaro

Special Creations by Rachel

Ursula Naturals

Classic Stems

Eyesight Garments Co

Z’inked Beautiful Layouts