N.C. State’s Crafts Center hosted the 29th-Annual Holiday Fair and Sale in Thompson Hall Saturday to showcase artists from the campus community and the Raleigh area.
Artists and volunteers worked to create unique displays of craftsmanship using a variety of techniques, including woodworking, pottery, jewelry making and quilting.
Attendees entered the Crafts Center and were immediately surrounded by holiday décor, and Zuska Dieck, a senior in food science, greeted the visitors.
Dieck usually works at the Crafts Center front desk and volunteered as a greeter for the fair. As a third-year veteran of the event, Dieck said she cares deeply about each of the exhibits.
“The Crafts Fair is an opportunity for all of our local artists, people who come to the Crafts Center or are affiliated with any guild in the area, like the Triangle Potters Guild, to come show their wares,” Dieck said.
The vendors set up their tables throughout the classroom, which was full of Christmas trees and holiday decorations.
“It’s a great place to get your Christmas shopping done, it supports local artists, and the local economy and it’s a lot of fun,” Dieck said.
Barbara McGeachy, a Raleigh resident, began basket weaving in 1997 and has been selling her artwork at the Crafts Fair since 2000.
“From a craftsperson point of view, I feel like the customers who come here know what they’re going to see, and they’re interested in local, handmade crafts,” McGeachy said.
Like many other artists involved in the event, McGeachy has a true appreciation for the crafting community on campus.
“I’ve been to other sales, like at the fairgrounds and at the State Farmers Market,” McGeachy said. “The people there are not aware that the products are handmade locally… they are more interested in the price. The customers here appreciate the crafts.”
Some of the artists featured at the Craft Fair also currently teach at N.C. State’s Crafts Center.
Danene Groenke teaches a fused glass class on campus and has been working on her craft for eight years.
“I do this as a hobby,” Groenke said. “It’s primarily a stress reliever for me. I work in a very technical field for my day job, and it’s a nice outlet.”
Groenke said the Crafts Fair is always a great opportunity to communicate with customers and fellow artists.
“I enjoy getting feedback on pieces and finding out what people like and what there is interest in,” Groenke said. “It’s also great because I can get rid of some things in my inventory to make more room.”
Laura Azzi is also a Crafts Center teacher and artist. Azzi said she has been showcasing her work since 2009. Since starting out as a pen and ink artist, she said she now primarily emphasizes watercolor and teaches classes in both areas.
“I just think the people are awesome,” Azzi said. “It’s such a great setup. You feel like people are coming to a location to look as opposed to just passing by and happening to see you.”
In addition to her traditional watercolor artwork, Azzi is offering workshops in painting pet portraits to N.C. State students.
There was no shortage of one-of-a-kind art pieces featured at the Crafts Fair.
For example, Katrina Morocco, a member of both the Triangle Art Quilters and Fiber Arts Guild, showcased her “Cutie Patootie Wallhangers” quilt selection.
In addition to the many vendors, attendees viewed demonstrations in pottery making, woodturning and green screen photos.
“If you walk around here you just feel a really good energy because people are happy to be here,” Dieck said.
