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Connecting with artists

The Kootenay Studio Arts annual show and sale showcases local talent on December 5 and 6.
59847westernstarPR_KSAWinterShow-SaleHannahJarvis-Lingard
Kootenay Studio Arts at Selkirk College is hosting the annual KSA Winter Show & Sale at its downtown Nelson campus. One of the artists featured in the show will be Hannah Jarvis-Lingard who has been busy putting the finishing touches on some of the items that will be for sale on December 5 and 6.

The annual Kootenay Studio Arts (KSA) Winter Show & Sale is about more than just finding great treasures for under the tree. It’s about connecting with the artists and craftspeople that put their heart into the items they produce.

On December 5 and 6, Selkirk College is inviting the community to KSA’s downtown campus (606 Victoria Street) to browse and buy from the ultra-talented alumni and students who are taking part in the annual event.

The sale will feature 10 local artists from the disciplines of blacksmithing, ceramics, jewelry and textiles.

“I love it,” said KSA alumnae Erin Murphy, who will be set up with her Wobbly Pots ceramics. “When you send something to a store you don’t get to see who touches it or what their reaction is to it. I love markets, you get to chat with people, you get to see how people respond to it and they provide you feedback. It’s so cool to see someone respond to your work.”

Murphy will join fellow KSA alumni Kate Enewold (jewelry), Teyana Neufeld (textiles), Claire Wensveen (ceramics) and Hannah Jarvis-Lingard (ceramics). Current students featured in the show include Robyn Heney (textiles), Charles Harris (metal), Joshua Koss (metal), Stephen Huizenga (metal) and Georgia Suave (metal).

The talented mix of artists who have passed through the doors of KSA over the years is diverse and impressive. Those featured in the weekend show are a blend of craft fair veterans and rookies.

Hannah Jarvis-Lingard graduated from the Ceramics Program in 2013. The born-and-raised Nelsonite then took a year of academic courses at Selkirk College’s Castlegar Campus before returning to KSA this fall. Lured by the new Open Studio Program that offers working artists an opportunity to expand their knowledge and bolster their body of work, this will be Jarvis-Lingard’s first major craft fair as a working artist.

“I’m excited about it,” said Jarvis-Lingard who will have her line of attractive porcelain products for sale on the weekend. “It’s going to be cool to see how people react to the work I have been doing. I definitely have items that I feel more strongly about, but it will be interesting to see what people are attracted to. I’m proud of what I’ve worked on this semester and looking forward to showing it off.”

Murphy graduated from the Ceramics Program the same year as Jarvis-Lingard and dove directly into setting up her own home studio. Murphy was also intrigued by KSA’s new Open Studio Program and in the fall took advantage of the 10-month experimental learning opportunity.

“There is such a wealth of knowledge here with the instructors, the other students in the studio program and even the students just starting out,” said Murphy, who started her education at the Alberta College of Art & Design in Calgary before enrolling in KSA to get a more hands-on education. “Everybody comes from such a wide array of backgrounds and having that creative energy around gets you jazzed!”

Photo: Erin Murphy

Murphy describes her line of ceramics as “heavily decorated, brightly coloured and chaotic in a well-designed way.” Though she still has to hold down a part-time job to help pay the bills, she has been selling her work in stores and craft fairs for more than a year.

Sales are the ultimate goal of the Winter Show and Sale, but Murphy says she is looking forward to what the weekend will do to further her understanding of her craft.

“One really cool thing about the art community in Nelson is that people are really willing to share their information, share their knowledge on how they sell, what markets to go to, tips on how to set up your booth, things they have learned along the way,” said the 25-year-old. “So many people are willing to say something that will benefit your future.”

The sale runs on December 5 between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., and December 6 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Included in the event will be a showcase of work being done by current students.