Winterfair
31st Annual Fine Art and Fine Craft Fair Returns with
Holiday Gifts Made in American Studios
November 27–29, 2009

(Covington, KY)— Winterfair, a juried fair of fine art and fine craft by approximately 200 artists from across the country, welcomes shoppers to the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington November 27–29. The convention center is just over the Roebling Suspension Bridge from Cincinnati, an easy drive from both sides of the river.

Featuring ceramics, glass, wearable art, jewelry, sculpture, painting and photography, Winterfair is an artists’ market where discerning shoppers will find everything from a beautiful painting for their office or home to a hand-carved wooden bowl for salads or snacks. Items range in price from as little as $15 to several thousand dollars.

Artists will be selling directly to customers, offering shoppers the opportunity to meet the artists and learn about how the work was made. Kentucky artist Amelia Stamps creates beautiful yet functional ceramics, while Michigan artist Linda Chamberlain paints elegant designs on wood panels. Mark Mowen of Ohio makes leather purses, wallets and briefcases, and Michigan artist Angela Welti incorporates precious stones, silver, gold and silk with 60 variations of knotting, sewing and wrapping to create her jewelry.

“Holiday shoppers will find unique gifts for family and friends at Winterfair,” commented Betty Talbott, artistic director of Ohio Designer Craftsmen, the organizers of the fair. “And for the more practical, these items are not only handcrafted, but many are useful as well. Here you can find everything from a ceramic mixing bowl to a leather purse, silk jacket, or a pair of earrings that you won’t find anywhere else.”

A special section of booths will feature artists from Tamarack of West Virginia, an artists’ center presenting fine craft by West Virginia makers, as well as artists from Kentucky Crafted: The Market. A Marketplace section on the second floor will offer gourmet treats for purchase. Out-of-town guests will find regional gourmet specialties to take home, such as specialty coffees both ground and whole bean from La Crema Coffee, homemade organic dog treats by Heidi’s Homemade, Inc., and peanut brittle from Leon’s Bewley Hollow Peanut Brittle.

This year’s fair hours cater to early-bird shoppers: Friday, November 27 and Saturday, November 28, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; and Sunday, November 29, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Admission: $7; children 12 and under are free. The convention center is a short walk from a number of fine restaurants and just minutes from Newport on the Levee, an entertainment complex featuring the Newport Aquarium, as well as restaurants and other entertainment outlets. For $1.25, patrons can take the South Bank Shuttle from the Convention Center to Newport, as well as into Cincinnati.

Winterfair is produced by Ohio Designer Craftsmen (ODC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of fine craft, and helping artists develop professional skills. ODC receives ongoing funding from the Greater Columbus Arts Council, Ohio Arts Council and the Columbus Foundation. Membership is open to both artists and craft enthusiasts. For further information on ODC, see our website www.ohiocraft.org.