The Springfield Art Association opens its inaugural
Holiday Hall Exhibition and Sale this weekend. The event marks a departure
from the themes of past holiday exhibitions in favor of a fine-crafts sale
for shoppers. Typically SAA’s juried exhibits draw works from
artists all over the Midwest, but for the Holiday Hall, the SAA chose the
work of 21 local artists to display and sell. Few artists who showed
interest were turned away, but, says Amanda Lampert, curator of
collections, the works had to fit the specific criteria of fine crafts.
“I think this is a great opportunity for unique
holiday gifts,” Lampert says. “There are definitely a lot of
wearable arts and pieces for gift-giving.”
Fabric artist Joan Gardner, jewelry-maker Poppy
Vincent, and stained-glass artist Janet Seitz Carlson will have works on
display. Prices will range from a mere $10 to a pricey $300 for certain
pieces of jewelry. Seventy-four framed and matted vintage posters and
prints will be up for grabs as well. The sale runs through Dec. 17 and all items may be
taken home on the day they are purchased, so the artwork on display will
change over the course of the month. The artists get a pretty good deal
— 70 percent of the proceeds from the sale. The other 30 percent is
retained by the SAA. “The money that we make goes back into our
exhibit schedules because we always have our exhibits free and open to the
public,” Lampert says. In addition to the fine-crafts sale and exhibit
opening this weekend, the SAA grounds will be bustling with festive holiday
tours at Edwards Place, an early-19th-century mansion that’s
maintained by the SAA. These tours will be focused on Christmas customs. The SAA is optimistic that this year’s exhibit
and sale will go off without a hitch. “We’re calling this our
‘first annual’ Holiday Hall Exhibit and Sale, and we already
have it on the books for next year,” Lampert says.
The Holiday Hall Exhibition and Sale opens at 10 a.m.
Saturday, Nov. 19, and runs till 3 p.m.; light refreshments will be served
11 a.m.-1 p.m. The sale remains open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 10 a.m.-3
p.m. Sat. through Dec. 17. Edwards Place holiday tours are offered 11
a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 19; the cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children. The SAA
is located at 700 N. Fourth St. (217- 523-2631).
This article appears in Nov 10-16, 2005.
