Northern Michigan Events: Step one is to most certainly find just the right wine from one of the 25+ wineries pouring under the tent and fill your glass. Then meander out towards the main stage and listen to the music. And finally, turn your eyes to brightly stocked tents scattered about carnival style, filled with art of all kinds. The Traverse City Wine & Art Festival will once again delight all your senses treating your eyes to a long list of 30 sculptors, painters, weavers, potters and glass blowers. And for our MyNorth Style reader, you'll be delighted to learn that you can purchase wearable art from Northern Michigan's best crafters of jewelry, clothing, accessories and even custom shoes.
You can get a taste of things to come and toast the artists at the April 5th First Friday in the Mercato in Building 50 at the Grand Traverse Commons. The reception begins at 5:30 pm and will feature free tasting of wines from Festival wineries and some great prizes.
Here's a look at some of the expected handiwork:
Sue Swain, Leather Artist
Out of Eastport, Michigan, Sue crafts shoes and boots that are a reflection of the customer's personal expression. Each shoe is made to order and customers pick colors, leathers and styles. Sue's shoes, produced under the company name Toe Togs, are expected to wear out their soles and be resoled repeatedly, to last with care, like a a good friend.
Yana Dee, Fiber Artist
Yana grew up on Northern Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula with an overwhelming desire to create, a well-stocked dress-up barrel, an assortment of dolls, sisters and roller skates. Discovering the fiber studio at Finlandia University led to textile designs that felt very natural and accessible. Now 10,000 yards of material later she creates accessible, unique and beautiful items for everyday.
Others to expect:
- Kathy Anderson, Painting ?
- Tony Reynolds, Wood ?
- Brennan Ware, Painting ?
- Mark Middleton, Painting
- ?Yana Dee, Fiber ?
- Julie and Youngman Chai, Clay ?
- Leif Spork, Clay ?
- Sue Swain, Leather (shoes)
- ?Dawn Thomas, Jewelry ?
- Sheryl Langdon, Jewelry ?
- Michelle Hart Jahraus, Painting ?
- Elizabeth Saile, Jewelry ?
- Blaise Peluso, Alabaster ?
- Troy and Sharra Cook, Copper ?
- Geoffrey Vale Brown, Photography ?
- Craig Irish, Furniture ?
- Nova Mackentley & Chris Neri, Photography ?
- Brian McKelvey, Ink drawings ?
- Mark McDonough, Metal ?
- Debra Sanborn, Painting ?
- Shannon Schmidt, Painting ?
- Megan Kellogg, Terrariums ?
- Rowan Leithauser, Fiber ?
- Shawn Malone, Photography ?
- Mary Lou Babich, Fiber ?
- Sandra Plaga, Jewelry/ purses
Plein Air Artists
- Lisa Flahive ?
- Margie Guyot ?
- Dawn Russell ?
- Lisa Perrine Brown
Freestanding Art
- Paul Varga, Sculpture ?
- Kirk Rowe, Weaving