The Daily Mining Gazette - Published: Saturday, November 03, 2007 Print Article | Close Window Artist set to shine CAPTION: Courtesy Photo This photo shows a piece of art created one of the artists who will have pieces in the Keweenaw Art Affair Nov. 10. Admission is free. Keweenaw Art Affair to be held Nov. 10 in Houghton By Kelly Fosness DMG Writer HOUGHTON — Local watercolorist, Mary Ann Beckwith says she’s not planning on leaving the Keweenaw Art Affair empty handed. “I’m looking forward to shopping for the holidays,” she said of the upcoming fine arts and crafts show. Beckwith is one of more than 40 feature artists exhibiting work in the second annual Keweenaw Art Affair which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Houghton High School gym. The juried show is will feature a mix of media including ceramics, stained glass, dried flowers, paintings, baskets, woodwork, photography, fiber arts, glassware and more. “We try and get a good mix of media,” said Ronda Bogan, chairperson of the Keweenaw Art Affair committee. “It’s really a mishmash of media.” Like Beckwith, Bogan, too, says the fine arts and crafts show is the perfect place to jumpstart their holiday shopping. “If people want to come out and do their Christmas shopping, this is the place to do it because there is such a variety,” she added. Several new artists will be exhibiting work at the Keweenaw Art Affair, and a number of artists who participated last year will be returning. Bogan said each year they like to feature two or three artists . This year it’s locals Kathleen DeLisle and Bill Wiard. DeLile is most noted for creating one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces inspired by nature. She incorporates dichotic glass, natural stone, sterling silver and 14-karat gold into her designs. Wiard creates turning wood pieces using a lathe, occasionally incorporating natural stone and metal inlay. Bill Wiard’s wife, Edith, will be exhibiting watercolor paintings and paper collages in the art affair as well. “What we’re striving for in the group is fine art and fine crafts,” Edith said. “Last year was an amazing success. Everything sort of fell together the way we had planned. I think that people went home with very fine art and Christmas presents.” In addition to local talent coming from as far as Copper Harbor and Baraga, Edith said artists from the midwest states will also be participating. “So it’s not just local artists,” she said. “They’re coming from all over.” Beckwith, who is a professor in the fine arts department at Michigan Technological University, said she believes in bringing art and people together. “I’ve been a teacher for so long and I’ve been able to share my love of art with the students as well as bring it into the community,” she said. “To have art available for the people is very important.” Beckwith will be exhibiting some of her abstract watercolor paintings along with some scenes of the Keweenaw. For Beckwith, the Keweenaw Art Affair gives her the opportunity to not only shop for loved ones, but mingle with other artists. “I look forward to seeing the work of other artists,” she said. “It’s a beautifully organized show. The people in the city of Houghton and Hancock have asked for a show like this for a very long time so we brought it back.” Last year, Beckwith said she left the show with toys for her grandkids, jewelry for her daughter-in-law, a painting for her husband, a piece of wood work for her son and a couple garden display pieces for herself. “There’s some really neat things and that’s always fun,” she said. “They’re the kinds of gifts you can’t buy in the store so it’s a great day for the artists as well.” Kelly Fosness can be reached at kfosness@mininggazette.com