December 14, 2023 | ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT | By Michaela Ocko
Strolling through the garland-framed archway in the basement of Worner Campus Center, I am surrounded by over 50 unique craft booths manned by students and community members. Hand-drawn stickers, dog leashes woven from climbing ropes and dainty silver earrings were just a few of the many booths that caught my eye at the Arts & Crafts Fair on Dec. 8.
The Arts & Crafts Fair, hosted by Colorado College’s Arts & Crafts program, has given local residents a chance to see and buy student art for more than 20 years. There were about 90 exhibits, 44 from students, Rebecca Parker, the fair director, said.
The diversity in booths enabled attendees to purchase crafts from many different art mediums such as paintings, prints, ceramics, crochet, jewelry and more. Each year brings different student artists the opportunity to sell their creations, ensuring a variety of products.
Not every CC student who participates in the fair studies art or design. In fact, most of them are self-taught artists. Ady Bolinger ’26 learned how to make jewelry from her friend in high school. In the beginning of her artistic journey Bolinger said she wasn’t confident in her ability to do “traditional mediums” of art such as painting or drawing. But once she discovered jewelry making as a creative outlet, she began sharing and selling her creations with others.
Her booth included silver earrings with dainty charms and colorful beads. Bolinger first began selling her jewelry in the fair last year on a “whim.” She said that her first experience was a wonderful one, and so this year she decided to create more jewelry to sell.
The Arts & Crafts Fair is an amazing opportunity for CC students to display their art, but it is also a chance for student artists to see the art of others, introducing them to a range of talent and interests of peers and community members.
Bolinger said she is able to collect crafts that she could never do herself. Along with the range of crafts, the collaboration with local community members allows students to understand what the professional life of an artist entails and the importance of sustainable art. She uses old paint cards from Lowes and Home Depot as packaging for her jewelry. While this is only Bolinger’s second year participating, she is incredibly excited to return next year to continue selling her jewelry.
The students at the fair received a total of over $17,000 for their art, Parker said. A highlight of the event for Parker was being able to witness the trajectory of the students’ work, from the initial idea to the final product.
The Arts & Crafts Fair is a beloved event here at CC. Students and community members alike come together to share their beautiful art with others. The fair enables students to explore their own artistic outlets, even ones that may seem “nontraditional.” But like Bolinger, we all need to find ways in which we can discover our artistic outlets, because creativity is in all of us.