By Erika Pokrivsak
Staff Writer

The ESU Student Art Association and the Madelon Powers Art Gallery are hosting a Holiday Craft Market, where ESU students, staff and local artisans will showcase their crafts and talents and have the unique pieces available for purchase.

The market opened Nov. 19, and will run through tomorrow Friday, Dec. 4.

The reception for the artists was held on Nov. 19 from 4-6 p.m.

Artists displayed their crafts for the opening night, allowing students and staff, friends, family and local community members to browse the show in search of special gifts and treasures.

There are a wide variety of crafts on display, from woodworking and sculpting to jewelry and greeting cards.

Upon entering the market, you are welcomed by Karen & Company’s greeting card display, created by ESU staff member Karen Raptakis.

Her exhibit includes photography work as well as custom notebooks with a variety of uses.

“The cards came to life after much prayer, hard work, late nights, early mornings and support from all my family and friends,” she notes on her website, sistathingcards.com.

The cards are printed with inspirational and encouraging sayings and images to share a unique feeling when sent to someone special.

As you continue around the market, you browse through handmade beaded jewelry and pendants created by Cindy Vojnovich, the supervisor of the Graphics Center at ESU, and crocheted items created by Sharon Lee, who works in the printing and duplication department in Rosenkrans Hall.

Other displays created by ESU staff include Maxine Ernst’s intricate, detailed woodcarving, including some festive craved and painted snowmen, and Debbie Wassel’s crochet pieces.

Christine Langlois’s homemade candy has flavors of Vanilla Caramel, Almond Toffee and Toffee Pretzel, and is packaged in small bags and arranged in baskets for display.

Exhibits also include work of local artists, such as Dichroic Glass Artistry created by Barbara Brock.

Her work includes fused glass plates and pendants, slumped bottle art and copper and sterling silver wire jewelry.

Her slumped bottle art features glass bottles with brands of Grey Goose and Svedka melted flat on their side, which function as decorative pieces.

Jeff Warner’s “stoneware” pottery exhibit displays both decorative and functional pieces such as pots, vases, mugs and bowls.

His work is also sold at The Village Crafter’s Gallery, the shop he owns with his wife Maryann.

Nancy Bohm’s work includes clay and pottery sculptures of fortune cookies in various colors, pendants with wirework, and larger decorative sculptures.

There are also exhibits of student work, such as Theresa Gehring’s jewelry and Chanel Riddick’s unique drawings and prints.

Evelyn Barone and the Student Art Association have a display of 3D printed jewelry and wooden laser cut tree ornaments in the shapes of snowflakes.

All of the work on display is available for purchase.

Proceeds will benefit the Student Art Association and the Madelon Powers Gallery.

The market’s remaining hours are today from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m

For questions regarding the Madelon Powers Gallery or the current exhibition, please call the Gallery at 570-422-3759 or email Joni Oye-Benintende, Gallery Director, at jbenintende@esu.edu.

Email Erika at:
epokrivsak@live.esu.edu