Mary Coover of Ashfield, Pa. was amongst 60 exhibiting artists at the tenth annual
Bloomsbury Fine Art and Fine Craft Festival held this past weekend. The two-day juried
festival provides funding for the cultural art programs at the Bloomsbury Elementary School.
Photo by Dominic Serrao.
By Dominic Serrao/Examiner
BLOOMSBURY, N.J. – Steady rains on Sunday kept the crowds small but did little to dampen the spirits of those attending the tenth annual Bloomsbury Fine Art and Craft Festival held on Main Street in Bloomsbury. The two-day juried event held on September 26 and 27 featured works of over sixty exhibiting artists primarily from New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Festival co-director Lisa Arlotto said the weather definitely had an impact and the crowds were much better on Saturday as compared to Sunday. She added, “The show went well despite the rain.”
The event, featuring paintings, photography, jewelry, ceramics, mixed media and wood, provides funding for the cultural art programs at the Bloomsbury Elementary School. Arlotto, who is also a school teacher said, “It is a wonderful benefit for our school and the parents, teachers, board and administration all work hard to make this event a success.”
“What an amazing little school they have,” said Mary Coover of Ashfield, Pa., a sculpture artist who exhibited clay creatures and whimsical art pottery. Coover said the school reminds her of the red brick one room school houses that she attended as a child in Lehigh Township in the 1950's.
“Bloomsbury is a great place for an art and craft festival, “ said Coover. People strolled along tree-lined Main Street in this town-wide event which also featured musical entertainment on one end and an area for children’s activities on the other. Coover said that the people who came were great to talk to and asked lots of questions about hand building techniques and how she built and fired her kiln. “I'm always gratified to see children enjoy my sculptures as well,” she said.
The festival also featured artwork created by students at the Hunterdon Developmental Center, a state residential facility serving developmentally, physically and/or mentally disabled individuals of all ages. The fine arts department at the center encourages students to experience all forms of the arts in a therapeutic atmosphere while enhancing self-esteem and personal growth.
Isa Kollgaard of Nazareth, Pa., exhibited her unique collection of hand painted artworks. “The event was a great opportunity to spread the word about my murals,” said Kollgaard, whose specialization is a blending of soft and vibrant acrylics for various styles of paintings and murals.
She added, “I’ll definitely be back next year.”
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