ESM craft and gift fair

April’s chill and cloudy weather could not dampen ESM Art Society advisor and teacher Michele Monstadt’s enthusiasm, nor slow the steady stream of visitors to the craft and gift fair held at ESM High School April 5.

Now in its second year, the fair featured a beautiful array of ceramics, food, jewelry, textiles and more created by local crafters whose participation was secured through numerous announcements seeking vendors on Facebook, flyers, through student outreach, as well as 24 double-sided signs donated by Sign Design to help promote the event. Despite the many demands on her time, she also continues to do her own work as a potter, and believes in the power of art to help shape community.

Monstadt’s personal love of crafts fairs, as well as her belief that art should be part of communities, led her to pitch the idea of the crafts and gift fair to ESM art society as a perfect fundraising opportunity.  Through motivational meetings with its members, the group helped plan and set up the fair. Throughout the schoolyear, they also paint windows, post chalk walk affirmations, help with school projects like the PTA projects for elementary schools where they paint pumpkins, decorate for holiday parties, and help out at meetings to free parents so they can more easily participate. And who could fail to notice how a series of brightly colored original designs outside are daily reminders of the importance of art in our lives?

Months in the planning, the event was clearly a success and brought a sense of accomplishment and joy to everyone concerned.