Excitement is building for The Dunstable Artisans, as new members have been juried into the group and show plans are well underway. The Dunstable Artisans boasts a membership of more than 30 artists and craftsmen, offering a variety of high quality art work to the public at their 17th annual show set for Oct. 21 and 22, at Groton North Middle School.
Two new members are jewelers Barbara Lester of Nashua, N.H., and Ritva Ojanen of Tyngsboro.
Barbara has developed a whimsical style of beaded jewelry. Some of the materials she works with are semiprecious stones, crystals, silver, polymer and dichroic glass. She refers to her style as "one of a kind wearable art."
Ritva has a background in ceramics and graphic design. Her jewelry is designed from PMC silver clay and beads, and color, texture, shape and proportion are important elements in her work.
In additional to creating fine art, jewelry, pottery, hand-woven baskets, sculpted wood and other types of craft items, many Artisans are involved in projects, exhibits and educational programs, which reflects the professional dedication and highly skilled nature of this exceptional group.
Ella Carlson of Dunstable is a digital photographer. She teaches digital photography at University of Massachusetts, Lowell, and Photoshop® for Photographers at the New Hampshire Institute of Art in Manchester. Ella was the featured artist for the month of April at the Winchester Library.
Alene Sirrot-Cope, a potter from Hollis, N.H., has a celebrity collector of her unique style of pottery. Nathan Baesel of ABC's "Invasion" owns two of Alene's handmade pieces, and his 4-year-old son has one of her gecko topped "Gem Jars.''
George Saridakis of Groton demonstrated the art of "Making a Pierced Lidded Turned Box" at the New England Woodturning Symposium at Pinkerton Academy in May. He's
an exhibitor at the Paradise City Arts Festival in Northampton, and a juried member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen.
For more information about this dynamic group, call Paula at 978-597-5464 or mpash123@comcast.net [1]. Visit www.dunstableartisans.org [2].