The Alamance Artisans Guild hosted its annual Art Extravaganza at the Inn at Elon University. The free art show gave 21 local Alamance County artists the opportunity to display their artwork to the community. The festival took place Oct. 28 and 29 and was Elon’s first time hosting the event.
Cindy Biles, an artisan who founded her sculptures and hypoallergenic jewelry business called Out of Fire, said her artistry journey started at Elon when she signed up for a pottery and ceramics class. Her career was in the science field, but said she was always interested in art. She said that she has been a part of the Art Extravaganza since the beginning.
“I came in very soon after they started,” Biles said. “It started as a studio tour where people could come to our individual studios.”
Biles said people were saying they wanted to see the artists in one place, so Alamance Artisans decided to make an art show under one roof.
Rita and James Duxbury own a woodturning business called Elegant Creations. Rita said they take wood from all over the world and turn it into different gadgets and gizmos, such as kaleidoscopes.
“All of these artists live in Alamance county and I think people don’t realize how talented some people in the county are. We have potters, we have weavers, we have painters and pastel people,” Rita said.
The Duxbury’s have participated in the Art Extravaganza for six years. Rita said she thinks events like these give artists good exposure and she loves having the opportunity to meet new people.
Martha Sink, an artist who makes colorful pottery for her business called Inspired Artifacts, said this is her fifth time participating in the show. She said she loves how people can come and appreciate the art.
“It’s nice to meet new people and … a lot of times people will ask about the process and that’s nice to be able to show people what goes into it,” Sink said.
Sink said the process in making her pottery and ceramics involves multiple steps of firing her medium, letting it dry, painting, glazing and more. She said she fires her pottery up to 2200 degrees.
Rita said she hopes the festival is able to use the inn again for next year’s art extravaganza. She said next year she would love for more students to come and see the art.
“We love it. We love meeting new people,” Rita said. “We have met some wonderful people from the college and then we’ve met people that come to the event every year.”