Group offers home for artists, craftsmen
<p>Carolyn Snyder demonstrates how she makes her beads on Thursday, June 20, at her home in Kalispell. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Carolyn Snyder is adding a new addition to her collection — hanging plants decorated with strands of beads. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Carolyn Snyder is adding a new addition to her collection — hanging plants decorated with strands of beads. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Carolyn Snyder demonstrates how she makes her beads on Thursday, June 20, at her home in Kalispell. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Jacqueline Whitehorn in her home on Thursday, June 20, at Echo Lake. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Jewelry by Jacqueline Whitehorn on Thursday, June 20, at Echo Lake. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Jacqueline Whitehorn works on a piece of jewelry in her home on Thursday, June 20, at Echo Lake. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Jewelry by Jacqueline Whitehorn on Thursday, June 20, at Echo Lake. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Jewelry by Jacqueline Whitehorn on Thursday, June 20, at Echo Lake. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Ed Maul builds a variety of bird houses, tables and tool boxes in his shop near Whitefish. </p>
<p>Ed Maul puts the finishing touches on a tool box Monday morning in his shop near Whitefish. </p>
For more than 30 years, Artists and Craftsmen of the Flathead Valley has offered an outlet for artists, artisans and crafters in Northwest Montana. From beaders to candlemakers to potters, some of the valley’s most creative residents have found a home and opportunities to network with the group.
“We welcome anybody who wants to have an opportunity to do shows and sell what they make,” said Carolyn Snyder, who handles Artists and Craftsmen’s publicity.
Snyder has been a member of the group since 1989. At the time, she dabbled in decorative painting. A friend who crocheted suggested they check out a meeting.
“We liked it. It was a friendly organization,” Snyder said. “I was pleased to see fellow crafters.”
Since then, Snyder has expanded her artistic repertoire. She turned to candle making and then began working with polymer clay, a medium she now prefers.
“You don’t have to get yourself locked in to one particular craft,” she said. “You can express yourself in any way, as long as it’s yours.”
The group is open to artistic people of all ages and abilities, Snyder said.
Many retirees who suddenly have more time for crafting are involved with Artists and Craftsmen. The group also attracts families. Snyder estimates the group currently has about 60 members.
The group meets on the third Thursday of the month at the Kalispell Eagles. It also puts on three annual shows, one of which opens Friday in Kalispell.
In addition to supporting artists and artisans, the group does its best to support the local community.
“We’ve always had a pretty good relationship with the community,” Snyder said. “We’re active in a yearly community service project.”
This year’s project is Ray of Hope. Artists and Craftsmen is collecting items such as toilet paper and shampoo for the Kalispell homeless shelter.
For Snyder, one of the group’s biggest benefits has been the opportunity it has given her to make lifelong friends.
“It’s not only just a club where I can do arts and crafts shows and sell stuff I make,” she said.
“They’re all my friends. They’ve become my friends over years of membership. It’s not just, OK, do a show and get the heck out of here.”
For more information about Artists and Craftsmen, visit acfguide.com or find the group on Facebook.
Kristi Albertson, editor of This Week in the Flathead, may be reached at 758-4438 or at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.