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 Helen Tenney, left, and her daughter Jenny Benson set out handmade clothing to sell at the Women's Works Holiday Art Fair in the Student Union Building Ballroom. The fair will run today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and tomorrow at the same time. Jake Barber/Argonaut
It started with four female artists and the old Women’s Center building on campus. Since then, it’s moved to a bigger venue, gained more artists and left its mark on all those who have benefited from or participated in it.
This is the 13th year of the Women’s Works Holiday Art Fair, which is presented by the University of Idaho Women’s Center. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Student Union Building Ballroom today and Saturday, shoppers can browse crafts and artwork from female artists around the region.
The event is a fundraiser for the Betsy Thomas Gender Equity Scholarship, which is awarded annually by the Women’s Center to one or two students who work toward the cause of promoting gender equality. The scholarship was re-named last year in honor of Betsy Thomas, the Women’s Center director who passed away a few days before last year’s event.
“It’s a really fun holiday atmosphere,” said Heather Shea Gasser, the interim director of the Women’s Center. “Lots of shopping and lots of creative work.”
Gasser said she hoped people would come by before the UI football game to take advantage of the shopping, the food booths and the live music, which is being provided by faculty and students.
The show started when Rebecca Rod, a raku potter who is currently the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer/Questioning Association adviser, approached Betsy Thomas about doing “a little show.”
“If you’ve ever had a show by yourself, you know how lonely it gets,” Rod said. “So you start inviting friends. It’s kind of amazing how it took off.”
This year’s show will feature work from 48 artists with works in: glasswork, textiles, paper art, altered books, mosaics, pottery, steel sculptures, body care and jewelry.
“The variety is amazing,” said Lysa Salsbury, the Women’s Center program coordinator. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for people to get some unique artwork for a reasonable price.”
In addition to the booths, at which all the artists will be present, there are also two booths representing women’s cooperatives from Cambodia and Mexico that will be selling items made by women from developing countries to support themselves.
The artists involved in Women’s Works also donate a piece of their artwork for a raffle, which occurs periodically throughout both days of the fair. Winners do not need to be present. A silent auction will be held for a dance piece called “We Have This” which was choreographed by a UI dance instructor. The winner of the auction will have the piece dedicated to them in future performances.
“It’s one of the most friendly, laidback shows I’ve been in and I’ve been in a lot of shows,” Rod said. “It’s been great to see it grow to the size it is.”
Donations are accepted for the scholarship fund since the event does not have an
admission fee.
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