For the past 42 years, artists from around the country work tirelessly to produce their best work to share at the annual CraftWestport event. Despite the geographical differences, the vendors at the craft fair all share their intense passion for the arts.
The annual CraftWestport event took place at Staples High School on Nov. 4 and Nov. 5, where over 175 vendors attended the event and sold their artwork, food and clothing to members of the Westport Community.
The event has been running longer than any other indoor fine arts craft fair in Connecticut. The net proceeds from the event are donated to various charities throughout Connecticut. The CraftWestport event is just one of the events that Westport Young Women’s League (WYWL) organizes.
One of the new aspects of the event this year, the kids center located in the gym, enabled kids to engage in a variety of activities such as a bouncy castle and face painting.
“We really wanted to draw in more of the local families in Westport,” Tina Meehan, WYWL member, said, “so we asked sponsors to come that are kids-centric type businesses and kids-centric agencies like Westport Academy of Dance, World Champion Taekwondo and Girl Scouts of Connecticut, to provide a fun and entertaining environment for the kids in our community.”
The vendors that participate in the event range from edible cookie dough and biscotti, to jewelry and paintings to clothing and furniture. The food merchants fill booths in the cafeteria while the fine arts are found in the field house.
Ricky Bernstein is the owner of Penrose Jewelry that attended the event. Bernstein traveled from Massachusetts to sell his work in Westport. He channels his talent into creating intricate jewelry that he is able to share with members of the Westport community.
“We are always trying to make new things and please the people that come to this event,” Ricky Bernstein said.
The Penrose Jewelry booth is just one of the many jewelry vendors at the fair. Each jewelry vendor displays different techniques in their work. Bernstein loves the CraftWestport event and has participated in it about 20 times over the past 25 years.
Since it was at Staples, many students were able to attend the event. These students enjoyed the event by walking around and by purchasing items at the craft fair.
“This was my first year attending the CraftWestport event and I think that having a place where all these people with the same interests and talents can go to is really cool,” Kylie Cohen ’20 said. “I bought a few new items that I am really excited about. I am definitely planning on coming back next year.”