Any old definition of the word artisan will get a rebuild and rethink this weekend at the Civic Centre.
Studio Fair is the biggest annual arts show and sale on the Prince George calendar. It is like a convention for the best makers and creators. More than 100 artists will have their work on display downstairs while another 15 or so fill the upstairs mezzanine. They were juried by a panel of arts evaluators to earn their place in the event, so the products were vetted for top quality.
The gathering of vendors - each one an expert in making their items by hand - is a mix of local artists and artisans and out of town creators.
Two of the local talents involved in the event will be making new art in progress at Studio Fair. Sculptor Elmer Gunderson will do a live carving demonstration while painter Audrey McKinnon will have a painting project underway.
Studio Fair is the largest fundraiser each year for the city's premier arts charity, the Community Arts Council (CAC). The CAC's artist-in-residence, Donna Morrison, will also be working on a painting she has underway. The finished work will be a door prize for one lucky Studio Fair patron.
"These are examples of art in progress," said Lisa Redpath, the CAC's program manager.
"Watching artists and artisans create, in a setting where you can observe as long as you want and ask questions as they work, that is so popular with the public. What artists do is fascinating and inspiring, and when you're surrounded by some of the best works of art you can imagine, it's nice to be able to see some being created right there in front of you."
Another connection Studio Fair is making with the public this year is the busyness Redpath anticipates at the section devoted to the Northern Indigenous Artists' Collective. This is a new partner council of all-Aboriginal artists of this region. They will be collectively showing and selling their works, with a little help from some aspiring youth artists who will be right alongside these veterans the whole event.
"Our Northern Indigenous Artists' Collective will have a huge presence in our fair, and these are some of our most beloved artists in our community," said Redpath.
"Their work is very high calibre, and each member will have an apprentice or a mentee accompany them in their booth, so its also an education opportunity - setting up displays, inventory control, public interaction, sales techniques. It's a beautiful way to encourage new artists to get deeper involved in the arts and learn new skills, and we are so proud to be able to help with that."
Studio Fair is also a primary sales point for the new Prince George Fire Rescue Service calendar, which is a fundraiser for the province's burn recovery causes but it is also a work of art itself. Photographer Philomena Hughes volunteered to stage and photograph the firefighters comprising the 12 months of images inside the calendar.
On Friday, there will be a live radio broadcast of Studio Fair from 9-10 a.m. The morning team from CFIS, the city's community radio station, will be on the air live from the Civic Centre floor. The CAC and CFIS are also sharing a 50/50 raffle available at Studio Fair.
On Saturday, the dancers and actors from Judy Russell's Enchainement Dance Studio will be serving complimentary cake while dressed as the characters from their upcoming show A Christmas Carol.
Also on Saturday, the Prince George Symphony Orchestra will be performing an afternoon set.
Tickets are $5 per day (free for kids under 12), available at the door.
Studio Fair takes place Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Prince George Civic Centre.
