Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Creative Fish is sponsoring an art fair Saturday, which could be referred to as an art party.
Located at Pickwick Square at the corner of Ind. 13 and Main Street, Syracuse, the artist's cooperative opened in January. The endeavor has been successful and the board of directors decided to take all the art outdoors for six hours, from 2 to 8 p.m.
"We're doing great," said Tammy Kratzer, about the gallery, class and workshop space. "The classes are so well attended we've had to add more."
The first floor of Suite 2 offers traditional classes in painting and pottery as well as new crafts like wrought iron welding, glass fusion and jewelry making.
Saturday, Main Street will be closed for a block west of Ind. 13 and the group plans to have musicians playing on the corners and demonstrations throughout the day.
"Artists are coming from three counties to set up booths and we'll have as many demonstrations as possible from glass bead making to weaving to someone throwing on a potter's wheel."
The Fish, as it is called, has a gallery space open to the owners and associate members. They all get together once a month for a craft night and take trips to other areas.
There are two levels of membership. After paying a $100 initial fee, people who want workshop space pay $30 per month. Artists who "work at home" just pay the $100 fee.
Proceeds from the festival will go toward an art scholarship for a graduating Wawasee High School student.
Saturday's event will feature a lot of food, Kratzer said. The group has 100 hand-painted fish bowls to sell, filled with chili. The Down Under will provide petite prime rib sandwiches and sponsor a beer garden.
Downtown Grounds will have the flavored coffee and desserts. The Anchor Bar will serve out front and have music in their garden.
"The musicians just lined up to play and they should change every half hour, so it's like a music fest, too."
Classes include: oil and watercolor painting, glass fusion, mosaics, precious medal clay - a technique that turns the clay a silver color during firing, a wrought iron class, pottery, tile making, jewelry and guitar lessons.
"We didn't want the space to be just artistic, but creative, too, and to be open to all avenues.
"It's been amazing to meet people. They kind of come out of the woodwork and into the shop where they talk for an hour. They're so happy Syracuse has a place like this. It's been a pleasure to meet and work with them," Kratzer said.
For more information, call Creative Fish at 574-457-8006.
Fish owners and board members are Kratzer, Mary Gerard, Kathy Cone, Kathy Boyts, Cindy Bryan and Lynn Allegret.
