Crafters Get Rowdy in Akron
Studio 526 hosts the Rowdy Indie Craft Fair on Sun 8/14
Buying local gets rowdy when you combine a quirky local craft show with fine art, craft demonstrations, a yoga class, a local band jam concert, a DJ spinning tunes and pierogies. The result of such an eclectic mix is the Rowdy Indie Craft Fair, a brand new craft event that opens its doors for the first time at noon on Sun 8/14 @ Studio 526. Attendees can enjoy crafts and artwork on display throughout the day, along with periodic craft demonstrations by Crafty Goodness of Lakewood. A yoga class will be offered by LifeSource Yoga of Bath at 2PM. At 7PM local bands will liven the evening with concert-style performances, and after the live music, a DJ will spin until midnight. Studio 526 is located at 526 Grant Street across from the Thirsty Dog Brewery in Akron, Ohio. The Rowdy Indie Craft Fair is free and open to the public.
“There will be more than 20 vendors selling not-your-average-craft-fair-goods,” says Brittany Charek, one of the event organizers. “You’ll be able to find educational handmade children’s toys, upcycled and repurposed jewelry and accessories, guitar picks and earrings made of old credit cards, silkscreened shirts and posters, handmade greeting cards, delicious baked goods and much more,” she says. “The day will include demonstrations of everything from graffiti art to needlepoint,” says Charek. “The Rubber City Roller Girls are also coming out to show their support for the local arts community, and plan to sell some of their own handmade products.”
The day shifts from a vibrant sampling of arts and crafts to a bona fide concert at 7 p.m. “While we had the space, we thought we might as well ask some of our favorite local bands to play,” says Charek. The Akron native indie folk band “Shivering Timbers” will headline, and will be joined by Joe Penzvalto, Ashley Brooke Toussant of Kent and Oldboy. “We are especially excited about the opener for the evening ShiSho,” says Charek. “They are the cutest and most talented local act who aren’t even in high school yet.” After the concert, a DJ will provide music to shop to until midnight.
Unique people and products abound at The Rowdy Indie Craft Fair. “We have tried to choose vendors that are not only local and reasonably priced, but that are also environmentally conscious,” says Charek. “For example, Emily Lindberg of zween made an adorable weeble wobble owl out of upcycled plastic grocery bags [pictured], which she crocheted,” she says. “She also makes incredible handbags this way.” Another vendor doing something unique and repurposed is HoldenAllen, who makes guitar picks out of used credit cards [pictured]. Adding to the artsy atmosphere, graphic designers Charlie Wagers and Tim Skirven, and pop painter James Harvan will have works on display throughout the event. In addition to the vendors and artists, five vendors selling vintage clothing and items will be setting up a collective boutique that will even have an on-site dressing room so attendees can find the perfect vintage fit.
Other artists and crafters whose work will be featured include Toony Jewelry, liza michelle jewelry, Miche Mozaix, terra verde soap & candle co., Ape Made, Johanna’s Paper Embroidered Greeting Cards, Keyhole Gallery, The Lovely Wrecks, Candice Ransom, Beethings Studio, Island of Monsters, Tines to Treasures, Quiet Street Handmade Books, Blastmaster Sandblast Glass, Lu-Owl Vintage, Elizabeth Khoury Designs, Ossuaryarts, Fashion Green T Bags, Landen Road Designs, Hawaii o designs, All That Glitters by KML, and many more!
The Rowdy Indie Craft Fair is Sun 8/14 @ Studio 526, located at 526 Grant Street, Akron Ohio. The fair and demonstrations begin at noon, yoga class at 2 p.m. and live music provided by local bands at 7 p.m. Visit The Rowdy Indie Craft Fair Facebook page to RSVP for a day of crafting fun.
[Owl photograph courtesy of Emily Lindberg of zween, and guitar pick photo courtesy of HoldenAllen.]
Julie Cajigas is a Cleveland girl who grew up on the East & West Side and now lives near Akron – she’s got the whole town covered. Cajigas holds Bachelors Degrees in Communication and Music, along with a Masters in Applied Communication Theory and Methodology from Cleveland State University, and currently serves as an adjunct faculty member in the The University of Akron’s School of Communication.