The sixth round of Art vs. Craft -- Milwaukee's own indie art fair, co-sponsored by WMSE and taking place on the Milwaukee School of Engineering campus -- is approaching this weekend, and with 100 vendors to peruse, we thought we'd give you a sneak peak at the crafty handiwork of one local artist you might want to keep an eye out for.
Meghan Williams is the brains behind Birdcage Jewelry, a versatile collection of earrings and necklaces -- there are too many months requiring long sleeves in this state to bother with bracelets, she says -- birthed from her desire to sport something different.
The difference in Birdcage jewelry is in the details -- and the fact that nearly everything is made from materials with past lives, metaphorically and literally. Yes, she reconstructs Value Village vintage jewelry into fashionable new wares, but she also works with dyed animal bone and horn (No, no animals have been harmed in the making of this jewelry) to create smooth contours and oval shapes to hang delicately just below your collarbone.
As an artist, William has a knack for finding inspiration in, well, just about anything and mentions the dusty aisles of Recycled Books & Records at the former Prospect Mall as a regular goldmine.
"I used to find the best pictures in old books there and use them in my work."
Our favorites might have to be the vintage Girl Scout earrings (pictured).
"It nice when you realize that stuff wasn't just made for one purpose," she says. "I love thrifting and finding things I can reuse and recycle."
You may have seen her stuff around town; she sells -- and reasonably, at that -- at (Shoo), Paper Boat Gallery, Moxy, Anomaly Design Shop, and, soon, Fasten Clothing Co-op. She's also a two-time Art vs. Craft vendor and is preparing for her third, happening this weekend, July 7 and 8.
Among Ms. Williams, look for 60 other local vendors interspersed with 40 artists who've traveled across the country to participate, many of whom are new additions who've never before shown in Milwaukee. As always, Art vs. Craft is a bi-annual jackpot for traditional craftwork with a modern flair, as well as a variety of fine arts (painting, pottery, photography), and, of course more one-of-a-kind wearables than you'd ever have time to try on.
"This alternative craft fair provides consumers with a counter economy -- a fun way to avoid mass-produced goods and large corporations," says founder and organizer Faythe Levine, who also owns and runs Paper Boat Gallery. "Shoppers can spend freely with a clear conscious, knowing their money is going directly into the pockets of the creators, and many vendors embrace a revamp, reuse and recycling ethic."
What's new this year? Tulip craft manufacturing company is sponsoring a "Make & Take" section of the show where shoppers can decorate T-shirts with their products under the guidance of local clothing designers from Fasten Clothing Co-op.
Additionally, there'll be tunes. The Goodnight Loving and The Trusty Knife open an all-ages solo show by Olympia, WA's Calvin Johnson (ex-Beat Happening), owner of K Records, who hasn't played alone here in seven years.
Plus, you can't beat this: The first 200 shoppers on Saturday receive silk-screened canvas tote bags designed by local talent the Little Friends of Printmaking stuffed with swag from our sponsors, vendors and local businesses. Yay for free stuff.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
