32nd edition of the Festival of Crafts comes a month early, Nov. 1-4 at BMO Centre and is a can’t-miss event
For visitors of Signatures Shows’ Festival of Crafts, the annual fine art and handcraft showcase on the Calgary Stampede Grounds can evoke fond memories of shopping with loved ones, meeting a favourite artist or can be regarded as the signal to the start of the holiday season. For its exhibitors, the show not only represents the culmination of an often-arduous summer of work and preparation, but it is also considered a major accomplishment to take part in — for all intents and purposes, this is the big league for Canadian artisans.
Calgary-based jeweller and metalsmith Megan Jones recalls her initial experience as perhaps too overwhelming. “My first year at Festival of Crafts was also my first big show, and I did not know what to expect,” recounts Jones. “I was a deer in the headlights.” Luckily, it did not take long for established exhibitors to take her in as one of their own. “I had other artisans come up to me and tell me that my booth was amazing and asking me how long I had been doing this, even though I was a newbie,” says Jones. “I was welcomed into that community and never felt like an outsider; I just instantly felt like I was part of the fold, which was really cool.”
The sense of community among artisans is one of the most unique aspects of a show such as the Festival of Crafts. Exhibitors travel from all corners of Canada to participate, towing vehicles and trailers full of their product inventory; they spend long hours setting up and tearing down their booths, even longer hours selling their wares to the visiting public and repeat the entire process for several consecutive weeks at a time. It’s no wonder artisans quickly form a bond with one another and often label each other as family; they share struggles and triumphs, lend helping hands and listening ears and are all creative entrepreneurs at their core.
For Jones, founder and designer of Mackenzie Jones Designs, the community feel extends beyond her fellow artisans. “The most rewarding aspect of doing a show is definitely meeting the people who buy my pieces face-to-face,” explains Jones. “My work is very story-oriented, and that really resonates with them. To be able to connect one-on-one and share the behind-the-scenes of my work so they truly understand the heart that goes into it is really important to me.” This tangible experience is at the essence of every show produced by Signatures Shows and represents a continuation of its founding principles: to help connect Canadian artisans to lovers of handmade around the country. Show-goers not only enjoy being able to see and feel the works on display but also love hearing the stories behind them to get a true sense of the hard work and passion that goes into an artisan’s lifestyle.
What visitors have also come to expect — and love
The most rewarding aspect of doing a show is definitely meeting the people who buy my pieces face-toface.
– Megan Jones
— at a show such as Festival of Crafts is the paramount quality on display; exhibitors must undergo a rigorous jurying process, meaning each participating artisan has been chosen based on a number of criteria, most importantly the quality and originality of their work. The large majority of artisans are full-time craftspeople and experts in their respective domains, often coming from post-secondary art and design school backgrounds. Jones is no exception — she is a 2010 graduate of the Alberta College of Art and Design, majoring in jewelry and metals — and she now considers herself to be allin on her creative career. “I eat, breathe and live this lifestyle,” explains Jones. “I never really stop working because I love what I do and I’m passionate about what I do.”
These unique show elements at the Festival of Crafts make for a can’t-miss annual event unlike any other, and Calgarians recognize this: the show, now entering its 32nd year, is the largest and most attended of its kind in the city. “It’s the best of the best,” adds Jones. “It’s really an honour to be a part of it.” Fans have even more reason to be excited for this year’s instalment — the show has moved its dates up one month and now takes place Nov. 1-4, meaning they can enjoy these aforementioned experiences even earlier than anticipated.