Art abounds at country fair

Art was the central focus at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration's Country Fair on Saturday.

From the abstract watercolor painting of the mustang Nochecita to the paint adorning the faces of children to the works of professional artists on display in the church community hall, there was an abundance of creativity in evidence.

The annual fair is the church's major community outreach effort, raising on average $17,000 for local service organizations that serve the needs of children.

The annual event requires significant volunteer effort, from those who make the jams and jellies that are so popular at the Country Store to those who serve the food and those who stage the art show.

Country Fair manager Sydney Harrison estimates that about 120 volunteers work on the project.

"Some people are behind the scenes making things. Other people are setting up - we've been setting up for three days," she said. "Some like to serve people, some just like to clean up."

The art show has become a destination feature of the fair. Gayle Rodrigues reported that there was a crowd waiting for the art show opening on Friday night. The show reflects an array of talent in a variety of media, from pottery to oil painting to photography.

Mike Matyniak, whose wife Jane was show manager, earned a Judge's Choice award for an oil painting of Smith Rock in a lightning storm.

The piece is titled "Legend of Smith Rock" after the belief that the sun always shines on the rock formation that is beloved of artists, hikers and rock climbers alike.

"You'll see a storm literally raging around it, and the sun will come through and create these shadows," Matyniak said. "An amazing sight."

Apache Joe Macea displayed his pottery, artfully painted in Native American designs.

Macea incorporates traditional images and designs into contemporary work in a marriage he calls "neo-classic." A therapist by trade, Macea is also an artist of long standing, and he incorporates art into the healing process.

He has worked on many reservations throughout the American West and seeks to apply the belief systems and cultural insight of the first peoples in contemporary life.

"I've really adapted to a lot of the principles of Native Americans," he said.

These include love for the land, respect for elders, the honor of word-as-bond. He was excited to impart these principles as part of a health class at Sisters High School last year, in which students engaged with the native outlook on the natural world and the sense of ecological interconnectedness that derives from it.

"The kids just went crazy for it," Macea said.

In addition to the mission of raising funds to aid children, the fair is designed to promote fellowship within the church and outreach to the Sisters community. Both were on evidence Saturday, as families gathered to share activities and enjoy a meal in the shade in an atmosphere that evoked a slower-paced, more community-centered way of life.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

• Email: editor@nuggetnews.com
• Phone: 5415499941