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Entertainment

Honing their craft

Local crafters want to show the public at a demonstration next week that crafts are art, too.

By JORGE SANCHEZ
Published June 17, 2005

Arts and crafts may be two separate categories when it comes to art festivals, but a group of crafters, members of the Citrus County Art League, want to prove that crafts have a definite artistic quality as well.

Known as fine craft, this genre includes wearable crafts such as necklaces, earrings and bracelets fashioned from beads; home decor items from nature's palette of dried flowers, leaves, fruits or gourds; and elaborate glass works.

In fact, these items might be more arts than they are crafts to most people, said a member of the Fine Crafters Group. The group is having a demonstration starting at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Art League's Cultural Center gallery.

The move to blur the line is long overdue at the Art League, said a Fine Crafters member.

"We want to broaden the appeal of the Art League in Citrus County," said Ellen Saunders, co-chairwoman of Thursday's demonstration and exhibit. "Many other art leagues have realized that quality of the fine crafters has really taken off."

Saunders is a bead art jewelry designer. She began collecting beaded jewelry about 25 years ago, and after she retired in 2001, beading became her passion. She is co-chairing the demonstration with Susan Jensen, former president of the Art League.

Saunders describes her style of jewelry design as "contemporary, using a variety of mediums."

"My husband and I travel a lot, and wherever we go, I pick up lots of beads," she said. "That's the way it is with fabulous beads - many are one of a kind."

The Fine Crafters Group, comprising about 15 members, will exhibit a variety of craft styles and will show interested people how to get started in fine craft design, Saunders said.

The group hosts a We Craft Thursdays session at the Art League from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Citrus County Art League is at 2644 N Annapolis Ave., off County Road 486 in Citrus Hills. The demonstration will be in the Cultural Center gallery, which is the building next to the community theater. Admission is free, and fine crafts will be available for purchase.

Jorge Sanchez covers arts and entertainment in Citrus County. Call 860-7313 or e-mail sanchez@sptimes.com

[Last modified June 17, 2005, 00:34:18]