If you are in the vicinity of Little Falls, New York, there is a little festival happening this weekend (Dec 12, 13, 14, 2025). In addition to the activities listed, the shops are open during their regular hours through Christmas.
I have two paintings for sale at Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts, 410 Canal Place, Little Falls, NY. They created a show of work priced at $100 and below to encourage art enthusiasts to purchase art as gifts for the holidays and to buy local.
The Race, 18″ x 18″, 2012, encaustic, $125
You will be getting a deal because these are normally $125! They are from my first horse series created in 2012 – encaustic & collage, 12″ x 12″ mounted on 18″ x 18″ chalkboard painted masonite.
I spent the day selling artwork at this Harvest Festival at The Neat Whiskey Bar, 6706 E. Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville, New York 13078. The event included music, alcoholic beverages, food trucks and art. There were nine of us settled into a brand new event center.
Thank you to my fellow artists for a wonderful day (noon – 6:00 PM) and to all the amazing patrons. I enjoyed sharing my art with you.
I’ve got a couple of group exhibitions coming up. Stay tuned!
A bunch of geese pal around/poop around the sidewalks and pond at Hoopes Park. And then there is this one glorious blue heron! Yes – I made a new friend before heading to the art, craft and foodie filled tents that made up Art in the Park.
Art in the Park is an annual event at Hoopes Park, 100 S. Herman Avenue, Auburn, New York 13021. It was yesterday, September 20, 2025 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM and a perfect day for it, too. Sunny, blue sky, breezy, etc.
The cookie sellers did the best – Oma-Nonna had only three packages of Italian cookie assortments left to sell at around 3:00 PM.
Many of the vendors told me they have a variety of day jobs and selling their handmade wares is their side-hustle. They were all really friendly, happy people. The vibe in the park was definitely upbeat. Oh, and the event welcomed food trucks and music! It was really lovely.
Before I left the park (around 3:45 PM), I was hoping to see that blue heron again but that didn’t happen. Someone told me it hangs in the mini rock island in the middle of the pond, so maybe next time.
The rain held off today in what became for me a four-hour walk around the M & T Bank sponsored Arts & Crafts Festival in Syracuse, New York.
Food trucks, free give aways and many, many artisans and craftsmen selling their wares under white tents on and around Columbus Circle make up this fabulous festival. There is a lot to see – it can be a serendipitous stroll full of impulse purchases or, like me, you will manifest something you have been longing for.
I finally bought the oak charcuterie board lazy susan I have been coveting for three years. Carrying it back to the car was not fun because it was so heavy – I recommend that you have a plan in place for how you will maneuver your cash and carry purchases.
The Onondaga Historical Association was open too (321 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, New York 13202) and about 1/4 of my time was spent in there.
Friday, July 25: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday, July 26: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday, July 27: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
The spectacular three-day festival is centered in Downtown Syracuse and will showcase talented artists, craftspeople and entertainers. The festival provides opportunities for visitors to experience the vibrancy of Downtown Syracuse through a presentation of visual and performing arts that demonstrate diverse art forms and cultures. Â
Arts & Crafts –Â The Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival will feature around 140 artists and crafters. Visitors can shop and browse among the art and craft exhibits showcasing an exceptionally wide selection of contemporary arts and crafts, from functional to decorative.
Performing Arts – The festival showcases the performing arts. Attendees can enjoy free daily strolling entertainment between including a variety of music entertainers, open hand legacy puppets, hooping and much more! The Syracuse Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will present mini-organ recitals over the course of the festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons at Plymouth Congregational Church.
Family Activities – Families are integral to the success of the event, and participatory activities are designed with them in mind. Interactive projects provide young attendees with opportunities to create three-dimensional masterpieces. Join the Everson Museum of Art for a collaborative mural activity inspired by Nancy Friedemann-Sánchez’s exhibition Dream Map and Cornucopia, on view at the Everson through October 19th. Participants are invited to paint or illustrate a native flower, plant, or animal of their choosing, and contribute to our mural featuring flora and fauna of Central New York. Artmaking supplies and tools provided.
Syracuse Art Trail – A collaborative project between CNY Arts and local arts & culture organizations. The Trail builds connections and promotes collaboration amongst organizations & individuals in our local arts community. We aim to bring Syracuse residents together in a creative, meaningful way to support the arts! More information here!
Stay Fresh Chalk Jam – Over 50 artists will take to the sidewalks on Saturday, July 26th to create beautiful works of art all done in chalk! (Rain date – July 27th).
Summer Refreshments – Food vendors will be on-site to serve a diverse mix of summer favorites.
A Community Festival – Area businesses participate by hosting open houses and various activities, such as family-friendly art activities and the popular sidewalk art competition, Chalk Jam. Many of these initiatives are organized in collaboratiion with the Everson Museum of Art, the Onondaga Historical Association, the YMCA – Downtown Writers Center and the Montgomery Street Collective crafts show. Thousands of visitors are expected to attend these events, establishing this as Syracuse’s signature cultural event of the summer!
The Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival was ranked 11th best Contemporary Craft Show in the country by Sunshine Artist Magazine.
The M & T Bank Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival is in full swing again this year. Vendor’s tents are set up on the streets around Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse, New York. If you are looking for something to do today, July 28, 2024, they will all be here from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM!
Some of the talented people I visited while shopping yesterday…
BARBARA CONTE-GAUGEL
Barbara has a new product in addition to her amazing hand-made shoulder bags and totes – it is a little pouch/clutch and they are selling like hotcakes!
WOAH-BOTZ
These are whimsical sculptures made with found object, antique canisters and steel. You can also purchase them at Cazenovia Artisans too. I love them!
CATHY JACKSON
Cathy really has her finger on the pulse of what young women want to wear – she has created retro ’70s inspired garments, jewelry and wall hangings using knit and crochet elements. All stuff you might find at Stoned Immaculate (but for a lot less money).
STEVE PEARLMAN
Steve Pearlman is selling his black & white and color photographs – landscapes/streetscapes peppered with figures that depict both local imagery and time spent in New York City.
APPLE AN
Apple An is a historian who has written and published memoirs. I really enjoyed speaking with her and aspire to be among the artists in a future memoir collection. She is selling books – the entire collection of Stone Canoes are for sale at her booth as well.
SAHI NEW YORK
I recognized these leather accessories from Cazenovia Artisans where he is a member. They are hand stitched wallets, purses, belts et al and they are of magnificent quality.
MICHELLE DARIN
Michelle’s aesthetic has a retro feel. It embodies youth, vitality and fun using colorful enamels and patterned leathers. You can never buy just one piece – they look best in multiples. We all want to be Michelle. She is the real deal.
FRANCO RAMIREZ
Franco is from Mexico the country, not Mexico, New York – I think he travelled the furthest to be at this show. He doesn’t speak English – I said I can understand you if you speak Spanish and I think I did. He said the sculptures are hand-carved of wood then hand-painted using acrylic paint. They are very special. I like the little rabbits the best.
There are about one hundred fifty artisans from all over the East Coast and Canada who are braving the heat and possible rain tomorrow in their small tents around E. Jefferson, E. Onondaga and Montgomery Streets in downtown Syracuse, New York to show and sell their wares. In addition, food trucks are there including Carvel DeWitt (yum!). Street performers and local ethnic dance troupes are strolling the grounds. Downtown Committee of Syracuse volunteers are making sure everyone is hydrated. And there is a sidewalk chalk art competition. All that and a bag of chips (literally, someone was handing out Pringles samples).
The event continues today, July 29, 2023 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and tomorrow, July 30, 2023 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Ataraxia Designs– partners Victor Field and Meghan Huston create thoughtful messages on brown clay incorporating Chinese calligraphy and florals. Field is the poet while Huston does the framing. The resulting work is so zen-thoughtful.
Find them on E. Onondaga Street right across from Columbus Circle.
Trittello – Michael Bonardi uses U.S. coin as his media transforming pennies, nickels and more into modern jewelry – bracelets, rings, earrings and pendants. I love money!
Find him on E. Onondaga Street.
DK Designs – Diane Kaylor is a fine artist who has come up with this magnet board art that is genius. There is a background piece in a frame and animal magnets that you can mix and match to create personalized interactive art. This is so incredibly fun!
Find her on E. Onondaga Street.
Ethan Lillemoe takes organically shaped porcelain slabs and affixes them to an adjustable welded steel base resulting in these fantastical wall sculptures that are interchangeable.
Find him on Columbus Circle.
Rose Hill Woodwork – Scott Porosky is a woodworker who uses laser precision to carve these wonderful items – coasters, wall hangings, cutting boards and more. I am now the proud owner of the clowns-to-the-left-of-me-jokers-to-the-right sign. I love it! (Thanks, Janine!)
Find him on E. Onondaga Street.
Barbara Conte-Gaugel – These handbags are a combination of new material with original prints and recycled goods such as army surplus items. Barbara is an accessories designer but she is also a painter who juggles exhibitions and festivals for all of her whimsical ideas.
Find her on Montgomery Street.
Dale Rogers Studio – Cor-Ten steel is the medium and abstract geometry his jam for these impressive animal sculptures. Dale Rodgers is an advocate for public art. His work can be found all over the country! His sculpture display here is probably the best place in the festival for photo ops.
Find him front and center, that is, in front of the fountain on Columbus Circle.
The AmeriCU Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival has returned to Columbus Circle and surrounding roads in Syracuse, NY. It began on Friday and continues tomorrow from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Here is a sampling of the artisans represented this year. I was there today and mainly walked through the circle and down Montgomery Street.
Susan Shannon is a potter from Vermont. She had an incredibly cohesive display. All of her porcelain ceramics are handmade on the potter’s wheel – no molds! She said there is a beauty to the zen of creating a familiar shape and it never gets boring. The glaze is a type of high fire stain and the colors are wonderfully rich. This is the type of functional art that must be purchased in multiples.
It is all microwaveable and dishwasher safe. Really great! She is located in front of the church on the circle.
Her website is suchipottery.com. For more information call (970) 529-3029.
Charlie Sam has really upped his game since I first met him several years ago. Again, the word is cohesive. He creates these original graphic characters and represents them on T-shirts, sweatshirts, glassware, mugs and buttons.
He is from Syracuse. His booth is on Montgomery Street. Find him on Instagram and Facebook.
So great!
I enjoyed meeting the Hadfields of CH Woodcraft. Craig Hadfield creates these Americana paintings on pine. I love the flag motif! And of course, I work in “bear country”, which is what we call Chittenango. Love!
They are from Syracuse. The booth is on Montgomery Street. If you don’t make it out tomorrow, you can call (315) 558-0201. They also do custom projects.
Joelle’s Dolls are so full of whimsy. Joelle McAndrew from Lewiston, NY creates her own designs and patterns. Each doll has a backstory, which is so delightful. There is so much detail in the clothing! Everything is original.
This is another example of needing more than one. Someone should buy her whole collection.
Johanna Wall is a lovely person! She is a retired teacher from Syracuse. She and her husband worked the booth today, which is located on Montgomery Street. Her collection includes jewelry and decoupage items – birdhouses, canisters, coasters and wreaths.
Call (315)382-5262 for more information.
John Oneal Heard is a man of many hats – professor, model, musician, art teacher and artist. He had a small collection of original paintings (I believe they are abstract paintings on glass mounted on canvas). He literally paints music. He said his favorite thing about meeting the public as an artist with a business is answering questions from children – it is rewarding to share his work with an audience.
Call (315) 992-3267 for more information.
And that is what this festival truly embodies – the spirit of the collective creative energies flowing through these business men and women and fusing with the community in such a joy-filled positive way. Hurray for the artists and art patrons of Syracuse, New York!
The AmeriCu Arts & Crafts Festival is celebrating its 50th year in downtown Syracuse, New York. Located on the streets surrounding Columbus Circle, there are about 150 artisans and crafters represented in this three-day event. It ends around 4pm today, July 25, 2021, so there is still time to check it out!
There’s food trucks, drinks and music too. My sister and I were there for two hours yesterday. So fun!
This is a juried exhibition. Lula Castillo’s booth at the festival won an honorable mention award. Her work is incredible. She uses plants, nuts, seeds and organic dyes to create exquisite pieces of jewelry. I’ve never seen anything like this!
The colors are so vibrant and fun. I loved everything about her sustainable materials collection.
She comes to us from Long Island, New York (formerly Columbia!)
I thought Erin Primerano’s presentation of her handwoven fine art clothing was wonderful. Her tent looked like a real store! The pieces are one-of-a-kind looks, using a mix of fibers from silk to cotton, to wool and can be hand-washed.
Her company is called Haute Made and you can find her on Etsy! She lives in Syracuse, New York.
Booth A4
I met Ted Greenfield from Chittenango, New York, last week at his City Market booth. These wood charcuterie boards are gorgeous! His company is called Bayside Wood Products.
It’s always a pleasure to see the effervescent Barbara Conte-Gaugel (Syracuse, New York) and her mixed-media handbags and satchels. Everything is handmade from recycled fabrics (including leather and old flour sacks). The larger bags are among my favorites with whimsical patterns that inspire positivity. She is selling these bags at the festival but she is also a fine artist – paintings and assemblages.
Devin Mack from Baltimore, Maryland, creates these fun wire sculptures of animals. He was in the process as I photographed him, said he does not use photographs, just whimsy, and the results are stunning!
Kathleen Scranton from Coventry, Connecticut, creates vintage book purses under the logo BeeZ. She comes to us from the business and marketing world. A chance rendezvous with a library eliminating old books sparked this plan to turn their covers into handbags. Purses come with a paperback version of the book.
Michelle DaRin, Pompey, New York, is a rock star around here. Her face is on billboards, as she is currently represented by Cazenovia Jewelry! I noticed that everyone who walked by Montgomery Street was a customer, including me (I was wearing three of her bracelets!).
Michelle DaRin Jewelry is a one person operation – she is the face of the brand. She selects the stones, cuts the metal, does all the metal-smithing and strings the leather.
The look is upscale Bohemian-chic/’70s vibe meets the new millennium.
Wildflowers Armory is a co-op – artisans who share in the responsibility of selling their wares in their store in downtown Syracuse (217 S. Salina Street). Co-owner Michael Heagerty posed for a few pictures with Kathy and me. He is an amazing person who has single-handedly changed the view of the local art scene in Syracuse – a beautiful person inside and out! <3
They have a double tent set-up on Montgomery Street at the festival with an eclectic mix of items for sale.
Merchandise includes clothing (like the awesome Everson is for Lovers shirt!), soaps, notecards, crafts, and artwork.
Finally, I want my Superintendent to buy these metal bear sculptures for our school (We are the Chittenango Bears!). And I want the cardinal sculpture for my back yard.
OMG, Dale Rogers! His work is exceptional. The sculptures are crafted from stainless steel in his studio in Massachusetts.
I visited City Market at the Everson Museum of Art on Sunday. Walked around before it rained and met some new-to-me vendors, as well as old friends.
Randy Casciano of Salt City Salvage creates tables from vintage filing cabinets and bird houses with wine crates, among other repurposed items. He does not have a website yet (working on it) but his email is Randy@SaltCitySalvage.com. I love his work. I want everyone of these birdhouses, especially the copper roof one!
Barbara Floch had a beautiful display of her papier-mache crafted jars, sea shells and jewelry. She has a space at the Delavan Center and calls her company Gypsy Girl Designs. Find her at www.gypsygirldesignsandcreations.com.
Ken Nichols and his lovely wife Kris sold his handmade ceramic bowls and mugs. When I stopped by, they had a large crowd of fans gathered around. Ken is at this event every second Sunday, of the month 10:00 am-5:00pm, May through October 2021.
Goodies Mediterranean Grill & Cuisine was represented with to-go versions of their delicacies. As the sign indicates, they are located at 3605 James Street. Call (315) 433-1003 for more information.
David McKenney of GBD Studio (glass by Dave) presented his glassworks. He can be reached at (315)373-3078 if you would like to make a purchase.
Jane Zell was the musical guest. She is FABULOUS! This video is on my http://www.youtube.com channel. Yes, I have one! <3
