The amazing pottery of Iris Grundler, first-time Artsfest participant
Dowell, MD – People keep coming back to the much-anticipated Artsfest, held annually at Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center. During Artsfest 2016, held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 17 and 18, the crowds filled the park. Festival volunteers told The BayNet Sunday that Saturday’s crowd was huge while the Sunday gathering was characterized as “steady.”
Over 100 artists—painters, quilters, photographers, basket-makers and crafters displaying their ceramics, jewelry and pottery—were in the Southern Calvert County park, under tents and canopies, greeting the curious and explaining how their concepts became amazing, tangible realities.
Elaine Ozol, who does porcelain and stoneware pottery, told The BayNet she has been coming to Artsfest for over 20 years and looks forward to it. “People are nice,” said Ozol. “Even if they don’t buy anything they always tell us how beautiful their pottery is.”
Ozol, who hails from Baltimore, has been plying her crafting skills in pottery for over 30 years. On her web site, she declares “all my work is inspired by nature.”
Another artist in the park, Iris M. Grundler of Gaithersburg, was participating in Artsfest for the first time. She parlayed a career as an architect into a vocation of painting and pottery and is very pleased she did so. “About six years ago my sons told me to get a life, so I did,” she joked. Grundler now works from home where she has a studio. “I enjoy it,” she said, adding that she applies many of her skills from the field of architecture into the craft of pottery-making.
Grundler said she definitely plans to return to Artsfest in 2017.
Not all the artists displaying and selling their works had to drive a distance to participate in the two-day exhibit. Watercolor artist Mary Blumberg is a Solomons resident who started painting in 1985. She has participated in Artsfest for six years. She began her career as an artist after serving as an art gallery docent. She admitted the term “starving artist” is not an exaggeration, as selling her artwork is not very lucrative. However, she also teaches and is an interior designer. Blumberg is an active member of the Calvert Artists’ Guild. Several of her works are on display at CalvART Gallery in Prince Frederick.
In addition to strolling the pathways of the intriguing sculpture garden, festival attendees enjoyed entertainment by roving musicians and a stilt-walker.
The main stage featured America’s original art form—jazz. Among the groups who were jammin’ during the weekend were Higher Standards, The Eric Byrd Trio and Russell Kirk and The Path.
Other musical groups on the bill at the main stage were Some Assembly, The Bootlegger Trio and Harlan County Kings.
Performers at the garden’s council ring included Abigail Francisco School of Classic Ballet, Wild Irish Roses, Patuxent Voices and the Southern Maryland Youth Orchestra and Choir.
One of the next big events at Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center will take place Saturday, Oct. 29. It’s the always popular “Halloween in the Garden” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. It’s billed as a daytime trick or treat parade and admission to the garden is only $1 per person.
For more information on Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center visit their web site.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
