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State Fair of Texas Creativity Tent Encourages Artistic Self-Expression
The Clay Section of the Creativity Tent at the State Fair of Texas
By Kay Byfield
Visitors to the annual Texas State Fair expect to eat, ride, and watch. Now they can express their creativity as well.
Quiggly’s Clayhouse, a fired-arts studio in Richardson, Texas, is hosting an activity booth where fair-goers can create pottery on the wheel, produce personalized wax hand sculptures or learn glass fusing. No previous art experience is necessary because the trained artists from Quiggly’s will be there to help.
“Guests at our booth will leave the fair with an artwork they can treasure along with their memories of the midway, exhibitions and events,” says Mr. Kirby (Kirby Carmichael) of Quiggly’s. “Our creativity tent has 600 square feet in order for us to share the joy of personal expression with children and adults.”
Would-be artists need no former training in order to sit and throw clay according to Mr. Kirby. “Everyone will be able to create a vase, bowl, cup, pencil holder, or make a piece to preserve the impression of a baby's foot. The pottery can be left to dry and picked up when they leave the fair. On the other hand, for a dollar we can take the piece back to Quiggly’s to be fired and visitors can retrieve it later at our local studio.”
Also at the booth, anyone, regardless of artistic interest, can create a personalized wax impression of his or her hands that becomes a life-sized personal sculpture. After assuming a position, the hands are dipped into paraffin in a process that will build up to become a replication of the hands. “I make my living as a medical massage therapist and my hands are my tools,” explains Nnedi Iwuchukwu of Idenn’s Paradise. “The sculpture of my hand that I made at last year’s fair looks very appropriate on the bookcase in my office.” Some people pose their hands with the thumb up, but praying hands, the “I love you” symbol, “hang ten” and the Vulcan “Live long and prosper” are also very popular.
The ancient art of glass fusing can be used to create eye-catching pendants, magnets, and decorative pieces. Using a rainbow array of colored glass, would-be artists arrange them in visually appealing designs. These are then melted together to be incorporated into stunningjewelry and artworks. In less than two hours they can be fired and ready to retrieve from the booth.
Because some people prefer to admire the works of professional craftspeople rather than making their own, Quiggly’s Clayhouse also has a retail booth at the State Fair with a variety of arts made by artists in East Texas, Dallas, and Guadalajara, Mexico. Located between the Auto Show and the Craft Tent, it is near the SPCA Adoption Center, and the Redwood Tree Log Trailer Home. Glass fusing experts in Mexico have created gorgeous dichroic glass jewelry in all shapes, sizes and colors. The pottery will include customizable holiday platters, a mug line called "Bottoms-Up Mugs," and a small selection of Italian-themed majolica pottery made in Deruta, Italy. The lovely paintings available are courtesy of artists from East Texas.
Quiggly’s Clayhouse opened in 2005. Over the years they have become a neighborhood studio that provides the tools, materials, and support for people wanting to paint pottery, make mosaics, sculpt clay or stack and fuse glass. Original holiday gifts and decorations are treasured for a lifetime by Quiggly’s customers and the people they love. The studio includes a party room and work spaces that can accommodate individuals along with groups of up to 80 people. It is a popular destination for birthday parties, meet-ups, and scout troops. More information is available at www.quigglys.com/index.html or 972-234-2644.
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