in the heart of the beast, Fresno Peace groups craft faire 12/14 10am-4pm Big Red Church
come support incredible peace and social justice groups in Fresno that are fighting against the stream.
Great art, good soup and great friends!
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
Peace Community
Crafts Faire
Saturday, December 14, 2013
10:00am – 4:00pm
Free Admission, Entertainment
& Children’s Activities
Visit Old Friends & Meet New Ones
Find Unique handmade Holiday Gifts
Amazing Arts & Creative Crafts
Fill Your Tummies with Great Yummies
Signature Homemade Soups, Breads & Desserts
Raffle prizes & Silent Auction
First Congregational Church
(The Big Red Church)
2131 N. Van Ness Blvd, Fresno
Between McKinley & Clinton
= new reply since forum marked as read
I'm down here in the bellybutton of the beast (YL) and if there was any way I would join you. Good luck and I hope you have a good turnout.
I knew this was a wonderful craft faire.. lots of real arts and crafts but I had no idea it was this old.
http://fresnoalliance.com/wordpress/?p=8702
Betty Dutton took over as president, and when I returned there were 100 members and Dutton had initiated many creative ideas, including a holiday craft sale at her home. The sale featured work that members had produced as a fund-raiser for WILPF and a venue for the creative efforts of our members. Everyone had such a good time taking part, and it was so well supported that it became an annual event.
This year, we are celebrating its 47th iteration, actually only 46th because we skipped one year when people were too busy with political action and couldn’t take time to organize the Faire. People in the community were disappointed and angry, and that was the last time we even contemplated copping out on the Faire.
The food service has been completely transformed. Our members and friends fix endless pots of “signature soups” with customers lining up for favorites, and people have been known to go back for seconds and thirds, plus bread, dessert and beverage, for a still reasonable price. It has become a huge undertaking, and Julie Andrews does it with incredible efficiency, skill and equanimity every year. When she was unable to be there one year, Ingrid Carmean took over for her and everyone pitched in and it was done deliciously. And when Carmean joined the Peace Corps and left for Chile, Nancy Waidtlow valiantly took over.
Some of the vendors have been with us almost since the beginning. Penelope Critchlow has her corner for displaying the popular woven scarves and hats and other clothing in original colors and combinations, and some people come back year after year to pick up an ever new style or design. Margaret Hudson also attracts people to her wonderful clay animals and pots year after year. Be sure to come by this year to visit with her and shop with her. She is now in a care facility, but we’re sure she’ll be there to greet old friends and fortify herself with the healthy soup that she enjoys.
Bette Peterson will no doubt he there up front near the entrance with at least one newly published book often with the author and/or illustrator on hand—children’s books, cookbooks, stories of and by different ethnic peoples who have settled in Fresno. Rosemary Morrison and Pearline Figueroa returned each year with their cloth dolls in various sizes and styles along with other fabric creations. Some years they made out better than others, but they always came to the Faire because they loved being part of the group. They came to WILPF when we were active in supporting the farmworkers’ organizing efforts with Jessie de la Cruz, who was a good friend. Now Morrison and de la Cruz have died, but Figueroa remains part of our sisterhood.
Along with the expansion of crafts and food has come the growth of information vendors—Peace Fresno, KFCF, Fresno Center for Nonviolence, the Community Alliance newspaper, some with money-raising products, all with information to promote the peace and justice agendas that they and WILPF advocate.
Our WILPF table just inside the entrance contains information about all our committees and priorities and current campaigns including our international connections, and how to join up with us. Our current areas of activity are represented by our committees: Building Beloved Community, including homeless issues and Dakota EcoGarden; Women in Black; Middle East; Cuba Solidarity; Earth Democracy; Corporations vs. Democracy; Raging Grannies; Disarm and End the War; and Advancing Human Rights.
Speaking of folklore, there is music, music, music all day long. Linda Dryden invites some of Fresno’s best musicians to perform. Mike Reilly and Bill Lehr do a good job with the sound. But be prepared to sit up close in the dining area if you really want to hear well. Yes, there is joy and hugging and kissing and greeting, especially if you haven’t been to the Faire for a while. All the wonderful people come.
So bring the kids! We always have a creative play area, and this year a special storyteller, Godfrey Coppinger.
Two special surprises this year, but I’ll let you in on them:
Hand-decorated beautiful Raging Granny Bears to raise money for Granny travels to the International Granny Uncon in Montreal next summer. They’re cuddly and cute but full of righteous rage. You’ll want one for everyone you know and love.
20 Fresno Women Committed to Change is back in print after 20 years. The stories and photographs of 20 radical Fresno women sold out two printings at the time of the exhibit and there have been many requests for it, so here it is again with photos redone from the originals using better technology.