Publication: THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE
Published: Thursday, July 03, 2008
Page: 9D
Byline: BOB SCHWARZ

Shelia Brown has been making reed baskets for 25 years, but she started thinking about selling them only after her younger daughter went to college.

“It was something to fill the empty-nest syndrome, after you’ve had two children who were involved in everything and you went to everything,” Brown said.

Brown will be one of more than 130 artisans who bring their wares to the Mountain State Art & Craft Fair, which has its annual run today through Sunday at Cedar Lakes Conference Center near Ripley.

Until early 2007, when she was juried into Tamarack, Brown gave away her woven baskets as gifts.

She makes baskets in 75 styles, with prices ranging from $15 to $150. “I have pie baskets, casserole baskets, blanket baskets, newspaper baskets, tea baskets, storage baskets, wine baskets. I could go on and on.”

She buys rattan reeds, leaving some their natural color and using a variety of commercial and homemade vegetable dyes to transform the rest. “It’s fun to experiment. I’ve done things with black walnut hulls, blackberries, teas and onion skins.”

Brown, 51, lives in Kingwood, where she has worked as an itinerant teacher of the deaf the past 29 years for Preston County Schools. She and her husband, lawyer David Brown, have two daughters, one in medical school and one in college.

She does four or five fairs a year, though she hasn’t yet done the Buckwheat Festival in Kingwood, where she would have to slip out of her volunteering role if she were to sign up for a booth.

She fits basket-making into her already crowded life. Much of the year, she writes lesson plans and grades papers. On Sundays, she teaches Sunday school, sings in the choir and plays guitar at Kingwood Presbyterian Church.

She likes to cook. She listens to ’70s music on compact discs while she makes baskets. “Or I watch the Food Network. That’s multitasking. I’m planning tonight’s dinner while I work.”

Does she have any free time? “Not much. I enjoy it that way. I enjoy other crafts as well, but nothing else commercial.”

The preparation for the fair has been intense, she said. “My fingers have been weaving madly. I don’t have a studio. I work out of my home. If you could see my living room right now, it’s piled high with baskets.”

Does her husband think she is crazy? “No, he has been my biggest supporter. I would sit down and finish a basket, hold a cup of green tea in one hand and a handful of Hershey kisses in the other, and critique my work and say this isn’t good enough. And he would always say, ‘This is good.’”

Friday, June 6, 2008, Mystery Dinner Theatre, sponsored by ACPC, in the Community Building, Kingwood, WV, at 6:00 pm.

$30.00 per person - dinner, show, and wine.

The author JoAnn Peterson and ACPC member will direct the play entitled “Death By Chocolate.” The audience will be engaged for a fun time and prizes will be awarded. Social time begins at 6:00 p.m.

Show description:

NO CAL DAIRY’s National Candy Making Contest is down to its final three contestants. There’s a whole lot at stake, more than meets the eye.You’ll meet the tongue twisting talker Jeff Goldthumb, brother and sister duo George Washington Green and Martha Custis Green, southerner Ashley Abernathy, flirtatious Ginger Moore, nasty Cindy Cramer and her hen-pecked husband, Kevin, efficient security guard Sim Simpson, and the sweet and bubbly Jackie Coco. Three of these colorful characters are actually audience members! Before the play has ended someone will have tasted their last tempting treat!

Audience members will have the chance to audition for a role in the show, grill the suspects, and win prizes for solving the crime. The audience member “actors” receiving the most money (votes) get to be on stage with the cast!!

Gourmet Meal by Claudia Atkinson Catering

Menu - Victorian Onion Soup, Imperial House Salad, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Mushroom Risotto, Glazed Vegetable Medley, and Death by Chocolate Cake (double chocolate cake with choclate ganache)

Tickets can be purchased at Mary’s Restaurant and Clay Art by Gail/ACPC Gallery on S. Price Street in Kingwood, Gregg’s Pharmacy in Terra Alta, Valley Pharmacy in Reedsville, Arts Mon on High Street in Morgantown, and from ACPC members.

For information, call 304-383-8565

Tickets are now on sale for the ACPC raffle basket. Price: 1/$2 or 3/$5.

Items in the basket include:

• Stoneware Bowl - Gail Anderson
• Porcelain Honey Jar - Rick & Susan Bisgyer, Ridgetop Pottery
• Fine Art Print & Stationary - Jean Bonnette
• Handmade Basket - Shelia Brown, Baskets by Shelia
• Natural Bodycare Products - Beth Clark, Appalachian Essentials
• Wooden Kitchen Utensils - Stan & Sue Jennings, Allegheny Treenware
• Rattan Carolina Star - Donna Lohr, Weaver Chick
• “Gathering Stones” CD - Keith & Joan Pitzer
• Cross-Stitch Pineapple Welcome Towel - Sandra Stanton, Hands All Around
• Handturned Wooden Jar & Bottle Stopper - Ed Thompson, Artisan Work

The MountainMade Artisan Gallery will exhibit the work of Preston County artist, Donna Lohr, through the month of March.  “I am blessed with the urge to create” Donna says.  Following in the footsteps of an “artistic father” and “crafty grandmother”, and encouraging words from her kindergarden class, Donna disconnects herself from the world and creates.

Combining contemporary folk art with a touch of whimsy, Donna begins with a fun twist to familiar sayings and then interprets them into two dimensional pieces.  Using felt to create her work, mostly cats, then embellishing them with buttons and other found objects and some tongue-in-cheek fun they come to life; joyous laughter follows.

Donna resides in Kingwood, W.Va. with her husband Don, three cats and “the world’s most understanding dog”.  A teacher at Kingwood Elementary School, Donna received an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Development from Marshall University and then on to WVU for a Masters in Special Education.

The gallery is open to the public without charge daily 10 am – 5 pm.  To learn more about artist, workshops and exhibits at MountainMade visit our website at www.MounatainMade.com .

Tickets can be purchased from any Arts Council member, including Gail Anderson at her Studio on South Price Street where the basket will be on display until the drawing on May 3 at 6:00 pm during Cheat River Festival. The winner need not be present to win. Info: 329-0017.

In early June, the Arts Council will be hosting a fundraiser dinner and murder mystery, presented by JoAnn Peterson, at the Preston County Inn. Further information will be announced and posted at the Arts Council website, www.prestonartscouncil.org.

Meetings are scheduled for 6:30 pm on the second Monday of each month and held at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church at 107 McDonald Street in Kingwood. All members of the greater Preston County community interested in visual or performing arts are welcome and encouraged to attend the meeting. For information call Susan or Rick Bisgyer, 304-329-1883.

Saturday, May 3, 2008, Cheat River Festival, Albright, WV, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The Arts Council of Preston County will feature an Art Market booth and two canopied craft areas for children.

Tickets are on sale for a large raffle basket containing samples of members’ art.

The basket will be on display at the Art Gallery, 137A S. Price Street, Kingwood, WV, until the Cheat River Festival on May 3.Raffle tickets may be purchased at the gallery, during the festival or from ACPC members.The raffle drawing will be held in the Art Market booth at 6:00 pm. The winner need not be present to win.

Laurel Mountain Coffeehouse shows are held the 2nd Saturday of each month Sept.- April at Monroe’s Restaurant in Kingwood, WV. 

Concerts are from 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Call for reservations at (304) 329-3354.

Multi-media Painter, Mostly Oils

Website: http://www.jeanbonnette.com

Email: jean@jeanbonnetart.com

After living most of my life in Ohio and California, I have recently moved to Arthurdale, West Virginia.  I grew up in Preston County and graduated from Morgantown High School.  After marriage, I lived in Ohio and raised a family.  In the 80’s, I moved to Washington State, then, to California.

In Lancaster, Ohio, I attended Ohio University in business and computer technology.  Throughout the years, I was employed by various corporate companies in administration.  While working as an office manager/art coordinator for a multimedia company, servicing publishers in Ohio, it rekindled my passion for the arts.  After moving to California and finding a welcoming artistic community, I pursued a second career in the arts, by enrolling in evening classes at Chabot College in Livermore, California. Later I graduated from DeAnza College, Cupertino, CA with dual degrees in Art History and Painting.

For many years, I have been an established painter in the San Francisco bay area, with membership in several galleries and art organizations.  Also, I have been a featured artist many times, participated in group showings, museums and juried art

My paintings are versatile with bold contrasts as well as subtle blends. I like to remain open to let the subject matter determine media and design, although oil has given me the freedom to blend color, apply thick or thin paint, and to affect a choice finish.  

Inspiration has been my motivation.  In doing portraits of people and animals, I tend to look for the spark that others see. Traveling has proven valuable in painting landscapes and finding perspective of place.  I do not have a favorite style or artist. My background in art history was for the story, and how each artist depicted his time.

As an established San Francisco, California Bay area artist I have been the recipient of numerous awards and honors in charcoal, pastel and oil. My paintings have been exhibited and purchased nationwide as well as portraitures of animals and people.

Laurel Mountain Coffeehouse, held the 2nd Saturday of each month Sept.- April at Monroe’s Restaurant in Kingwood, WV concerts are 8:00-10:00. Call for reservations at (304) 329-3354.

January 12, 2008 - Robin & Dan Kessinger