Carolina Home Show set for this Saturday

Rockingham County will experience fine arts and crafts Nov. 6-8 at the Hawk Spirit Studio, located at 683 Liveoak Road off Highway 14 south of Eden.

The annual Carolina Home Show will showcase 78 regional artists and craftsmen offering a wide selection of items for sale.

This showcase has been held for the past 14 years. Turnout has usually been in the range of 1,200 to 1,500 people throughout the weekend.

Susan and Bill Moore are both artists who specialize in pottery and glass. They have both served on the board of directors for the Rockingham County Fine Arts Festival. They are currently members of The Studio Group of Rockingham County, Piedmont Arts Association, Lynwood Artists, The Caswell Council for the Arts, and the Pottery Guild of Rockingham County.

According to Susan Moore, this is a great opportunity for artists to have a free venue to showcase their work. Most festivals and shows have an entrance fee and a setup fee, she said.

“We do take a percentage of the items that are sold, but they don’t have to pay for the space to be here,” Susan said. “We feel like we are providing a service to them. It is also free to get in, so someone can come and just enjoy the music.”

Bill Moore said space tends to fill up fast. Organizers do have a process for deciding what artists make the cut.

“We invite all artists back who have been with us before and we also have a waiting lists for artists because we are limited on room,” Bill said. “We look at their work before they come just to make sure it coordinates with the atmosphere of the other work. We want to show all the work at its best.”

There will be a number of different arts and crafts for sale at the show. These works include glass, pottery, jewelry, forged copper and steel, turned wood, garden accent, paintings, clothes and postcards. All artists make their own items.

“From the feedback we’ve gotten, people are most amazed at the types of pieces they see,” Susan said. “They say it’s a totally different show than others they attend, and they love the beauty and variety of the pieces. It’s some of the most beautiful work they’ve seen.”

Artists are also encouraged to setup their own tents because the Moores are limited on space they can provide. They will have at least 12 tents set up this year with artists who have opted for their own space.

“There’s a lot of talent in this area, and I’m glad we provide a venue for these artists to showcase and sell their work,” Bill said. “There will be decorative pieces and also functional pieces for the kitchen.”

The Moores said there will be items for everyone in all different price ranges available for purchase. They said they want people to come and feel like they have some buying power.

Other businesses will also be in attendance to offer information or accept donations. The Rockingham County Animal Shelter will have a booth, as well as other local businesses. The Moores said it’s important for them to promote other businesses in the area and for them to do the same.

“We feel a responsibility to help fellow business people in the area,” Bill said. “We need an economic boost at this time. When someone comes in from Greensboro, we want to tell them what else they can do while they are here. All of us need to be mindful of each other and promote each other’s special events. People need to know that there are plenty of things to do in Rockingham County.”

For more information on the show and the work the Moores produce, visit http://hawkspiritstudio.wordpress.com.