The Morning Glory Fine Craft Fair takes place on the Marcus Center grounds Aug. 11-12. It’s the signature event of the Wisconsin Designer Crafts Council — an organization started in Milwaukee more than 100 years ago to help foster excellence in the fine craft community across the state.
Bob Dickey, president of the Council, and ceramicist Jean Wells, a member of the council for the past 25 years, tell us more about the organization and why it was founded.
The juried show has been around for 44 years, and features art in ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, photography, wood, and more. This year, it showcases work from artists in 17 states and Canada, including Wells.
Her art has appeared in the highly competitive show on and off for the past 20 years. “I did get in this year, thankfully, you never know. It’s always exciting to get the confirmation that I got in the show,” Wells says.
Another artist with work at the fair is Milwaukee-based metalsmith Sarah Mann. She describes it as a linchpin in her summer show season.
For shows like the Morning Glory Fine Craft Fair, Mann typically makes limited edition pieces. Basically, if she’s interested in making the pieces or people want to buy them, then she continues to make them.
She says there are many ways artists can sell their art, but she really enjoys going to shows. “It’s fun for me to sell on the internet and in galleries, but doing the shows is just a fabulous way to get to know the folks that are buying my work and for them to meet the artist,” Mann says.
Mann shares more details about her and her work:
