Arts And Crafts

Summer's almost over, your money's almost gone, and yet it feels like there's still so much left undone. What's a person to do? We can't help you with the money part. And much as we'd like to, there's no way to expand the calendar. But we can point out what you may not realize: There's plenty to do in and around Charm City in the waning days of summer, even with nary a penny in your pocket. Herewith, an itinerary for the thrifty, offering 50 no-cost activities to keep body and soul engaged over the next month or so. There's a lot to do, so get busy.

Every Wednesday, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., sisters Shytira and Shyrell Everett arrive at the Weinberg Family Center Y for two hours of charades, rock climbing, homework help, arts and crafts, picnics and other activities with mentors Sara Milstein and Kim Strassner. "My favorite activity is when we go to the art room to make arts and crafts," said Shytira, a third-grader at Harford Heights Elementary School in Baltimore, who is 9 and talkative and ties her hair in ponytails decorated with pink and blue beads.

More than 150 artisans and master crafts people from across the country, many using time-honored techniques to preserve history, display their wares this weekend at the York Folk Art and Crafts Show at York Fairgrounds in York, Pa. Crafts include art created on pieces of bark, wood and limbs, tin art, earthen ware, cinnamon treasures and jewelry made with multicolor buttons in a variety of size and shape.The Fall Antiques Show of York, featuring 18th- and 19th-century furniture, primitives, textiles, clocks, jewelry, decorative art and collectibles by more than 50 dealers is held concurrently with the art show.

Washington ZooLights Spend the holidays with some furry creatures and scaly critters at ZooLights, which features animal sculptures composed of environmentally friendly lights. Animal houses will stay open during this seasonal event, and gingerbread habitats will also be on display. The creations will be on display at the National Zoo from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 14-23, 26-30 and New Year's Day. The zoo will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. For more information, call 202-633-2614 or go to nationalzoo.si.edu.

Few designs for domestic interiors have been more influential during the past 100 years than those associated with the arts and crafts movement. Since its beginning in England in the latter part of the 19th century, this movement has never lacked followers, and seldom has it been so widely admired as in present-day America.The arts and crafts movement started as a rebellion against industrial design and mass production. Mainly geometric in its form, the English version of the style is also noted for its metal ornamentation and stylized floral designs in textiles and wall coverings.

Arts and Crafts furniture and furnishings made from the late 1890s to just after World War I may be the style statement of the 1990s. "It's not a coincidence that after the S&L scandal and Donald Trump got his comeuppance people should respond to Arts and Crafts," says Chicago dealer Michael FitzSimmons. "This furniture so directly and so intrinsically declares that it is honest and straightforward."The resurgence of interest in the Arts and Crafts movement parallels the values that brought it to life: a reaction against adornment and conspicuous consumption, joined with an emphasis on the virtues and comforts of home and family, respect for the natural environment and concern about the socio-economic condition of working people.

If you work regularly with art or craft materials that are toxic, be aware of symptoms that might show your susceptibility to various chemicals. According to "Safe Practices in the Arts and Crafts: A Studio Guide," you should be suspicious if:* you develop asthma as an adult. Asthmas beginning in adults almost invariably come from environmental contaminants.* your symptoms are worse when you work -- especially after long sessions -- and improve when you stay away from your studio.* you have an increase in the frequency or severity of your respiratory infections, especially those in which you are short of breath.

It's harvest time and collectors of Grueby art pottery are eyeing the current crop of available squash- and gourd-like vases and earth-toned glazed tiles made in Boston from 1894 to 1920. In seasons past conditions were ripe for bunches of good buys: fewer collectors and a more bountiful supply. Choice pickings are slimmer now, thanks to heated competition, and many expect prices to start climbing again after wilting in the recession.More attention is being paid now to the organic-looking pottery made by William H. Grueby's factory than ever before.

Take more than 180 arts and crafts vendors, throw in a lot of live music and plunk the whole thing at the end of Ocean City's boardwalk and you've got the popular start-of-fall event known as Sunfest. Sunfest, which this year runs Thursday through Sunday, was started by city officials 36 years ago as a way to keep visitors flowing into Ocean City after the official summer tourist season ended. It has grown so popular that last year more than 183,000 visitors attended over the course of four days, according to city spokesperson Donna Abbott.

Q: Do you know of organizations that offer trips to Japan focusing on the country's arts and crafts and design, perhaps with the possibility of visiting artists' studios or seeing craftspeople at work?A: Journeys East, 2443 Fillmore Ave., San Francisco, Calif. 94115, (415) 647-9565, offers "Brushes With Past and Present," which focuses on traditional Japanese arts. The 16-day trip out of San Francisco includes an ikebana (flower arranging) class in Tokyo, visits to a master potter's studio in Mie Prefecture and a woodblock carving studio in Kyoto (with the option of seeing craftspeople engaged in silk dyeing, weaving, paper making or other arts and crafts)

Ocean City Springfest Ocean City 's Springfest sets summer in motion. The four-day event, in its 22nd year, begins May 3 and features live entertainment headlined by The Fabulous Hubcaps, Loretta Lynn, Eddie Money and Survivor. (Loretta Lynn concert is sold out.) The festival takes place in the inlet parking lot at the south end of the boardwalk and includes more than 30 vendors for food and nearly 200 artisans showcasing arts and crafts. Admission is free.

No matter how many articles are printed about the problems faced by the youth of Baltimore, they always seem to get pushed to the back burner ("Occupy right to question youth jail plan," Jan. 23). Gov.Martin O'Malley's plans to build a juvenile jail need to be pushed out the window. Instead of using millions of dollars to design jails for youth, take a couple hundred thousand and open recreation centers. Why? Because they work! Growing up in West Baltimore, Liberty Recreation on Maine Avenue was a second home to me. I played on basketball teams, played ping pong, shot pool, and did arts and crafts.

The Strand Theater - 1823 N. Charles St., hosts Spooky Campfire Folklore, Oct. 28, 6:45 p.m. presented by the Maryland Humanities Council. Includes fire-eating and storytelling. Free. Call 410-685-0095 or go to http://www.strandtheatercompany.org. Maryland Science Center, 601 Light St. - presents Spooky Science Day, Oct. 29, noon - 4 p.m. "The Pumpkin Wizard" will be on hand to demonstrate how to carve jack-o'-lanterns. Also features crafts, games and experiments.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will hold its annual Celebration Gala fundraiser Sat., Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m., at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The event will offer patrons an evening of entertainment and fine dining and a concert (at 8:30 p.m.) will feature conductor Marin Alsop and renowned violinist Hilary Hahn. Tickets run $50 and $75 for the concert. Call 410-783-8054. Ukraine festivities Baltimore City's Showcase of Nations annual Ukrainian Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday, Sept.

Open house - Open Arms half-day program, Thu., Aug. 4, 3:30-6:30 p.m., Open Arms School, Our Savior Lutheran Church, 13611 Laurel Bowie Road. Children and parents invited to meet the director, staff and teachers who will be working with children during the 2011-2012 school year. 240-568-9352. Vacation Bible school - Monday, Aug. 15 through Friday, Aug. 19, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Solomon's Porch Worship Center, Quality Inn and Suites, fifth floor Patuxent Room, 1 Second St. Take a trip down Gratitude Avenue, Compassion Drive, Forgiveness Lane, Grace Parkway and Faithfulness Road.

Exhibit Slayton House Gallery presents a two-person exhibit through Aug. 31 at 10400 Cross Fox Lane. The exhibit features a group of photographs titled "Faces of Aging," by Marie McGing, that includes landscape photographs of Ireland and Scotland. "Eye Around the World" is an exhibit of oil and mixed media by Molly Safren. Summer gallery hours will be in effect through Aug. 12: 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Closed Sundays.

School's out for the day. It's raining and chilly. What to do with the kids? The Carroll County Arts Council has a suggestion: Take them to the Carroll Arts Center for a "School's Out ... Art's In" day of arts and crafts, and a classic movie with popcorn and juice. That's what the parents of 25 youngsters did Friday while school was closed for a professional meeting day for teachers. Parents dropped off their 6- to 12-year-olds shortly before 10 a.m., and for the next five hours the children decorated Halloween bags, painted tennis shoes or T-shirts and made holiday crafts including masks, ate lunch, then watched The Wizard of Oz. "It's good for the kids to do a fun craft on a day off and be with others in a relaxed atmosphere," said Susan Williamson, the arts council's visual arts coordinator, who supervised the crafts.

If walking down the aisles at IKEA is your idea of experiencing Scandinavian culture, you might want to head to "Scandinavian Fest" in Stanhope, N.J., on Sunday. The annual festival celebrates the traditions of the Nordic regions of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland, Estonia, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Lapland. A smorgasbord of fun awaits visitors, including music, dance, food, arts, crafts, re-enactments and games. The Kari Sjostrand Trio and Peter "Puma" Hedlund, both from Sweden, provide music.