Big Easy Intergalactic Bead Festival New Orleans, LA August 9-10, 2003
10AM - 5PM Saturday, August 9 and Sunday, August 10 VFW Post 6640 - 3314 Richland Ave., Metairie, LA From I-10 Exit 225 east on Veterans Memorial Blvd. then north on Richland Ave. or Exit 228 north on N Causeway Blvd. west on Veterans Memorial Blvd. then north on Richland Ave. Follow signs.Twenty-nine vendors from fourteen states with an extraordinary display of ancient, antique, vintage, and modern handmade beads for sale. Also, beadmaking demonstrations, identification and appraisals. Admission: $8.00 Saturday $5.00 Sunday BRING THIS LISTING FOR $1 OFF ADMISSION - 12 years old and under free For Festival Information, 888-729-6904,
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PRESS RELEASE FOR BIG EASY INTERGALACTIC BEAD FESTIVAL
New Orleans, LA The Big Easy Intergalactic Bead Festival will take place
10AM-5PM Saturday, August 9 and Sunday, August 10. Twenty-nine vendors from fourteen states will show and sell their wares of ancient to modern beads, bead books, beading supplies, and finished beads, at the VFW Post 6640 - 3314 Richland Ave., Metairie, LA From I-10 Exit 225 east on Veterans Memorial Blvd. then north on Richland Ave. or Exit 228 north on N Causeway Blvd. west on Veterans Memorial Blvd. then north on Richland Ave. An interesting mix of history and art, this bead extravaganza will feature over seventy-five tables representing the country's finest bead vendors. The fascination with beads is not a new one. People have been admiring, wearing, and praying with beads for over forty thousand years. According to Christopher England, the man behind Intergalactic Bead Shows, "Beads are not a passing fancy. In fact, in the many years we have been hosting bead shows, beads have only grown in popularity." When asked why he thought that was, England's reply was noncommittal. "Perhaps it is because of the satisfaction that comes from applying time and concentration to a small vial of beads to create a three-dimensional piece of jewelry or sculpture. Or, it could be the instant gratification found by stringing a collection of beads into something unique that you can wear that evening. Maybe it is the inspiration one gets from seeing other people's creativity come alive. Or, as one who has attended an Intergalactic Bead Show can tell you, it may simply be the experience of seeing so many colors, textures, and patterns together in one arena that lends itself to the bead frenzy. Attending our shows is like entering a room full of potential." Indeed, this weekend's Big Easy Intergalactic Bead Festival will be the premier place to harness the potential of antique and modern beads of every size, description, and material. The festival will also feature local bead artists and shops as listed below. In the world of glass lampwork beadmaking, artists often express their individuality by developing a signature style. The result is a collection of beads that is an identifiable, unique representation of their art. Timothy Holahan, of Holahan Glass, Arden, NC creates glass beads with a visual texture that resembles a snake or lizard skin. Holahan begins his beads by swirling one or two colors of glass with black glass and then he adds either raised or inlaid dots to finish the design. His seemingly simple use of color allows him to create striking beads that work as well grouped together as they do paired with other beads. A graduate of the Tyler School of Art at Temple University, Holahan started blowing glass in 1991 and his work has been featured at numerous galleries in Asheville, NC. Jon Kubricht of Da Beads of Galesburg, IL will showcase an extensive selection of imported beads this weekend. His collection of sterling silver, Czech glass, Swarovski crystal, copper and pewter beads hail from India, Thailand, Indonesia, Greece, and the Czech Republic. Some of the more unusual and rare pieces have been featured in "Ornaments Magazine" and other publications. Kubricht attributes the present popularity of beads to a current trend in "do it yourself" jewelry. According to him, finding the components and making your own jewelry gives you a sense of accomplishment, can save you money, and allows you to create a piece exactly the way you want it. Glass lampwork bead artist Bob Rubanowice, Rubanowice's Glass Owl Studio, Tallahassee, FL, has been working with glass in its many dimensions for over thirty years. Not limited to just one medium, Rubanowice layers vibrant colors to transform stained glass, lampworked beads, fused glass, and quilts into the multi-dimensional landscape, seascape, and aquarium scenes he is most noted for. Each medium produces unique textures and results, and his talent for layering and blending color lends itself beautifully to the glass lampworked beads he will be displaying this weekend at the festival. He creates "clear-cased beads" by building up intricate layers of colored glass and coating them with clear glass, thus magnifying the image within. Intended to be the focal point in a handcrafted piece of jewelry, Bob's award-winning beads can take over an hour in torch time alone to create. Bead shows are a family affair for Lisa and Tony Blackwell of Zoa Art, Tryon, NC. Although the Blackwells have been making and selling their beads and jewelry for less than two years, their fresh style and organic inspired merchandise already has a following. Tony is the glass beadmaker in the family, working with Italian Moretti glass in a nature-inspired palette of hues. His color combinations are a unique blend of blues and reds with neutrals, and he often adds silver foil to create a subtle sparkle and depth to the beads. Lisa is a self-taught silversmith. She adds her touch to Tony's beads by wire wrapping them into pendants, adding hand riveted silver caps, or fashioning them into custom bracelets and necklaces. Lisa also enhances her jewelry with glazed and unglazed clay beads, handmade silver chains, and Precious Metal Clay beads and embellishments. Ashleigh, the Blackwell's daughter, gets involved in the family business by creating beaded hemp bracelets that are a beautiful compliment to the other pieces. The artists in the Blackwell family blend their individual styles into beads and jewelry that are an amazing combination of natural colors, textures, and inspiration. Visitors to this weekend's festival are sure to find something to delight them from the beads ranging from historical to modern, handcrafted to mass produced, natural materials to the newest in synthetic technology. Along with beads and bead-making supplies there will be numerous finished pieces to choose from, including beaded bracelets, pendants, necklaces, and earrings. The various artists, vendors, and collectors brought together by The Big Easy Intergalactic Bead Festival will be bringing New Orleans the best selection of beads in the galaxy. Let the creativity begin! ####### End #######-- "IF IT IS GOOD FOR BEADS, IT IS GOOD FOR THE UNIVERSE" WORLD BEAD DAY September 28, 2003
** The Day To Wear Your Beads ** or join others beaders at an bead event near you.
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the pages of the best bead vendors on the Web and the IntergalacticBead Shows at
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ATTENDEES may contact the below for show newsletter.CHRISTOPHER ENGLANDINTERGALACTIC BEAD SHOWS44 TUSCULUM HEIGHTS DR STE BGREENEVILLE, TN 37745