Springtime in Paradise
One of the biggest arts fairs in New England makes its annual spring stop in Northampton this week, with over 250 artists from every corner of the country showing work in ceramics, painting, decorative fiber, art glass, furniture, jewelry, metal, mixed media, photography, large-scale sculpture, wearable arts, and woodworking. Although internet shopping has taken a big bite out of the craft and art market over the past decade, Linda Post, the founding director of Paradise City Arts Festival, points out that “it’s really the personal touch, the conversations with artists” that still make fairs vital, “whether it’s a hand-thrown coffee mug, a wedding ring, or a painting, when you bring something home from a show like this, there’s a narrative to it.”
Paradise City Arts Festival: Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $8-$13, children under 12 free, three-day pass $16. Free parking. Three County Fairgrounds, Rte. 9, Northampton. (800) 511-9725, paradisecityarts.com.
— Hunter Styles
