This weekend’s 25th annual Castle Arts Affair at the Delaware County Cultural Arts Center will feature works by local artist Mary Williams.
“We wanted to choose someone that’s been tied in with the Castle for a long time,” said Lora Kruse, manager of administration and registration at the Arts Castle. “Mary teaches and volunteers here, always promoting the Arts Castle and doing whatever she can to help out.”
Williams creates handbags and quilts from recycled items, such as men’s wear.
“She’s pretty popular among the people that shop here, and a very good representative of the Arts Castle,” Kruse said.
In addition to Williams, there will be about 100 artists displaying and selling their arts and crafts in the 6,000-square-foot castle. Of those artists, a third of them will be new to the Arts Affair, and recruited from arts shows in Columbus and Worthington.
“We’re excited to introduce them to the public,” Kruse said.
Nearly all the rooms will be occupied, and some areas will be devoted to a particular type of fine art. For example, there will be fiber arts in the music studio; ceramics in the children’s studio, and a variety of genres in the ballroom and the parlor, including Ohio State-themed works. There will also be jewelry, glassware, photography, paintings, drawings, metal and paper arts.
“We try to set it up in a retail fashion, but with an artistic twist to it,” Kruse said.
A new feature at this year’s Affair is that there will be music each day, including local barbershop-style singers and piano players.
The Arts Affair is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Castle, a non-profit community arts center serving Delaware and surrounding counties. It is always held on the first weekend in November.
“People are just coming off of Halloween and starting to think about the holidays,” Kruse said. “It’s an opportunity to shop some local artists and get some things for their home or their loved ones.”
The Arts Affair begins Thursday with a preview party from 6 to 9 p.m. Reservations are required for the party, which includes food, drinks, music and a chance to meet the artists. The party costs $40. Call 740-369-2787 for more information.
The remainder of the Arts Affair is Nov. 6-8, from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission, parking, children’s activities and gift wrapping are free.
The Arts Castle is at 190 W. Winter St.
For more information, visit www.artscastle.org or www.facebook.com/theartscastle.
