You can see where the magic happens

You can see where the magic happens

By SARAH POULTON

VINDY.COM CORRESPONDENT

YOUNGSTOWN — Kick off the holiday season and stop by the Ward Bakery Building on Mahoning Avenue for the fifth annual Artists of the Mahoning Commons Holiday Open Studio and Sale.

Set for Saturday, Sunday and Nov. 24 from noon to 5 p.m., the sale will feature hand-made jewelry, sculptures, pottery, glass art and mixed-media, as well as traditional wall-art and paintings. Artists will have their studios open, so anyone can see where the magic happens.

Local artist Marcie Roepke-Applegate of Boardman says the sale will showcase local artists who have their working studios in the building, or who have been invited by the Artists of the Mahoning Commons. The studios are open to the public twice a year, once in November and once in the spring, she said. Otherwise, access is by appointment only.

The sale came about because the artists renting studio space in the bakery building were making beautiful items and needed a place to display and sell them, Roepke-Applegate said. She has her jewelry on display at some local businesses, but needed another venue for her work.

“We make stuff,” Roepke-Applegate said. “We need to sell it.”

Another local artist, Lynn Cardwell of Boardman, agreed.

“We needed a venue and it made sense,” Cardwell said. “People are curious about how art work is made, what studios look like.”

Cardwell, a potter, said the Artists of the Mahoning Commons group started five years ago when they were looking for a place to sell their work. The sale has grown every year, and last year, about 800 people attended, she said.

“The public has really given a great response,” Cardwell said. “It brings the whole community in.”

Roepke-Applegate said the merchandise prices range from as low as $5 for something like a key chain to hundreds of dollars for paintings and sculptures. Many items can be made on commission, meaning it can be made-to-order, pertaining to size, color or similar details, she said.

“That’s one advantage of buying local art,” Roepke-Applegate said.

Local author Chris Barzak will be there selling and signing his book, “One for Sorrow,” published by Bantam Books in September. Roepke-Applegate said some of the artists, including herself, have created pieces inspired by the novel, and will have those on display.

She thinks the local consumers like the wide variety of artwork and knowing that local artists made the pieces gives them a personal touch, Roepke-Applegate said.

“Each artist has their following of customers, but people who come here support all of us,” Roepke-Applegate said.

Cardwell said the Artists of the Mahoning Commons is loosely organized to give them a neighborhood identity. Proceeds of the sale go to benefit the next show.

“We try to keep connected with the neighborhood,” Cardwell said.