The Abbotsford Arts Council will be hosting a Christmas Artisan Gift Fair and Small Painting Show at the Kariton Art Gallery and Boutique from Nov. 4 to Dec. 22.
The fair is a new, seven week initiative by the Abbotsford Arts Council to provide the public with a unique place to buy one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers while promoting and supporting the work of local artisans. The entire gallery space will be dedicated to selling vendor crafts and small paintings for the duration of the fair.
All artisan gifts featured in the fair will be original, locally-handmade art including pottery, woven and painted scarves, jewelry, clothing, woodwork, books, hundreds of Christmas and greeting cards, and much more. Some particularly unique items include cutlery art, consisting of jewelry and other items made with antique silverware; world-renowned Victorian caroller dolls with hand-sculpted faces and clothing designed from scratch; homemade bath bombs; and jewelry and Christmas cards made by students of BC Teen Challenge Women’s Centre.
The fair will also feature small paintings and prints by members of the Fraser Valley Watercolour Society, Central Fraser Valley Graphic Guild, and other local artists.
Kariton Art Gallery and Boutique is located in Mill Lake Park at 2387 Ware Street and is open Tuesday to Friday from noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The artists will be present at the fair’s grand opening reception on Sunday, Nov. 4, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Non-perishable food items will be collected at the Kariton Gallery on behalf of the Abbotsford Food Bank throughout the fair.
For additional information, contact the arts office at 604-852-9358, by email at abbotsfordartscouncil@gmail.com, or visit the website at abbotsfordartscouncil.org.