Meet The Artists and Artisans Lives Up to Reputation

The 49th annual Meet the Artists and Artisans show on the Milford Green this weekend was a local indication that the economy is doing better and that people are grateful for sunny days.

Despite the early possibility that this would be the show's last year, Denise morris Curt, whose leadership has made the show one of the most well known in the country, was taking a reservation for a future show from an artist when we came by. With very few open slots for the rest of this season, morris Curt penciled in the artist’s name for a booth in the fall.

A good mixture of repeat and new artisans brought the green to life. Among them were photographers, painters, sculptures and jewelers. There were also craftspeople using media not commonly considered art materials, like Robert Silverstein of Brooklyn, NY, who had a selection of trivets with natural elements embedded in clear acrylic channels. Beans, dried fruit, barley, and berries make for colorful and useful conversation pieces.

Silverstein, who heard of the show from other craftspeople, said he’s been doing well and is enjoying the show. Most of the jewelry booths were busy with people trying on necklaces and rings, and a woman selling hand-crafted table cloths was laying out a sample. Music blended with the aroma of food cooking at vendor stands.

Artisan Deborah Burnham of “Designed for You” came in from Hadley, MA, for the 20th year, and Melissa Flanagan of “Romancing the Stone” came in from Rutland VT, despite the extra cost of gas this year. Charles Tersolo came in from Boston and had a very good day on Saturday when he sold a large oil painting of a purple beech tree.

Tersolo is very selective about the shows he does, but, “Denise (morris Curt) is special,” he said. “This show is rated as one of the top 100 in the country according to Sunshine Arts Magazine. It’s a beautiful spot and the show is extremely well run.”

Tersolo shows in Ohio, Florida, Long Island, Massachusetts and upstate New York. Milford is his only show in New England.

Praise for the organization and for morris Curt was a common theme among artists. Newcomers to the show Paul Chadbourne Jr. and Sr. from East Haven and Barbara McMellon and Laurie Baird of Lordship Quilts entered this show because of its excellent reputation. "It's an honor and a pleasure to be part of it," said McMellon.

As to people walking around enjoying the displays, there were Milford neighbors and families out together on Mother’s Day. There were cars parked around the green sporting license plates from New Jersey and New York and one from Pennsylvania. One couple came from Stamford because they “always come to this show.”

It was a beautiful day for an outdoor art fair, said one man at the other end of a dog leash. Asked whether he planned to buy something, he said, “I just started looking, but I’ll probably find something I need to buy. I usually do.”