Ashley Delonas of Mountain Girl Studios will be showing her creations like this pendant lamp with stained glass and antlers at the Western Design Conference.
Ashley Delonas of Mountain Girl Studios will be showing her creations like this pendant lamp with stained glass and antlers at the Western Design Conference.
The Western Design Conference, a popular staple of the Fall Arts Festival, celebrates its 30th anniversary this week.
The artists are on hand so attendees can meet the craftspeople behind the functional art, Western Design Conference Executive Director Allison Merritt said.
“You can also shop direct, because we don’t mark anything up, and 100% of the sales go to the artist,” Merritt said.
That’s more than 100 artists, working in a wide swath of disciplines and materials — leather, metal, wood, textiles, stone and more. Unlike many of the traditional art galleries taking part in the festival, however, the Western Design Conference’s focus leans more toward the practical.
“The only caveat for the work is it has to be functional,” Merritt said. “Furniture, jewelry, a lot of art to wear, clothing, all different types of fashion, things in leather and metal and wool. And it’s everything from cowboy to contemporary.”
The Western Design Conference was founded by a group of artisans and woodworkers in Cody to shine a spotlight on modern-day craftspeople working in historical American craft methods. The conference, which has expanded to include interior designers, architects, fashion designers and others, moved to Jackson in 2007, coinciding with Merritt’s tenure as director.
“Jackson has historically had such a strong art scene, and a lot of longtime collectors come through here, so our move to Jackson was really well-received, and the Western Design Conference has become a signature event of the Fall Arts Festival,” she said.
The conference includes not just a showcase and sale but a juried exhibition as well, and prizes are awarded in various categories. This year $20,500 will be awarded.
“We have a panel of five experts in different fields — different judges each year — who come and judge for us,” Merritt said. “I’m always blown away with what is brought to the show. We try to keep the bar elevated and we ask that the artists do the same, so it’s not a repeat of last year. Some favorite names that people really know return every year, but we also work hard to bring in some up-and-coming artists, new names and new faces, and some of them really surprise you with what they bring. Especially with the juried pieces, because artists go all out.
“In a world where everything is so mass-produced, it’s really refreshing to meet these artisans that are creating these one-of-a-kind pieces. And we work really hard to have a variety of different price points so that ‘one-of-a-kind’ does not necessarily mean overly expensive or unattainable.”
This year’s crop of makers includes artisans from 20 states, a record number. From Idaho comes Ashley Delonas of Mountain Girl Studios, who fashions chandeliers and pendant lamps from stained glass and antlers shed by deer, moose and elk. Returning from Tennessee is Kelly Maxwell, maker of rustic-yet-elaborate live-edge wooden furniture pieces. Chicago’s Gina Pannorfi will represent the fashion contingent with handmade silken and woolen scarves, shawls and other wearables. Indiana’s Jill Durzan makes a first-time appearance with jewelry crafted from beads, natural stones and artifacts sourced from all over the globe. And those are but a few of the world-class artisans who will be on hand.
The Western Design Conference takes place at the 28,000-square-foot Snow King Sports and Events Center, the entirety of which is transformed into a wonderland bazaar, flooding the senses with a wall-to-wall tidal wave of sumptuous colors and textures.
Doors are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Find tickets and other information online at WesternDesignConference.com. At 2 p.m. each day of the conference, there is an Attitude Adjustment Happy Hour, with signature cocktails and handmade artisan chocolates, included in the ticket price.
Like everyone else involved in participating in the Fall Arts Festival, Merritt and her cohorts at the Western Design Conference are feeling good about this year’s attendance in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We did cancel for 2020,” Merritt recalled, “but we were able to host last year, which was pretty amazing. We have always had a strong crowd, and our following online, on social media is strong too. We are looking forward to a really great year.”
Contact Michael Carmody at fallarts@jhnewsandguide.com.
PREVIEW PARTY & FASHION SHOW
5:30 p.m. entry/reserved seating for VIP ticket holders ($150)
6:00 p.m. entry/regular seating for general admission ($75)
All tickets include open bar and food.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 9 to SUNDAY, SEPT. 11
Doors are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
At 2 p.m. each day of the conference, there is an Attitude Adjustment Happy Hour with signature cocktails and handmade artisan chocolates, included in ticket price.
Visit WesternDesignConference.com online for tickets and other info.
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