Southport Magazine

Looking for something unique to spice up your home? Or maybe you need that perfect gift for the person who has everything. The 31st Annual Oak Island Labor Day Weekend  Arts & Crafts Festival might be just what you need! This popular event is back after a pandemic hiatus and will fill Oak Island’s Middleton Park fields with all sorts of artwork and handicrafts on Saturday, Sept. 3  from 10 am to 4 pm.

“Join the Oak Island Art Guild as we host artists and crafters selling their work, from ceramics to paintings, photography to textiles, outdoor garden decor and indoor to unique gifts! Works by local authors, woodworkers, glass workers and much more will be available. And lots of great food vendors and community groups will be there too!” said Mary Beth Livers, the event organizer, adding that the rain date will be Sunday, Sept. 4.

Vendors can contact the Oak Island Art Guild online at www.oakislandartguild.org for an application. The following are acceptable arts and crafts categories:

Clay/Pottery: Decorative or functional works of stoneware, earthenware, terra cotta, and porcelain made by shaping and firing.

Country Crafts: Decorative and functional handicrafts including wreaths, baskets, candles, buckets, signs, painted lampshades, plates, containers, etc. No personal care products, including soaps, lotions, essential oils, or honey.

Fabrics/Wearables: Wearable or decorative items crafted from fibers, batik, painted fabric, or paper. Includes quilts, soft sculpture, tapestry, embroidery, and weaving.

Garden: Crafts meant to be displayed or used outdoors.

Glass: Stained, blown, fused, molded, or etched glass. Also mosaics.

Jewelry: Produced from metal, clay, glass, fiber, paper, plastic, or other materials. Beads not made by the artist should play a subordinate role in the finished piece. This is a popular category and is strictly juried.

Metals: Functional or decorative metal works including sculpture.

Painting: Dry and wet media, including watercolor, acrylic, and oil paints, pastels, and pencils applied to paper, canvas, or board. Includes mixed media collages and assemblage. Reproductions of your original art work are eligible.

Photography/Digital Art: Prints or photographs made from artist’s original images. Includes work developed with traditional photography techniques and work executed or manipulated on a computer.

Wood: Hand tooled, machine worked, turned, or carved.