By Juan Soto
The Sunnyside Arts and Craft show is growing every year.
About 40 local artists put their work up for sale at individual tables during the annual pre-holiday fair.
Items for sale included textiles, leather, ornaments, jewelry and art. Sale prices ranged from $1.49 to $149.
In an era when technology has basically taken over, the organizers of the fair had only one condition in mind for the locals who wanted to participate.
“Everything has to be handmade,” said Manny Gómez, president of Sunnyside Artists, a nonprofit of visual artists and art supporters promoting local fine arts. “It’s not fair to others if the products for sale at the show are not handmade.”
The exhibit took place Sunday at the Queens of Angels Church Parish Hall, at 44th Street and Skillman Avenue.
It was a success. Hundreds of people showed up at the fair looking and shopping.
The busiest time was right after the 10:30 a.m. mass. In early editions, the fair hours were from 12-5 p.m., but this year organizers decided to extend two hours, from 10 a.m to 5 p.m.
There was also lunch at the fair. The traditional favorites for the foodies were available: meatball sliders, vodka penne and desserts.
The show’s organizers also said some of the artists who wanted to participate were turned down because of the lack of space at the church’s hall.
“We had over 100 applications,” Gómez said. “It was impossible to accommodate all.”
Part of the fees to set up the tables went to food pantries, especially to St. Raphael’s in Sunnyside.
The church serves food regularly to about 1,500 people.
Sunnyside Artists also holds a fine arts exhibition that takes place in June
Comic artist and illustrator Alexio Gessa was a first-timer at the show.
“This is great,” said Gessa, who goes by the name of “Lex.” “This events brings people together and they bring artists together.”
Lex, who had a booth at New York Comic Con, was drawing new sketches as he was selling his art at the fair.
Nearby was Blanca Narváez. She was selling products made out of dried fruits.
“I usually make designs out of the dried fruits,” she said in Spanish. “My goal is to have people enjoy the food and be healthy at the same time,” said Narváez, who won the prize for best dessert at the Best Dessert in Queens Taste in 2012.
Reach reporter Juan Soto by e-mail at jsoto@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4564.
