By Mara S. Deutch
Special to The State News
The 19th annual Women in the Arts Festival was held Friday and Saturday at Edgewood United Church, 469 N. Hagadorn Road. The festival celebrated the diversity of women in the arts.
The festival allowed female artists to showcase their work or perform in a supportive and low-priced venue, said Marie Hansen, one of the coordinators of the event who has been working with the festival for 13 years.
The sterling silver jewelry, clay statues of female figures and paintings of voluptuous women adorned the church's hallway and main rooms. More than 30 craftswomen exhibited and sold their work.
The art festival allowed craftswomen and hobbyists to come together in one arena to buy, sell and critique the artwork of their fellow female peers.
Artist Deborah Dixon, of Ohio, displayed paintings of poised, robust women for the first time at this festival.
"People are empowered by my work," Dixon said. "I have a very sensuous line - the female form is sensual.
"I show what women, in all shapes, sizes and forms look like."
After coming to the festival in previous years, local artist Cynthia Ricks said she decided to display her Moon Goddess Creations jewelry this year.
Participating in workshops and concerts gave the community the opportunity to support women, Ricks said.
Attendees were also given the opportunity to participate in workshops led by women, including ones on estate planning, carving techniques and a primal beat drum healing circle.
"This year we had more workshops - the drum circle workshop is very popular," Hansen said.
The rich lyrics by musician Jen Sygit began the day stage performances on Saturday. Afterward, the nervous, yet comical antics of local musician Sarah Cleaver graced the stage.
"Tuning in front of people makes me nervous, but we're getting through it together," Cleaver said.
Many collaborations between some of the musicians featured throughout the day focused on political issues and female empowerment. Local artists Kate Peterson and Carmen Paradise, as well as Cleaver and Sygit performed a cover of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth."
"It was amazing - I had never heard all four of them sing together," said Mel McClure, a Lansing resident. "It was really empowering."
Peterson, who performed at the festival for the past three years, said she came back to support the growing women-produced festival.
"It's definitely hard to find such a strong group of women locally," Peterson said. Usually you have to travel to see so many and only women - the spotlight on the women's community, you can't find it elsewhere."
