Trinity Folk Art Festival Show Press Release

AN ADVENTURE IN AMERICANA ARTISTRY AND DECOR COMES TO CHICAGO'S NORTH SHORE

DEERFIELD, Il. - A faithful reproduction of an antique William & Mary chair crafted by a Wisconsin furniture artisan. A lighthearted, airy summer image painted by a prominent folk artist as the snow swirled around his New England barn/studio last winter. Classic wearable art designed, sewn, appliquéd and hand-embroidered by a Midwest couture specialist. A 21st century artist crisply cutting silhouette portraits of children for their patiently waiting parents.

These items represent a birdseye view of the rich design and style heritage being introduced to Chicago's North Shore this spring as Americana Artisans Showcase debuts Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1 at Trinity University's Meyer Sports Complex in Deerfield. It is produced by Country Folk Art Festival, acknowledged by Early American Life Magazine for the past two decades as one of the US's most exceptional presentations of traditional Americana.

A FURNITURE MAKER IN PERIOD DRESS ADDS TO THE CACHET OF AMERICANA ARTISANS SHOWCASE

To call master furniture maker Dennis Bork a purist is an understatement. Bork, of Antiquity Period Designs, Ltd. in Delafield WI., and a member of the Society of American Period Furniture Makers, uses only solid wood which he hand planes inside and out. His cases and drawers are held together with hand cut dovetails. All carvings on Bork's pieces are done by hand, not machine. And cut nails are used to fasten molding and backs to case pieces..

Bork is one of 55 artisans from 21 states participating in the Americana Artisans Showcase which debuts on the North Shore Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1. For the eclectic market, which is at Trinity University's Meyer Sports Complex in Deerfield, Bork will be clad in 18th century period workers' clothing as he completes a Philadelphia Card Table while show visitors watch. A completed version of the card table will be on display in Bork's booth as well. Bork will accept commissions for new orders. Other examples of Bork's work on display at the show include a Newport bed, a Philadelphia four-drawer bureau, a William & Mary black painted chair as well as firescreens, pipe racks and other small items.

A physics major in college, Bork later spent time working in a science lab before apprenticing with a wood pattern maker after which he launched his own operation. In line with his purist inclination, Bork's reference library contains only three books: American Antiques by Israel Sack; The New Fine Points of Furniture by Albert Sack; and American Furniture in The Metropolitan Museum of Art by Morrison Heckscher.

The strictly juried Americana Artisans Showcase is a one-stop source for a distinctive sampling of one-of-a-kind museum-quality reproductions handcrafted by some of the nation's foremost artisans and the introduction of some original European and American antiques. It is produced by Country Folk Art Festival, acknowledged by Early American Life Magazine for the past two decades as one of the country's most exceptional presentations of traditional Americana.

Baskets, bird houses, blacksmith items, boxes, carvings, dolls, European antiques, florals, garden items, gourds, floorcloths, country, contemporary, Shaker, twig and formal furniture, historic trade signs nautical items, paintings, papier mache, pewter, prints, portraits, redware pottery, quilts, rugs, textiles, theorems, wearable art, whimsy, whirligigs, Windsor chairs, concrete yard art and much more are available at Americana Artisans Showcase.

WHIMSY TEMPERS TRADITION AT A NORTH SHORE ADVENTURE IN AMERICANA

At work, artist Laura Ravenna interacts with some bizarre individuals. There's Humpty Dumpty who might be considered one of her mentors. And the fellow whose profile appears in the moon, the pesky, thin-skinned princess who's perennially bent out of shape by a pea that's somehow lodged beneath her mattress. Lest we forget the frog who patiently waits for the kiss that will liberate his true princely identity.

Ravenna, of Elmhurst, IL., is one of 55 artisans from 21 states participating in the North Shore debut of Americana Artisans Showcase, Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1 at Trinity University, Meyer Sports Complex, Deerfield. The strictly juried market is a one-stop market offering one-of-a-kind museum-quality reproductions of American antiques handcrafted by some of the US's foremost artisans and the introduction of a distinctive sampling of original European and American antiques. It is produced by Country Folk Art Festival, acknowledged by Early American Life Magazine for the past two decades as one of the country's most exceptional presentations of traditional Americana.

Laura Ravenna is known for her sprightly one-of-a-kind accessories and painted furniture whose designs temper tradition with whimsy.. With cherries sometimes showing up in her work, she's emulates a Mary Engelbreit-style folksiness. And her frequent black and white checkerboard designs represent a comfortable similarity with the endearing motifs of New York artists Victoria and Richard MacKenzie-Childs.

At the show, Ravenna will hand-paint one of her trademark garden hutches (often crafted of found, salvaged or stumbled across components). which will be raffled during the event. Free raffle tickets will be available at Ravenna's booth.