We're really excited to announce a fun instagram contest happening right at Arts on the Square! ScrantonMade has partnered up with Pic Monkey and Johansen Camera Bags to offer three fantastic prizes for all you creative readers! All you have to do is hashtag your Instagram photos at the event with #artsonthesquare. We can't wait to see them!!!

Johansen Camera Bags designs & produces stylish camera bags for women photographers. They are hip, meticulously crafted and VEGAN!!!

Johansen Camera Bags: Betsey Chocolate (retail $109)

Johansen Camera Bags: Gracy Mint (retail $119)

PicMonkey makes creative tools for photo editing and graphic design. Their Royale membership ($33 value) is all you need to get started editing your photos easily. 

Remember tag your photos #artsonthesquare for a chance to win these great prizes!!! See you at Arts on the Square.  

RVSP to the event on Facebook  HERE  

Arts on the Square Spotlight: Meet Nick of Duvall Leatherwork

Duvall Leatherwork has built an inspiring business out of handcrafted leather artisanship.  Based out of Wilkes-Barre PA, their passion for their craft got them nominated for Martha Stewart’s American Made Award in 2014. We are delighted to have their fine leather goods at Arts on the Square.

We see that your business offers finished leather products as well as prototyping and repairs.  Can you explain the variety of products and services you offer? 

We are a full artisan based manufacturing workshop capable of making all kinds of leather goods for our own retail sales as well as products for contract clients.  Prototyping is a very, very involved process of ideas, pattern making, materials sourcing, product development, cost sheets, and manufacturing instructions.  It takes a lot of energy to make an idea something you can hold in your hand.

We also can repair just about any kind of leather products with the exception of shoes, furniture, auto upholstery, garment alterations, and anything chewed up by a dog.  We do specialize in the repair of Louis Vuitton hand bags, and hand bags in general as well zipper repair.

What goes on in your shop on a typical day?

A typical day in the shop starts with cutting leather to fill orders, since most of our online order are "made to order" I personally cut all of the leather components need to fill the individual order.   Once the leather is cut, it’s assigned to an artisan employee to assemble.  While the artisans are assembling the items in each order, I move on to prototyping jobs, new product development, marketing endeavors, custom jobs, repairs, fixing machines, emails, money matters, etc.  Throughout the week we process and ship our products all over the globe.

What types of products will you be featuring at Arts on the Square.

We will have a very nice selection of leather belts, dog collars & leashes, canvas & leather tote bags, leather shoulder bags, wallets, card cases, passport cases, magnetic money clips, leather care products, bracelets, and our growler caddy!  Everything we sell is made in our Kingston workshop and has been for the past 10 years!

Have you done events like Arts on the Square before?  

Yes, we do approximately 15 - 20 arts & craft shows throughout the year.

  

Schedule of Upcoming Shows:

July 11-12 Corn Hill Arts Fest (Rochester, NY)

July 25th Arts on the Square (Scranton, PA)

August 8-9 Eagles Mere Fine Art Show (Eagles Mere, PA)

August 15-16 Lucketts Fair (Lucketts, VA)

August 22-23 C&O Canal Days (Williamsport, MD)

August 29 Shippensburg Corn Fest (Shippensburg, PA)

August 30 Yorkfest (York, PA)

September 12-13 Boonesboro Days (Boonesboro, MD)

September 19th Hummelstown Art Fest (Hummelstown, PA)

September 26th Harvest of the Arts (Carlisle, PA)

September 27th Fall Fest (Downingtown, PA)

October 4 Warwick Apple Fest (Warwick, NY)

October 8,9,10,11 Knoebels Covered Bridge Festival (Elysburg, PA) (Knoebels Amusement park)

October 17-18 Mountain State Apple Harvest Fest (Martinsburg, WV)

November 29th Scranton Cultural Center's Buy Local Show (Scranton, PA)

December 10,11,12 Christkindl Market (Mifflinburg, PA)

Find out more about Duvall Leatherwork:

Website: duvallleatherwork.com
Facebook: facebook.com/duvallleatherwork
Instagram: instagram.com/duvallleatherwork
Pinterest: pinterest.com/duvallleatherwork

Arts on the Square Spotlight: Meet Artist Mark Ciocca

Artist Mark Ciocca’s colorful & historic murals in Taylor, Moscow and the Anthracite Museum at McDade Park have really brightened up our local landscape. He works in many different mediums including linocut printmaking, pen & ink, and painting.  Stop by and check out his work in person at Arts on the Square!

Tell us a little about your background.

 Like everyone else my art started at a very early age. I remember drawing countless stick figures and x-ray vision of buildings and geographical images. In high school I lettered in track and was a member of the art club but definitely knew my art was stronger than my running for the next level of participation which was college. From there it has been a great enjoyment and passionate affair to keep reaching forward making public and personal art.

Self Portrait: Mark Ciocca

We see you work in quite a variety of mediums.  Can you share some of your favorites and something about them?

I like working with line, either in pen and ink or linocut printmaking. These "scratches" that are made can turn into many shapes and forms and are really just an extension of the lines I made as a child. My series of pen and ink architectural drawings of the buildings in the greater downtown Scranton area first started as appreciation, then gifts and then sales. I presently have about thirty of these drawings and many more as commissions for businesses and private individuals.

Linocut printmaking is my other favorite form and is a very traditional process using hand carved plates and roll-top printing presses. This style of art goes back hundreds of years as the first mass-produced forms of communications (Guttenberg). I like the carving of the blocks and the smell of the ink and the power of pressure in making a print a success. Think of this as a rubber stamp and  image but a whole lot more involved.

Central High School: Mark Ciocca

It’s clear you have a lot of local pride especially in seeing the murals you have created.  Do you have a favorite? 

I truly believe in a sense of pride and heritage being an area artist. My grandfather was an Italian immigrant who worked the mines and my mother a German immigrant who started a new life and family in the United States. This reflection is portrayed in many of my personal works but a little bit more in the Taylor mural on Main and Union and the mural at the Anthracite Heritage Museum at McDade Park.  This museum, by the way, is a gem for our area. You should see this museum, soon! These works reflect the time and place of our personal and shared histories. My mural on the Moscow Train Station building also incorporates historical imagery along with personal "cookies".

Moscow Train Station Mural: Mark Ciocca

What type of work will you be featuring at Arts on the Square?

I'm looking forward to Arts on the Square this year. Last year, I worked the event through the Lackawanna County Arts Program and thought it was great. What an opportunity for our local artists, crafts people and vendors to showcase their creative endeavors. I will have my pen and ink illustrations and original prints. For those that like variety, I will also have linocut prints with a political and social edge to them. What can I say, I'm working through some social angst!

Where else can our readers find your work?

If anyone would like to see a more complete body of work see www.markciocca.com. I'm also on Etsy under "Print Effects".  And, currently there is a national printmaking exhibition at Afa Gallery in downtown Scranton. I brought this group to our area from Philadelphia and what an outstanding show. It's up for the month of July , check it out.

Rickett's Glen: Mark Ciocca

Find out more about Mark Ciocca:

Website: markciocca.com

Etsy: etsy.com/printeffects

Arts on the Square Spotlight: Meet Lisa Glover of Kit Rex

At this year's Arts on the Square, be prepared to make friends with a 15 foot walking DINOSAUR!!! KitRex will be bringing this magical creature to the square to entertain the kiddos and adult alike.  You can also take home and assemble a 3 foot KitRex dinosaur of your very own! We can't wait!!

What exactly is a KitRex?

A KitRex is a flat-packed kit of paper board pieces that, when folded and tabbed together, becomes a 3ft long dinosaur. It's the first product line of my brand, Kit&Co, which will be making all sorts of imaginative cardboard and paperboard creations.

Have you always been a maker?  

I've definitely always been a maker- when I was 5, my mom and I would make baking soda volcanoes and paint pasta to make necklaces. In 3rd grade, I remember being super excited about creating 'simple machines' using cardboard, and made an elevator system for my Beanie Babies. I've made many Halloween costumes and would always go above and beyond on class assignments that involved creating something physical- I even made a functional cardboard Guillotine for French class in high school- though it didn't cause any heads to roll!

I saw that you had a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign.  Can you tell us about it and about your experience with crowdfunding in general?

I think the Kickstarter campaign's success was a random stroke of luck. While I believe my googly-eyed dinos are really awesome, there are a lot of people who have just as cool creations that don't get the love. I was lucky to have this sudden tidal wave of interest- a feature on the Kickstarter home page, a highlight in their weekly newsletter, and being the top post on reddit- all within about two days. Going viral helped me soar past my $8000 goal to a mind-boggling $110K.

Crowdfunding is a fantastic way to test your ideas, and it's the reason I was able to launch my business- but it can be fickle, too. My second campaign, I raised $30,000, despite doing a lot more ground work for publicity. Yet, I can't wait to do another campaign. They're a wild ride. 

Your gigantic dinosaurs are such a neat piece of public art.  How do people react to it?

People from all stages of life seem to be mesmerized by the giant dinos. From children to sharp-suited businessmen, everyone stops when they see it. It's so much fun, walking around in my costume- people want to take pictures of it and with it. I chase children around and they can't get over the fact that they're being chased by a 15ft long dinosaur. I think it opens up people's minds to what is possible with something as cheap and simple as cardboard. 

What type of work will you be featuring at Arts on the Square?

I'll be featuring my KitRex Velociraptor Kits as well as some partial costumes, for anyone interested in being a dino themselves. I'll also have some little crafts for kids, and of course, the big dino. You can be sure he'll be walking the square, making new friends!

Where else can our readers find you?

My work can be found at kit-rex.com, the Moravian Book Shop in Bethlehem, and in September and October at the NewYork Maker Faire and Scranton Mini Maker Faire.

Follow KitRex and the 15 foot Dino: 

Twitter @Kit_rex

Instagram @Kit_rex

Facebook: facebook.com/kitrexkits

Arts on the Square Spotlight: Meet Aline Fernandez of Handmade by Aline

Aline Fernandez makes stuffed toys with big personality! They make the perfect little friends for the kids in your life and, we think, great décor for stylish adults as well. We’re excited to feature her colorful creations and can’t wait to see them up close at Arts on the Square.

Tell us a little about your company and how you decided to start it.

I am not used to talk about myself, I live a simple life, my business is very small but I have big dreams for it.

In contrary of most people, my grandma didn't teach me how to crochet, I started to crochet about 15 years ago, I picked up a book and taught myself, not the easiest way of learning but I am very happy with my accomplishment and of how far along I have come. I create all my pieces and often recruit my husband and my five year old to stuff the toys arms and legs. I try to keep my material in my tiny closet studio but there is yarn all over the house. I am grateful for my amazing and supportive family. Crochet is addictive.

What type of products do you offer?

I specialize in children’s items, crochet blankets, sweaters, dresses, booties and sandals, hats, scarves, gloves, nursery décor, soft toys, pillows, keepsake memory bears and I have never turned down a custom order.

I love your line of plush dolls and animals. They have so much personality. What inspires them?

I started making soft toys for my younger boy, he has a bunch of bears, frogs and cats and one of each new boy toy created. My boys usually ask me to make a specific toy.  I also use prints and illustrations as inspiration.  The boys give me the final approval and they also test the durability of the prototype.

What are your favorite materials to work with?

I mainly work with cotton fabric and acrylic yarn. I like the way the two different textures look together; they are soft and pretty

What are you planning to feature at Arts on the Square?

I am so excited for the opportunity to be part of the Arts on the Square, I will be bringing my snuggle lovey blankets, lots of soft toys and some winter collection samples.

Where else can readers find your work?

You can find my product at the beautiful Willow Tree Shop located on. S. State St in Clarks Summit. I also sell on Etsy.

Find out more about Aline:

Etsy: hellocloud.etsy.com

Instagram: @handmadebyaline 

Arts on the Square Spotlight: Meet Artist Jill Hoffman of Forever Pine

We’re so inspired by the work of artist Jill Hoffman of Ithaca NY.  She creates animal creatures in paint, ink, charcoal and other mediums that transport the viewer into her magical world. We can’t wait to introduce her to Scranton at Arts on the Square.

Have you always been an artist?

I've been drawing, painting, and creating things ever since I can remember. A lot of my pieces contain images that have stuck with me since childhood. Nature and animals are the foundations in my work.

To me, there's nothing better than surrounding yourself with books, images, and objects that inspire you to create. I love getting into the meditative state of mind that comes with making art and creatively documenting your stream of consciousness.

My media varies and changes often. Acrylic paint, inks, charcoal and chalk pastels are some mediums I use in my work. I like to experiment, so I find myself exploring and working with different materials whenever I feel the inclination to pick up something new! Lately I have been delving into lino-cuts.

 How would you describe your work?

It's always hard to pin-point a description. I consider my style as dark storybook, sometimes reminiscent of folk art, and influenced by Asian styles. I'm a fan of dream art and automatic process, so there tends to be a nod to surrealism. 

Tell us a little bit about your process.

I'm a bit of a split personality with creative process. For certain projects, I like to do a lot of research on subject matter, deliberately choose media and intention for the piece. For others, I like to sketch, play with media, and let images manifest with no expectation. I enjoy both approaches, balancing control with instinct.

I see that you are from Ithaca, NY.  Have you ever been to Scranton before?
I have driven through Scranton, but that is the most of it. I'm excited to get to know the town better!

What are you creating for Arts on the Square?
I've been working on a new series of miniature animal paintings. I'm a bit obsessed with making small art pieces! I'll have matted and framed prints of those, as well as original drawings and paintings. I'm also working on new lino-cuts, silk screen designs, and jewelry with semi-precious stones and hand painted lake-stone animal pendants.

 
Where can our readers find your work?
I will be a vendor at the Corning Arts and Wine Festival, August 1st and the Hammondsport Festival of Crafts, August 15th and 16th.

You can find my hand painted stones, greeting cards, and prints for sale at Stomping Grounds in Geneva, NY, Amuse Modern Cottage Industry in Ithaca NY and original artwork at Handwork Artisan Cooperative where I work alongside 45 other local artists in Ithaca NY. 

My Etsy shop will be restocked this summer with new work and I frequently update my Facebook page with works in progress.

Find out more about Jill Hoffman – Forever Pine:
Etsy
Facebook
Twitter
Tumblr

Arts on the Square Spotlight: Meet Ryan Makinson of Clarks Cultures

We love Kombucha!  This fermented drink is not only delicious but has wonderful health benefits. Clarks Cultures has taken the area by storm since opening up shop about a year ago and we’re so glad that they are vending at this year’s Arts on the Square.

Hello Ryan!

So what exactly is kombucha?

Kombucha is a fermented tea!  Brewing kombucha starts out very simply: It begins with steeped tea and sugar, the sugar being a food source for the culture that does all of the work.  Kombucha is fermented with a yeast & bacteria culture over a period of days and weeks.  The yeast eat up the sugar, which results in carbon dioxide (effervescence!) and alcohol - the alcohol is then converted by the bacteria into their own food so they can grow and multiply.  So, after a brew session is completed, we're left with a non-alcoholic, low-sugar, probiotic drink!

Photo: Lawrence Braun

How long have you been brewing kombucha and when did you start?

I have been brewing kombucha for just over two years, and my business has been up & running for one year.  I discovered kombucha when I started working at Everything Natural about three years ago.  One of my co-workers gave me my first culture and instructions on how to make my own brew, and I haven't stopped brewing since.  I literally began with one kombucha culture and now I have hundreds.  Since I picked up my first culture in Clarks Summit, I decided to name the company after the town, Clarks Cultures!

Photo: Lawrence Braun

Do you have various flavors of kombucha?

Yes indeedy -- Naturally, I have an Original flavor which is just kombucha, nothing added.  Additionally, I have six other flavors that are crafted using real, organic fruits & herbs during a secondary fermentation -- BlūBerry, Turmeric & Ginger, I'm a Ginger!, Raspberry, Slightly Strawberry, and Mango-Lime.

What are some of the health benefits of kombucha?

Basically, good bacteria in - bad bacteria out.  Since kombucha is a probiotic beverage, it helps restore good bacteria in the stomach.  As a result, bad bacteria have a harder time taking hold within the digestive system and the body can more easily eliminate.  In turn, this helps promote a detox effect by restoring the natural balances of the stomach, which can then contribute to overall, bodily health.  Sidenote: What I just said is what I have learned about kombucha and hasn't necessarily been verified or approved by the FDA.  (Have to cover all of the angles...)

 Photo: Lawrence Braun

Where can our readers find your product?

Several different places around Scranton: JJ McNally's, Zummo's Café, Terra Preta, eden- a vegan cafe, Mansour's, and the South Side Farmers Market every Saturday!  If you want to venture outside of the Electric City, you can find my full line at Everything Natural (Clarks Summit), and other places like House of Nutrition (Luzerne), The Mill Market (Hawley), and several more -- check the Clarks Cultures Facebook page for the full list.

Learn more about Clarks Cultures:

Facebook: Clarks Cultures

Instagram: @clarkscultures

Scranton Times-Tribune article: http://goo.gl/GXlSPJ

Arts on the Square Spotlight: Meet Artist Katie Novak

We’ve been a fan of Katie Novak’s work since she lived right here in Scranton. Now residing in Philadelphia, we’re thrilled she is bringing her artwork & handmade products back to Scranton for Arts on the Square.

Have you always been an artist?

I have loved making art since the day I got my first box of crayons! I graduated from Marywood University in '06 with a BFA in Illustration. Shortly after graduating I played a role in the rebirth of Scranton’s Test Pattern Art Gallery. I was a studio assistant for a minimalist painter where I learned the invaluable lesson of how to properly stretch a canvas -and I’ve stretched a lot of canvases since then!  I worked at the Philadelphia Museum of Art for a few years and now I am working at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.  My preferred mediums are acrylic paint, water colors, and wood. For a while I was painting on large scale canvases but currently I have done a complete 180 and really enjoy working on tiny canvases. I like to experiment with different textures and layers and recently have been painting and carving on pieces of wood. I also make custom frames for each of my paintings!

  

We’ve loved your paintings since you resided here in Scranton. What currently inspires your work?

My surroundings are my biggest influence. A lot of times I don't know what I am painting until I start painting. When I step back from my work and look at the last few paintings I made collectively, they are usually connected with where I am - literally. I am currently obsessed with painting buildings and houses which makes sense because I live in a city. Everywhere I go I am surrounded by buildings and row homes. Whether I am looking at them or not they are everywhere! And it shows in my most recent work. I am obsessed with rectangles!

I see that you designed a line of greeting cards.  Was that your first foray into product design?

Actually, I started with handmade wood planters! When I decided to start selling my work at craft fairs I wanted to have an array of handmade items available. It was really important to me that I was making as much as possible with my own hands. So I dabbled in handmade, hand painted greeting cards. I am having a lot of fun with them!

What will you be showing at Arts on the Square?

I will have my custom framed paintings, wood planters (with plants!), and greeting cards.

Where can our readers find your work?

I am new to craft fairs but I will be at a few more coming up, the next one I have lined up is Arts on the Square (of course!) I will also be at The Philly Mart in Manayunk section of Philadelphia. I have an Etsy. And I update my website and blog frequently with new work and projects I am working on.

Find Katie Novak Art online:

www.katienovakart.com

www.etsy.com/shop/katienovakart

Arts on the Square Spotlight: Meet Jennifer Barrett of Woven

We’ve been fancying these gorgeous dreamcatchers since we first spotted them in our Instagram feed.  Meet Jennifer Barrett of Woven; the artist behind these dreamy creations. We can’t wait to see them at Arts on the Square!

Tell us a little about how Woven came about?

Last spring I began making dreamcatchers as a hobby. As I got better I thought about trying to sell them and coincidentally a local store was looking for a local artist that made dreamcatchers to sell in their store. So, in the fall I began selling my dreamcatchers at The Wonderstone Gallery in Dunmore. In March, I decided to make an Etsy page, and with the help of my friend, Woven was created. 

Your dreamcatchers are just, well, so dreamy! What inspired you to start making them?

I don’t really know if anything really inspired me. I’ve always loved them and have received many as gifts. One day I just decided to get some materials and make one. I have been since.

Tell us a little something about your process.

I usually watch a movie or listen to music while I work on a dreamcatcher. Depending on the size, they can take anywhere from 2 hours to many hours over the course of a couple of days. My favorite materials to use are hemp, sticks, feathers, scarf yarn, and any size of metal rings.

Where else can our readers find your work? 

You can find my dreamcatchers in The Wonderstone Gallery in Dunmore, Nearme Yoga in Moosic, and Etsy. I am also doing Arts on the Square in July and First Friday in August at eden-a vegan café.

Find out more about Woven

Website: etsy.com/shop/woventheshop

Instagram: @sailorjennyy