~ Mark Your Calendar ~ The 6th annual Francisco's Farm Arts Festival at Midway College is June 27 & 28 ~

Each week between now and the Festival, we'll introduce you to one of the 150 artists from 17 states who will be coming to Midway in June. If you enjoy the newsletter consider sharing with friends and help us grow!

Meet Donald Krebs ~ Green Turner

Donald Krebs, of Scaly Mountain, NC is a "green" turner. He turns newly cut, unseasoned wood.  Each piece dries after he has shaped it on the lathe, so the wood may move and distort as it seeks equilibrium.  This adds an unpredictable and unique character to each piece and emphasizes the organic nature of the material he work with - utilizing the bark and natural contours of the tree.

He first became interested in shape and form while studying architecture at Princeton University.  After graduation he worked for an architectural firm for several years before leaving to pursue other opportunities.  In the late 70's he moved to the Highlands area of North Carolina and opened a one-man cabinet shop.  For almost 20 years he produced high quality cabinets, furniture and architectural millwork. 

After repeated urging by a friend, he finally tried turning and immediately discovered that he loved it.  "The spontaneity and creativity of turning came as a welcome release from the limitations of cabinet building," Krebs says. 

He has been a full time wood turner since 1998.

 

"All my work is made from solid pieces of wood turned on a lathe.  All shaping of the piece is done on the lathe.  I do not carve or modify the piece in any way after it is removed from the lathe and I do not add stain or color to my pieces.  Everything you see in my work occurred naturally in the wood I use."

From his art festival schedule it appears you'd have to travel to Atlanta, Decatur, Chattanooga, or Greenville to meet him. Fortunately he's coming here to Midway next month, so you can meet him and appreciate his beautiful turned forms in person.  
           

Thanks for your support! Talk to you next week!

    
Marcie Christensen
Event Coordinator / Imagineer
(pssst......the music stage schedule has just been posted.....surprises..)

Visit the Newsletter Archives for More Artist Profiles

UPCOMING EVENTS ~  MARK YOUR CALENDAR and JOIN US!

Wednesday, May 27th ~ 6pm ~ Thoroughbred Theater

"Night of Midway Talent: A Fundraiser for Francisco's Farm Arts"

Admission is Free, Donations are welcome (as well as encouraged, promoted, appreciated, and unashamedly suggested!)

Featuring: Midway Baptist Praise Band, Bill and Leslie Penn, The Jones Boys, Billy and Lauren Hill, Margaret Lyle Gravitt.......And More...

Sunday, June 7th ~ 5pm ~

"First Look: Francisco's Farm Arts Festival"
at First United Methodist Church ~ 211 Washington Street ~ Frankfort

FUMC sees art as one of its community services and a new facility has designated space for featuring art exhibits and events. They've chosen a selection of our 2009 exhibitors to present at their "First at First: An Evening of the Arts" series, which includes a jazz service.

I will be on hand to talk about the exhibit and the Festival before the service. The exhibit will be installed on May 17th and will remain up until the Closing Reception on June 25th ~ 5pm to 7pm.

PPS - Help This Art Festival THRIVE!  

As I'm sure you can imagine, fundraising is a serious challenge this year. In challenging economic times, non-profits take advantage of the potential to raise pennies from every decent source and the pennies add up! You absolutely would not believe how much you can help us just by using a Kroger Gift Card.

Many non-profit organizations and schools earn money through this program, and we've joined them!

Order your Gift Card today. Mail a check for $5 and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Francisco's Farm at the address below, and I'll send your card (preloaded with $5) and complete instructions. Each time you recharge (add money to) the card, Kroger will donate cash to the Festival.

When you order a Gift Card we'll put your name in the FarmBucks Drawing. One lucky winner, drawn before the Festival, will receive $100 in FarmBucks to spend on art at the Festival. AND every time your recharges total $500, we'll put your name in the drawing again!

Magnify your efforts by encouraging friends and family to order Gift Cards, too! There is no limit to the number of cards we can distribute or the amount of money we can earn.

Questions about how the Gift Cards work? Click here for the All The Answers!