STORY.

Izms of Art Attend the fall 2009 Crafty Feast Indie Art Fair in Columbia, South Carolina

Story by: Keilah Michal

On December 12th Cedric Tawfiq Umoja and Brother Mustafa of Izms participated in the fall Crafty Feast Indie Art Fair. The venue was the historic Tapp’s department store building located on Main Street in downtown Columbia, South Carolina. The Crafty Feast is an art fair that features regional independent artist whose work is non-traditional or experimental. The participating artists are judged during the day by a group of artists selected to critique each participants work. The artists pay $60 each to participate and can sale their work to the public who are admitted at no charge. Variety was definitely in abundance at the fair which featured various types of artist and art forms from decorative jewelry to brass work, and all for sale at fairly reasonable prices. This was the ideal place for anyone looking to purchase original artwork whether for personal collection or exhibit.

The Crafty Feast lasted from 11 am until 6pm and despite the freezing cold weather garnered a good attendance. Many of the participants are “green artist” whose work gives new purpose to materials which would otherwise be discarded. I had the pleasure of meeting one such artist while at the fair, Barbara Howse-Diemer, also known as “the Tie Lady”. After her fathers death Howse-Diemer inherited several heirlooms from her father including a massive collection of neckties that belonged to him. She could not decide what to do with all of the neckties but did not want to throw them out because they reminded her of her father. She began to experiment with using a weaving technique to weave the ties together to make the seat of wooden chairs. She soon discovered that the woven ties brought character to the backs and seats of wooden chairs. Howse-Diemer has stopped using her father’s neckties but collects old neckties to use in her work. Each chair is unique and the old neckties give them a retro and funky look. After watching a passerby use her ample bottom to test one out, I must say the chairs are quite sturdy! As a historic preservationist I am impressed with how she was able to preserve the memory of her father and reuse items that many others would have just thrown away. Barbara Howse-Diemer is a dancer by training and has taught dance for many years. She currently teaches dance at Eau Claire High School just a few miles outside of downtown Columbia. Our conversation turned from independent art to the need for African-Americans in particular to make better effort to pass-on family heirlooms and records. Unfortunately, in many African-American families records and documentation such as obituaries, birth certificates, diplomas, old photographs and marriage certificates are often discarded as trash by family members after the death of a loved-one. As a preservationist I am often disappointed to hear that the one person in the family who held on to family records and memorabilia did not pass them on before their death or could not find younger family members willing to take an interest in retaining family history.

In addition to Barbara Howse-Diemer’s work our own artist Brother Mustafa and Cedric Umoja were at the Crafty Feast serving up urban art at its best. Cedric Umoja’s work was a piece that focused on different ethnic cultures from the global south merging into one. The untitled piece was done on 4 ft x 8 ft wood board canvas. He also displayed many black and white prints of earlier sketches and skateboard art. Mustafa and Cedric had a series of poster they collaborated on out on display which ranged in theme from religious vs. profane to pop culture icons.

One of the highlights of the Crafty Feast was the DJ, Chris Wenner. With an impressive collection of mostly original vinyl records, he kept the atmosphere vibin’ to 45’s of rare soul and funk and some recognizable jazz cuts. My love for the DJ was solidified when I heard a cut off of the once banned Eugene McDaniel’s album Headless Heroes of the Apocalypse. The fair also featured a separate children’s area with an art teacher on hand to help the little people create their own masterpieces. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, the little person that I was going to bring with me had already bounced out to the local playground when I went to pick him up. Nonetheless I really enjoyed myself and the fair put a ray of sunshine in what was otherwise an overcast and cold morning.
Listed below are the sites of few other independent artist who participated in the Crafty Feast:

www.nanabysally.com – nana by artist Sally Peek are a collection of cool handmade clutches, aprons, and handbags inspired by the women in Sally Peeks family.

www.wingodesigns.com – Landscape Architect and Metallurgist Jimmie Lynn Dykes creates jewelry and designs interior spaces for Wingo Designs.