MACON, Ga. — Artists are lighting the way into the Fire and Ice event from the Macon Art Alliance. Not only will you find art on display, but you can see a glass blower creating art on the spot.
"We also were trying to think about how to make it different. We thought about the hot and the cold, and the ice for the holidays, and we have several glass artists that we work with, and it just came to be," Executive Director Julie Wilkerson said.
Wilkerson says since the Macon Arts Alliance created Fire and Ice the event's blown up.
"The number of artists have grown from 18 to 41 this year and then the amount of sales has also grown. That first year I think we had $12,000 in art sales and then that has more than tripled over the last 4 years," she said.
In addition to creating buzz for the organization, the event also puts money in artists' pockets.
"The artist gets 65% percent of sales price. The percentage we gets help cover our costs for setting up the event. Its a great way to give them a concentrated amount of people. We usually have about 1,500 people that come through and shop," Wilkerson said.
"Having a place and an audience that we don't normally bring in is really important for not just ourselves but just about every artist in the area," local artist and co-owner of Startup Studios Bryan Beck said.
You can see glass blower Beck actually working his magic during the event.
"Basically we scoop up a glob of molten glass at 2,200 degrees then we blow air into it making a bubble then we open that bubble up into this bowl form," Beck said.
This event is way to pick up something special for the holidays as well as enjoy and support local artists.
Beck says all the demonstrations are about 15 to 20 minutes long--and if you like his artwork you can buy it.
He'll be selling some of his pieces. This all happens at the round building at Carolyn Crayton park.
The event is open from Friday November 11 through Saturday November 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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