By Lee Reinsch
Correspondent
GREEN BAY – Take just under 100 artists ranging from glass blowers and metal artists to makers of original jewelry and painters of silk.
Put ingredients into four large rooms at the KI Convention Center, add live music and art demonstrations.
Blend in 7,000 people and simmer for 14 hours over two days, March 8 and 9.
Inhale the aroma. Devour the art. Emerge from the Artigras revived.
This year’s Artigras/Green Bay Packaging Art Fair marks its first year in a new location, and its parent organization, Mosaic Arts, Inc., doesn’t just have a new office but a new director.
The event moved from its longtime home of Shopko Hall in Ashwaubenon to the KI Convention Center in downtown Green Bay.
“I’m very excited for the new venue,” said Mosaic Arts, Inc. Executive Director Silvija Jensen. “Not only does it provide a beautiful backdrop for our artists, but it also offers free covered parking for our show attendees.”
She added the new set up should make loading and unloading easier for the artists.
More than 90 artists will showcase their talents, offering much of it for sale, including sterling silver, leather and stone, and crocheted wire jewelry; painting (oil and acrylics and even spray painting); recycled materials, including clothes; ceramics, pottery, photography, graphic art, and creations made from metals, wood and fiber.
“I’m really excited to meet all of the artists,” Jensen said.
Not just anyone can exhibit at Artigras – artists must be juried in.
That means they’re handpicked and given the stamp of approval from an art professional.
“But anyone who has been an award winner at Artigras or Artstreet (another Mosaic Arts event) can bypass the jury process – they’re grandfathered in,” Jensen said.
Each artist is donating a piece of their artwork to be raffled off. Tickets are $1 each.
Entertainment throughout the two-day indoor festival will include belly dancing, acoustic rock, jazz and blues, children’s ballet, Irish acoustic music and children’s entertainment.
Kids can explore their artistic inclinations through take-home projects and play opportunities.
Mosaic Board of Directors co-president Annah Dugan said she has great expectations for this year’s event.
“I’m just excited about all the positive changes – from the new location at the KI, the events, and our new office, to talking to the community about what (arts) gaps exist and how we can fill them,” she said.
Dugan’s been on the board for five years and shares the presidentship with Cameron Teske.
Jensen came on board as executive director of Mosaic Arts, Inc., in January and hit the ground running.
Her background in event planning includes 12 years volunteering with On Broadway, Inc., including planning Winterfest and the first Taste on Broadway, organizing events for BAHS (formerly the Bay Area Humane Society, and Lakeshore Humane Society.
As fund-development coordinator for the YWCA of Greater Green Bay for two years, a non-volunteer position, she orchestrated the 300-attendee Women of Vision luncheon and the YWCA’s Holiday Gala fundraiser.
Jensen has been passionate about the arts for most of her life.
Lengthy stays and surgeries as a child at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware, gave her an opportunity to spend time at the 77-room Nemours Estate, with which she became enamored.
“I’m convinced that the mansion, the art, the grounds, the buildings, all shaped my love of art and architecture because I was surrounded by it at a very young age,” said Jensen, a native of Pennsylvania.
Mosaic recently moved from the Bellin Building on the city’s east side to 300 N. Broadway on the near west side.
Jensen said she thinks the new spot will help Mosaic reach out to the community with downtown events.
“It’s a crazy good location for the farmers market,” Jensen said, noting the Wednesday summer farmers markets on Broadway will be right out their front door. “We’re going to rock it.”
Among Jensen’s desires for Mosaic is to be involved with the farmers markets on Broadway, establish an art outreach in schools, partner with community organizations, renew its speaker series, and revive its former literary publication, The Quill.
Mosaic Arts, Inc. started in 1979 as the Northeastern Wisconsin Arts Council and later changed its name to new ARTS/Northeastern Wisconsin Arts Council.
Artigras/The Green Bay Packaging Art Fair is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 9, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 10.
Parking is free in the Main Street ramp.
Tickets are $10 at the door and include a coupon for 10 percent off at Pub 333 inside the Hyatt.
Advance tickets are $7 and available at all Green Bay area Festival Foods stores. Kids 12 and under get in free.