Coming Unglued Again

Culture | February 25th, 2016

The 6th annual Unglued: Craft Fest is coming to Fargo on February 26 and 27 at the Plains Art Museum. I spoke with Ashley Morken, owner of Downtown Fargo’s Unglued and organizer of the event, as well as two participating makers, Ashley Nordberg of Ashley Beth Pottery, Fargo, and Laura Lempe of Poppy and Pippa, Fargo.

Day one, Friday, February 26 from 5 pm – 9 pm is aCraft Gala.Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Admission includes $5 in Unglued Cash that can be spent at the booth of your choice on Friday only, a drink ticket, appetizers by Mosaic, and live jazz.

On Saturday, February 27, admission is free from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with all 70 makers selling their work, swag bags for the first 100 attendees, selfie photo stations, and live music throughout the day.

Morken described Unglued Craft Fest as always expanding and changing: “I think it is incredible that each year we have more makers applying that are from around the area and beyond than we have the year before, which changes the Fest up each year in itself! This year over half of our 70 makers were not here last year and those that are returning are bringing newness, progress, or growth in their work so it's never the same.”

Morken continues, “As our creative community grows, Unglued: Craft Fest is supporting and featuring new, emerging, and also returning makers who find this event to fuel their own creative businesses and propel them to the next stage. It gives our community (and those who come from out of town for it) the opportunity to support these makers and get excited about handmade.”

New this year is a Young Maker's Market for artists 13 years old and under on Saturday. They have also added a Craft Beer Garden with local Prairie Petals and three local breweries. Morken is also thankful that that the city is expanding the LinkFM bus the day of the fest to improve parking. People will be able to park at the Moorhead Center Mall and use the LinkFM bus (which is free) to get dropped off directly at the Plains Art Museum from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

First-time participant Ashley Nordberg of AshleyBethPottery, has been working with ceramics for ten years, changing her focus to making after teaching art for several years. She received a degree in Ceramics from MSUM in 2012. She has been selling her pottery for approximately a year, working out of her home studio in Fargo.

She says “It’s been exciting and scary and crazy, but I absolutely love it.” She also does clay sourcing and pit firing at her parents’ home is Osakis, MN. Her work is for sale on Etsy at ashleybethpottery.etsy.com and Instagram @ashleybethpottery.

Nordberg likes the way Unglued supports local makers and thinks “the fest is a great way to meet local makers, connect with folks who are looking for quality handmade work, and be inspired by each other.”

Returning artist Laura Lempe of Poppy & Pippa, Fargo, has been working as an artist/maker for five years, following college: “It wasn’t until my niece was born that I saw a need for reasonably priced hair accessories for babies and little girls. Everything my sister and I found in the stores (at the time) was huge and expensive. I saw a need and thought I’d give it a try. Little did I know that five years later I would be the owner of a small business!”

She saw the need to make name-badge reels a year into opening Poppy & Pippa: “I, like so many others, have to wear a name badge every day. The badge reels available at the time were very plain and boring, so I did a little research and gave it a try. It’s now one of my biggest sellers!” Lempe works out of her home studio in Fargo. Her work can be purchased at www.poppyandpippa.com, Kittsona, Red Dot Uniform Shop, and Unglued.

Lempe is participating in the craft fest because “It’s the most fun you can have while working! Ashley Morken is one of the most awesome people I know. She treats all of us makers with the most respect, and plans for everything.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: 6th Annual Unglued Craft Fest

WHEN: Gala, 5-9 pm, Friday Feb. 26; Fest, 9 – 4 pm, Saturday Feb. 27

WHERE: Plains Art Museum, 704 1st Ave N, Fargo

COST: Gala Friday - $25 in advance/$30 at door; Saturday – FREE. Purchase advance tickets for Friday Gala on Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fargo-unglued-craft-fest-gala-evening-tickets-20764256450