Gateway Museum Hosts Craft And Artisan Show
MORRISTOWN - A steady stream of onlookers got a day's worth of art and history lessons Saturday as Morristown's Gateway Museum capped off a stellar summer season of programs with craft demonstrations featuring four local artists.
Martin H. "Marty" Snye, of Morristown, greeted those in attendance outside with iron working and blacksmithing demonstrations.
"This is so you can go home and bake me some cookies," he told one young lady who looked on as he fashioned a wrought iron spatula out of his forge.
Mr. Snye said the museum was looking to showcase local artists.
"I've been talking about the trade and showing off the various implements and what they're used for," he said, adding that "people seemed interested."
Inside the museum, Sarala R. Vebber, of Black River, and her friend, Claire J. Cox, of Chippewa Point, were interested in the decoy carvings by Donald W. "Don" Morley, who lives in the Depeyster area.
Mr. Morley, no longer a young man, explained to the women that he became interested in carving decoys when he was about 30 years old.
"Right out of the blue," he said of where his interest came, "and I've been at it now for almost 50 years."
Another of the day's artists, John P. "Jack" Taylor, said his love of woodworking resulted from his "restlessness in retirement."
Originally from St. Louis, Mo. and now residing in Morristown, Mr. Taylor showed off his hand-carved figurines, buildings, and animals.
"I love the feeling of working with wood," he told youngsters, Nathan Harker-Woodside, and Sam and Calvin Tourangeau as they looked at some of his whimsical mice. "You always get results. Wood can be molded into whatever you'd like. The possibilities are endless."
Joining the three gentlemen at the craft fair was Melanie Connor, of The Radiant Gem. She brought along her torch and was fashioning glass and clay beads for all to see.
"It gives me a lot of pleasure to see people's eyes light up at something I've created," she said.
Gateway board member Christopher "Chris" Coffin said Saturday's event signified the end of what he believes may have been the Gateway's best summer program season yet.
