GREAT FALLS — Whether you have a burning passion for the arts or simply like to get out into the Great Falls social scene, the Arts On Fire Festival on Saturday might just be where you find yourself this weekend.
It will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, and will feature live music, craft and vendor booths, food, and the big draw - art.
People of all ages can get involved - from face painting for kids, art demonstrations for aspiring artists, and an auction for art connoisseurs.
One organization that helps weave together all the different aspects of this event is the Great Falls Weavers & Spinners Guild. Guild member Gretchen Wilson talked about one of the art forms her booth will showcase: felt making!
“Felting is one of the oldest fiber arts in the world. Cultures all over the world have always used fiber arts. We've always had to have clothes. and that was the primary way we got them,” Wilson said.
She says the craft is something for all ages and enjoys how versatile the art form - and fabric - is. “I’m a very tactile person. I love the feel of the fiber in my hands. I like to watch all the different things you can do with it,” Wilson said.
Wilson said felting can be used to make clothes, hats, or crafts. It’s also simpler than other fiber arts since it doesn’t require you spin the material before making it into fabric, the way weaving or knitting does.
“Felting is a way to go straight from the wool to a finished fabric in one step instead of two,” Wilson said. This makes it easier for children to try. Kids can get a feel for the fiber arts (and take their work home) at the Great Falls Weavers & Spinners Guild booth.
For more information, call Paris Gibson Square at 406-727-8255.
Click here for a look at other events happening in Great Falls this weekend.
