Gettin' crafty in Atlanta

The ICE Collective's biannual show cools down this hot city

By Katy Pando
Published: June 27th, 2007 | 11:11am

The success of Atlanta's ICE Collective can be summed up in the twice annual event's name - Indie Craft Experience. It is more than just a craft show - it is, indeed, an experience. Organized two years ago by three indie crafters, ICE is dedicated to providing an incredible experience for both the crafters exhibiting at the show and the attendees.

After four events - twice annually in the winter and summer - at sheltered art venues, the trio decided to move the event outdoors. And, the success of the June 2, 2007 show in downtown Atlanta's urban Centennial Olympic Park was such a success, the organizers plan to return next year. "The number of crafters exceeded 100," said ICE co-creator Christy Petterson (abardis.com). "The number people enjoying the crafts and sunshine in downtown Atlanta exceeded all our expectations."

Indeed, holding the event in the 21-acre park appealed to craft enthusiasts, families with children and dogs, and lots of folks who were just checking out the scene. The eight-hour festival didn't just feature the works of paper-makers, clothiers, screen-printers, and soap-makers who came from near (Atlanta and Athens) and far (Chicago, New York and L.A.) - it also featured a truly exciting experience for the exhibitors and attendees alike.

A signature of ICE is the swag bag the first 500 attendees receive. Filled with postcards, messages, mini-zines (including a zine with a listing of all ICE exhibitors, features stories, and fun facts) and other crafty goods, the canvas bags sporting the ICE logo are perfect for carrying around new-found goodies.

The Park was the perfect location, with Atlanta's impressive skyline serving as the backdrop for the event. In one corner, indie musicians entertained the crowds with live performances and in another, attendees learned how to embroider, create electronic art, and alter t-shirts into new creations.

Just down the brick walkway, there was a clothing swap where for $5 you could enter a tent filled with donated clothes. The proceeds were donated to Hagar's House, a local shelter for women and children located and to the Indie Craft Documentary, a project documenting the emerging indie craft scene all over the country. The clothes remaining at the end of the day were donated to the local chapter of St. Vincent de Paul.

"We really wanted to add some extra excitement to the show this year," said co-organizer Shannon Mulkey (ilovepatina.com). "What could be more exciting than learning a new craft or being able to go home with a bag full of clothes for just $5?"

Susan Voelker (droptrow.com), who taught embroidery at one of the craft workshops, agreed. "Giving to the community is really important to us," she said. "We love to do what we can to help others."

Helping others through donations is one way the collective offers assistance. Providing a unique indie craft show is another way to support others. Named Atlanta's Best Art Trend in 2005, Atlanta's Best Guerilla Art in 2006 and One of the Top 5 Cultural Events in 2007, ICE is filling a niche in the Atlanta indie craft scene.

Inspired by Stitch in Austin, Texas, and the Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago, Illinois, Christy, Shannon, and Susan launched ICE Collective in early 2005. "The success of the Indie Craft Experience is beyond our wildest expectations," said Petterson. "We launched ICE to put Atlanta on the DIY map and to support the national crafty scene."

The goal of ICE seems to be paying off. And, their support of the crafty scene is appreciated. Exhibitors at ICE seem to agree that the Collective has found the right recipe for creating an inspiring event.

"This is just a great show," said Raoul de la Cruz, who traveled to Atlanta from Athens, GA. "ICE is so organized and the girls are so professional and the day of the show is incredible."

Raoul is exhibiting with Missy Kulik, who describes herself as the "itty bitty knitty kitty girl." Missy is a product designer and Raoul is a researcher librarian at Burton + Burton, the nation's leading supplier of balloons and coordinating gifts. Visit the Web site's family photo section, and you'll find Missy and Raoul sitting side-by-side. But, they don't just work together 9 to 5; they truly get crafty together.

Raoul grew up in L.A. and Missy in Philadelphia. A great music scene and craft scene lured them to the college town of Athens, where they are the organizers of the local chapter of Church of Craft and have their own band, the French Toasts While Missy prefers fleece, Raoul prefers felt. She sews with machine and he by hand.

At the ICE event, the couple's shared booth included handcrafted items from Raoul's popular pouch that Fred Flare named a top 25 next BIG thing (made of felt) and Missy's hand puppets (made of fleece), stitched lollipops, cloud hairpins, and whale pins.

Like most of the booths at ICE, it attracted lots of people throughout the day.

So did Katy DeMent's booth. A self-taught paper-maker, she doesn't really consider herself an indie crafter or a fine artist or part of any particular movement. With a degree is in psychology, she is an urban artist who drives a 1963 International Scout Jeep and lives just a couple of miles from downtown Atlanta. "I've been doing this for over 20 years and I love it," she said.

While in college she worked at Hancock Fabrics and made costumes for wresters and drag queens. Then, she saw an Chinese paper-making exhibit at the High Museum of Art and was inspired. "I've been making paper ever since," she said.

One of the more senior indie crafters, Katy does what many crafters hope to do one day - work full time in craft. In addition to making paper and books, she became intrigued with the interaction between paper and light and began making lamps about 10 years ago.

The beeswax that coats the paper for her lampshades comes from a nine-acre urban garden by her East Atlanta home, as do most of the materials for her goods. Last year, she began teaching herself how to weld, creating another level of dimension to her work.

"ICE is cool, no pun intended," she said. "They are doing a really good thing. It's an alternative from what is out there - something different than the fine arts market and something different from a weekend festival."

And, it looks like ICE is in Atlanta for good.