we are the westchester craft crawl
How it began
Leigh Taylor Mickelson had been working in clay for 25 years but never participated in craft and art shows. In 2020, she decided it was time to try it out and signed up to participate in the now-canceled Fall Crafts at Lyndhurst. "When it was canceled, I decided that I needed to do something – not just to sell my work, but to create an opportunity to interact with other artists and craft lovers," she said. Her idea began as just an open studio, and then Mickelson decided to open it up to other artists and create an open studio tour. With friends, and fellow clay artists Loren Maron and Alexandra FitzGerald, they came up with the idea of a craft crawl. Within days they had 8 tour stops and 30 artists eager to participate. "Since the craft crawl will be spread out over eight stops in three towns, we are confident we will be creating a safe, socially distant opportunity for people to come shop, visit artist studios and mingle with artists and art lovers."
Westchester Craft CRawl Organizers
Leigh Taylor Mickelson
Founder & Co-Organizer
Leigh’s ceramic sculpture is inspired by forms from nature, especially ones found in plant life, as a means of expressing narratives about life. Being full of dichotomy, the elements of natural forms act as a metaphor for the spiritual, emotional and physical extremes that exist within our selves, our love relationships and our family units.
Leigh started her consulting business in 2019 after 22 years of experience in program development and nonprofit arts management with two arts nonprofits. Her experience as a leader of arts organizations and knowledge of event promotion has set her up as the invaluable originator and leader of the Westchester Craft Crawl organization.
@ltmick
www.leightaylormickelson.com
Loren Maron
Artist Liaison & Co-Organizer
Loren has been making ceramics for more than 25 years, exclusively in porcelain. Her current body of work focuses on textured hand built tray forms, many pieces featuring gold and/or platinum decals as further embellishment.
Loren maintains a studio at her home in Ossining, NY and is an Associate Artist at the Clay Art Center in Port Chester, NY. Loren brings her wealth of knowledge as an exhibitor in many craft fairs to the Westchester Craft Crawl team as well as here vast knowledge of artists from many different mediums.
@lorenmaronceramics
www.lorenmaron.com
Alexandra FitzGerald
Graphic Designer & Co-Organizer
Alex’s functional ceramics utilize animal characters and various plant life to express narratives that are both light hearted and thought-provoking. The narratives are meditations on life, thoughts and experiences meant to engage the audience in their own self explorations.
Alex currently lives in Mahopac, NY where she works from her home studio and fires in Mount Kisco. She brings her experience as a graphic designer as well as her passion for planning and organizing to the team.
@afitzpottery
www.alfitzgerald.com
