For the Press

For our friends in the press we have assembled a packet of materials – please feel free to use these materials to inform your audiences of this wonderful event on Labor Day weekend. Through your assistance we continue to host a unique and well-attended art fair, and to fund our volunteer firefighters and other community activities.

Also, we encourage you to peruse the list of artists exhibiting at the Fair – your local artist may be an exhibitor and a great local interest story.

45th ANNUAL KINGS MOUNTAIN ART FAIR
Media Contacts
Aeron Noe: (415) 722-7326 - aer.noe@gmail.com
General Information: (650) 851-2710
www.kingsmountainartfair.org

Labor Day Weekend Event

FOR: AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER CALENDARS

Woodside: Spend the day in the redwoods at the 45th Annual Kings Mountain Art Fair...Labor Day Weekend... August 30, 31 and September 1, 2008; 8AM to 5PM; Kings Mountain Community Center, 13889 Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35), above Half Moon Bay.

The show features juried fine arts and fine crafts from over 135 artists presenting oil paintings, watercolor, serigraph, sculpture, collage, photography, unique jewelry, wearable art, hand-crafted toys, heirloom furniture, art glass, quilts, hand-forged tools, weathervanes and more on display among the trees surrounding the Kings Mountain Community Center on Highway 35, 6 miles south of Highway 92, above Half Moon Bay. The juried artists are joined by 25 local “Mountain Folk” artists who help maintain the local flavor of the fair.

Full breakfast under the redwoods with the artists starts at 8AM with lunch, wine, beer and beverages served from 11:30AM. Supervised children's activities and games take place all day in "Kiddie Hollow."

Admission is free. Park along Skyline Boulevard. Ride the free shuttle to the fair. Out of courtesy to the artists, please no pets on the fair grounds.

Proceeds benefit the Kings Mountain Volunteer Fire Brigade and other community charities. Call (650) 851-2710 or see www.kingsmountainartfair.org for information.


Fact Sheet

KINGS MOUNTAIN ART FAIR
Media Contacts
Aeron Noe: (415) 722-7326 - aer.noe@gmail.com
General Information: (650) 851-2710
www.kingsmountainartfair.org

FACT SHEET
Event 45th annual Kings Mountain Art Fair, a juried multi-media show restricted to 135 artists. An additional 25 “mountain” artists participate in the Mountain Folk Art section of the fair to ensure that the fair keeps its local flavor.
When Labor Day Weekend, August 30, 31 and September 1, 2008, Saturday, Sunday & Monday, 10AM to 5 PM.
Where Kings Mountain Community Center/Fire Station 13889 Skyline Boulevard, Woodside, CA.
Admission Free
Special Interest Kings Mountain is one of the oldest and most selectively juried events of its kind in the Bay Area. It is rated as one of the top three art events in California by Sunshine magazine and one of the top twenty art fairs in the western United States by the Harris List. Jurying ensures the show is balanced across categories (painting, sculpture, leather, jewelry, toys, wearable art, etc.) and that there are wonderful items available at all price ranges. Because of the tranquil outdoor setting and non-commercial purpose of the fair, Kings Mountain attracts a number of artists who appear nowhere else. If you want a hand-made wooden rocking chair by Bill Livingston, you can only see him at Kings Mountain.
Setting The redwood forest setting surrounded by hiking trails provides a unique day of outdoor leisure and quality art. Unlike street fairs, the artist booths are set up on the forest floor, with old growth redwood trees providing a dramatic backdrop. There are no sound stages or major corporate sponsors, but fair goers can listen to live Celtic harp music at “artists’ hollow.”
For Families "Kiddie Hollow" is a specially designated area where kids can enjoy supervised creative activities, including spin art, glitter, games, or reading There is a nominal fee for these activities.
Food Full breakfast with the artists under the redwoods is served from 8 to 10:30AM; lunch, beverages and other snacks are available; other food and beverages are available during show hours. Grandma Jenny’s giant cookies (baked by local school parents) are sold as a special fund-raiser for the Kings Mountain Elementary School.
Producer There is no professional promoter. The non-profit organization with all-volunteer staff and management is drawn from the tiny mountain community of Kings Mountain.
Beneficiaries Kings Mountain is a 450 household community which stretches along 10 rural miles of Skyline Blvd. The community is supported by the arts. Art Fair proceeds return to the community to support the Kings Mountain Volunteer Fire Brigade, the Community Center/Firestation, to the public, 3-room Kings Mountain Elementary School, etc. The Volunteer Fire Department responds to over 150 fires, accidents or medical emergencies each year. The community center/firestation was built entirely with Art Fair funds and volunteer labor. The public school receives computers, library books and even basic school supplies along with enrichment grants from Art Fair money.
History Started in 1963 by local homeowners as a fund-raiser to help create a volunteer fire company for the remote Kings Mountain community, the first fair was held in a red barn with mostly local artists and raised $50.00. All funds from the early fairs were used to buy fire equipment and building supplies for the community center. This is the 43rd annual fair and a few of the first volunteers, like Ardyth (Ardy) Woodruff, will be volunteering for the 43rd time.
Parking Park along Skyline Boulevard and take the free shuttle to the fair.
Other Because much of the art is fragile, dogs (except service) and bicycles are not permitted on the fair grounds. Bicycle racks are available. Fairgoers may want to bring a sweater in case of cooler weather in the shade of the trees.
Information (650) 851-2710
www.kingsmountainartfair.org


DIRECTIONS

map

From San Francisco/Marin: 280 south to Hwy 92 West; West on 92 to Skyline; left on Skyline; 6 miles to fair.

From East Bay: Bay Bridge to 280 south or across San Mateo Bridge on Hwy 92 West; left on Skyline; 6 miles to fair.

From So. Peninsula: 280 north to Woodside Road west; right on Kings Mountain Road to Skyline, right 1 mile to the fair.

General Story

KINGS MOUNTAIN ART FAIR
Media Contacts
Aeron Noe: (415) 722-7326 - aer.noe@gmail.com
General Information: (650) 851-2710
www.kingsmountainartfair.org

Labor Day Weekend Event

ART FAIR PROVIDES FIRE PROTECTION FOR FOREST COMMUNITY

The Kings Mountain Art Fair has been a Bay Area tradition for almost half a century. Held at the height of the fire season, the proceeds from the fair fund the local volunteer fire department as well as the local elementary school. 

Architect Ardyth Woodruff, the original fair co-chairman, has volunteered at every fair since it started in 1963. “In 1964, there was a 1600 acre fire that our volunteer fire department was trying to fight with garden hoses and grit.  We knew we had to get serious about fire protection.  We used the Art Fair to raise funds for equipment and to build a firehouse.  We knew it had to be a top quality show to encourage people to drive to our beautiful but remote community.” 

The fair features the works of over 130 juried artists who are selected from applicants from throughout the United States and Canada.  It has the reputation of being a serious art fair with an upscale and traditional art-buying audience.

While many community art fairs are outsourced to management companies these days, Kings Mountain continues to be a true grass roots community event, “It is a huge accomplishment for a 450 household community to consistently put on a top fair with a 100% volunteer staff,” says Fair Chairman, Dawn Neisser. Children from the local school pick up lunch trays, while their parents prepare the food in the cook shack. The Kings Mountain Art Fair has retained its authentic and original feel over the years by resisting corporate sponsorship and maintaining the focus on fine art.

Today the Kings Mountain Volunteer Fire Department responds to over 160 calls a year, many of them to assist weekend bicyclists and hikers who are enjoying the redwood forest.  Kings Mountain is six miles south of Highway 92, on the ridgeline between San Mateo and Woodside.  Fair admission and parking are free.  Parking is along Skyline Blvd and free shuttles are available for fair goers.

Photographs

Click on a thumbnail for a full-size image.
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Redwood trees create a natural gallery setting for paintings like these by Peruvian-born Hugo Lecaros.
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Live harp music by Aryeh Frankfurter provides a tranquil soundtrack to the Kings Mountain Art Fair.
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Live harp music by Aryeh Frankfurter provides a tranquil soundtrack to the Kings Mountain Art Fair.
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Kings Mountain Art Fair is the only venue where artisan William Livingston sells his famed, hand-carved rocking chairs.
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Kings Mountain Art Fair is the only venue where artisan William Livingston sells his famed, hand-carved rocking chairs.
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Robert Linn demonstrates his knives on baguettes and tomatoes.
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Jim Rosenau’s literal book-shelves are a perennial favorite at the Kings Mountain Art Fair.
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Visitors at the Art Fair have the chance to talk with the artists in person, learning more about the craft and the ideas behind the works. Lyn Swan is pictured here talking about her pottery.
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Visitors at the Art Fair have the chance to talk with the artists in person, learning more about the craft and the ideas behind the works. Lyn Swan is pictured here talking about her pottery.