Lanterns brighten arts fair
By Lisa A. Abraham
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published: August 14, 2011
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Their bright yellow lanterns with pink flowers coming out of the top, and stickers and glitter decorating the
sides, were just practice for sisters Lauren and Jordan Hall.
The West Akron girls, along with their mother, Teri Knapp, created the paper lanterns on Saturday at the
University Park Arts Fair & Food Fest in Grace Park.
But they said it was just a trial run for the upcoming Light-Up Lantern Festival, set for 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 8,
on Crouse and Kirn streets, also in the University Park neighborhood.
“We want to try for first place this year,” Knapp said, noting the family took third place at the lantern
festival last year.
The paper lanterns were a big draw for children attending Saturday’s event.
Local artist Leandra Drumm, daughter of noted Akron artist Don Drumm, organized the art project to get
folks excited about the upcoming festival, of which Don Drumm Studios & Gallery is a sponsor.
She said lanterns are a fun item for parents to make with their children, and the October festival is very
family-oriented, with this year’s theme of Story Books. A simple battery-operated votive candle is all it
takes to light the lanterns.
In addition to offering orange and yellow paper lanterns for decorating, there were materials for making
willow lanterns from scratch.
The Daughery family of Medina made their lanterns from willow branches supplied at the fair and then
covered them with colorful tissue paper.
Dad Shaun and daughter Ciara made a dimensional lantern in the shape of a star, while mom Brenda and
daughter Kiera made one that looked like a house.
Also featured at Saturday’s art fair were colorfully dressed stilt walkers who delighted onlookers as they
strode by, chalk for drawing on the sidewalks, balloon animals, music and food.
There was also plenty of creativity for sale. Artists offered a wide variety of items including pottery,
woodcrafts, paintings, clothing and jewelry.
“The jewelry is just beautiful,” said Chris County, an Akron resident who was enjoying the shopping.
County was examining decorative wooden bowls made by David Shafron of Darbynwoods Fine
Woodworking of Cleveland, and had even brought a ruler with her to find a bowl that was exactly the right
size to fit in a holder she had at home.
Shafron said he makes the bowls, cutting boards and other items he sells out of reclaimed wood. One bowl
that caught County’s eye was made of wood from a tupelo tree.
Shafron said he got the wood from a man who had gathered it in Mississippi from trees that were felled
during Hurricane Katrina. Tupelo trees are prominent in the Gulf Coast, and the city of Tupelo, Miss., is
named for the tree. The wood is a popular one among woodworkers.
Lisa Abraham can be reached at 330-996-3737 or at labraham@thebeaconjournal.com.
