Mineral School to host the town’s first arts and crafts fair

After two years of writers’ residencies in a renovated schoolhouse, the Mineral School is branching out into visual arts by hosting the Mount Rainier-area town’s first arts and crafts fair. Around 20 artists from potters to painters will converge on the tiny town Friday (July 8)-Sunday to show and sell wares in the restored school.

It’s a dream come true for Mineral artist and resident Dora Hale, who co-organized the event with Mineral School founder Jane Hodges and previous owner Gary Johnson.

“I’ve lived here since I got married 43 years ago, and I’ve always been kind of drawn to having something like this in Mineral,” says Hale, who began painting 30 years ago as a hobby.

Three years ago, when Hodges bought the unused 1947 school building and began turning it into a nonprofit venue for summer writers’ residencies, Hale was interested. She approached Hodges to host a fair and began looking into the details. Other local towns like Ashford and Packwood have their own festivals, and nearby Morton has held its popular Loggers Jubilee for 74 years.

But Mineral, an unincorporated town in Lewis County just south of Elbe on state Route 7, has only a couple of hundred people.

Which makes bringing together an art festival all the more impressive. Artists from Mineral and surrounding towns, plus a few from Seattle and Portland, will show and sell work in media from raku pottery to oil painting, watercolors to fiber arts, photography, woodwork, metalwork, jewelry and more. There’ll be espresso drinks available.

“We’re honored to host events that showcase regional artwork and the creativity of Cascadia,” said Hodges.

Both women are hoping the fair will grow into an annual event.

Hale says that the literary readings and community events held since last year in the restored school have invigorated the town.

“Before it just sat empty and vandalized,” Hale says. “People in town really love that school. It’s gotten a lot of people interested.”

This story was originally published July 4, 2016 at 6:28 PM with the headline "Mineral School to host the town’s first arts and crafts fair."