Once again this year, artists from all over Nova Scotia are coming together for an event to raise much-needed funds to help restore and preserve the historic Medway Head Lighthouse near Port Medway in the Region of Queens.
Victoria Fraser, one of the event’s organizers, explains this marks the eighth year for the Medway Head Lighthouse Art & Craft Show. Last year, she says, the event raised about $12,000 and all totalled, she estimates the show has raised about $50,000 since it started.
“That’s a great testament to the community and the organizers of the show,” she says, adding that this year they hope to surpass last year’s total.
With an opening reception scheduled for Friday, Aug. 17, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., the art and craft show will run daily from Aug. 18 to 27 and will be open to viewing between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The show will be held in Seely Hall at 1640 Port Medway Rd., adjacent to the Port Medway Lighthouse Park and will feature traditional crafts, which Fraser says will include hooked rugs, ship models, baskets, ironwork and quilts (old and new). Crafters will be on site throughout the weekend doing demonstrations.
In total, Fraser says they expect about 65 crafters will take part in the show. They are expected to come from throughout Nova Scotia including Truro, Halifax, Lunenburg, Shelburne, Valley, Pubnico and, she adds, from the local area.
Two of the local crafters are Janet and Laurie Clattenburg who both say they participate in the show because it’s a good way to give back to the community.
“It supports Port Medway,” Laurie says.
Janet, who has been painting for about the past 30 years, adds, “We want to do whatever we can to help the lighthouse.”
