VirtuArte.com

As I have stated before one of my ongoing objectives is to have you get to know the artists and artisans whose products you see on our website. I have hosted a couple of "Meet the Artist" Events here in Washington, DC which a number of you have attended. For those of you who do not live in Washington area, I have been informed that a couple of our Artists will be participating in Trunk Shows in cities around the United States in March and April.

ORIJYN

Mark Sloneker, founder of Orijyn, will be participaing in a Trunk Show at the Santa Fe Museum of International Folk Art the 26th - 28th of March. The Trunk Show will be in the Museum Shop from 10:00am - 4:00pm. Orijyn was founded to help the master silver craftsmen and village women weaving artisans find markets outside of Laos for their products, and introduce to this talented group of artisans self sustaining business practices that will empower themselves, their families and communities.

For more information about Orijyn go to http://www.virtuarte.com/artist/oriijyn

To view jewelry made by Orijyn silversmiths go to http://www.virtuarte.com/node/254/products

CAROL CASSIDY

The Asia Society Store will be having a special event featuring the handwoven silk textiles of Carol Cassidy the 21st - 24th of April in New York City. Carol will be at the store each day from 1:00 - 4:00pm. She founded Lao Textiles in 1990 with the goal to demonstrate the commercial viability of creating textiles based upon tradition for a modern world market. In 2005 Carol took over the management of a weaving studio in a remote village in Northern Cambodia.

For more information about Carol Cassity go to http://www.virtuarte.com/artist/carol-cassidy-cam and/or http://www.virtuarte.com/artist/carol-cassidy-laos

To view work by Carol go to http://www.virtuarte.com/artist/Carol-Cassidy/products

KOUMAMA FAMILY

The Koumama Family is famous for creating unique, high quality silver jewelry using traditional hand tools and methods that have been used by Tuareg craftsmen for centuries. Ann Elston, who works with the Koumama Family, will be participating in a Trunk Show at the de Young Museum in San Francisco on the 24th of April from 9:30am - 5:00pm. The Trunk Show is in connection with the 26th Annual Bouquets to Art exhibition. Look for Koumana Tuareg Jewelry.

For more information about the Koumama Family go to http://www.virtuarte.com/artist/koumama-family

To view work by the Koumama Family go to http://www.virtuarte.com/node/38/products

If you live or are going to be in one of these cities please stop by the Trunk Show, say hello and pick up a gift for Mother's Day or Graduation. Leave me a comment if you do go to one of these shows.