The population of Spokane, WA and Spokane Valley, WA is about 300k. When I came across an Art and Glass Festival at a local winery, I assumed it was going to be madness. However, I thought it sounded intriguing enough that I wanted to brave the expected throngs of people. When I arrived shortly after it started, I realized it wasn't crowded. Nothing at all like the Arts Festival back home.
Set up on a hillside overlooking Spokane Valley, this winery is an idyllic place to have this local artisan event. The winery itself had several buildings you would want wedding photos near: one reminiscent of Tuscany [probably, I have never been], others covered in ivy. On the ground of this relatively small winery (although I will admit I have no idea how large their property or vineyard actually is) were maybe 40-50 booths. So many interesting skills and beautiful products the sellers have. I wanted to ask each and every one of them how they do it. Glass somehow fused together to make windows without the typical black grout between, pepper mills made of marbled wood, pens made of stone, picture frames made of rocks. I realized about halfway through the vendors how intrigued I was, almost like I had never seen handcrafted pieces before.
My experience at festivals has mostly been a weird game of Frogger. To get into one of the booths, you have to wait until there is room inside or cut in front of people walking the other way to get in. Then once inside of a booth, there are probably already several people so you are trying to soak it all in while simultaneously doing an awkward dance with the others in the booth. Then, let's be honest, I am probably not going to buy something so I feel awful taking up space or blocking the flow for someone who may.
I'm not sure if it was the romance of the place or the fact that there were not throngs of people I was busily steering through, but I felt like I had the space and the time to really look. To really admire all of the talents these people have and how there is so much I do not know. I wanted to know how it was all made but there is a part of me that wants to think it is magic and the appreciation to them for allowing me to gape in wonder.
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