Something About Nothing by Julie Seedorf

One of my favorite pastimes during the summer months is visiting outdoor flea markets, county fairs and art fairs. Not only do I find unique, creative items designed by talented artisans, but I also love meeting the artists and learning how they create their designs.

The Austin Artworks Festival is Saturday and Sunday and I feel privileged having been invited to be one of seven authors at the festival to give a reading and a presentation. Sweet Reads Bookstore will host the authors. Besides me, Sammi Jones, Chris Nordbury, Sandra Stanfield and Mary McCarthy will present on Saturday. My time is 1 p.m. On Sunday Eileen Evans and Judi Bergan will be on the author stage. That is just one small part of the festival.

I am a wannabe artist of other venues besides writing so I love to watch other artists demonstrate their craft. At the Austin Artworks Festival, there will be exhibiting artists from all over the United States sharing their work which includes glassworks, sculpture, ceramics, basket weaving, jewelry, textiles, painting and more. Featured artist is Tom Hormel.

I must admit, growing up 30 miles from Austin I hadn’t been in the community except to drive through on the way to Rochester on I-90 or visit the old Target. Sweet Reads Bookstore and owner Lisa Deyo is what brought me to Austin this past year. A friend told me about this new independent bookstore which opened. Not only did they sell new books, they sold used books and delectable candy. Plus, they have the world’s largest Barenstein Bears collection, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

The first time I visited I was surprised to see the Spam Museum right across the street, and then I discovered the unique shops and scrumptious restaurants decorating the street. This was a well-kept secret in my neck of the woods.

Once Sweet Reads started carrying my books, I found myself headed to Austin more to investigate the bookstore. My hands are never empty when leaving and, of course, when I leave I have to eat, so I am eating my way through the restaurants in the community. But I must admit, my biggest find is the Arts in Austin and I really look forward to attending my first Artworks Festival, not because I am one of the authors, but because of all the activities of the weekend.

For me, this festival is better than county fairs because I can meet people who feed my creativity. As a writer and a wannabe artist, it is hard in rural areas to always connect with those who understand your unique thought process and feel your soul with that understanding. Conversation always revolves around the creative process.

When I feel a decline in my writing activity, it is always because I am not finding inspiration in my surroundings. I need to reach out and find someone who doesn’t look at me as if I have lost my marbles when I say I cut down my front bushes, painted them green, and stuck a light and a metal flower in them instead of pulling the dead bush out. They nod and tell me I need to share that on Pinterest to inspire others.

I feel as if I have found family in Lisa Deyo’s bookstore. Am I promoting the bookstore? I suppose I am, but only because when I walk in I feel I might be at home and home should be a place of peace and rest and rejuvenation. If you find a place like that in a business, make sure to tell someone.

In a time when small mom and pop shops are closing because of the big box stores, and banks are merging and becoming big conglomerates, small gas stations are being bought out and closed by big corporations so they can be the only stop in town. Plus, with health care shrinking in small communities, we need to encourage and support these local businesses.

Austin might not be my community. I would definitely support my community in an endeavor like this, but we need to support small businesses and artists in all communities. Artists are like mom and pop shops; they work hard for their money. You don’t just paint a picture or write a book and think it is over. That is when the real work of letting people know you are out there begins.

We need all those who believe in rural America and small enterprise to step up and support it.

Come on over and visit me at 1 p.m. Saturday at Sweet Reads. Browse the bookstore, eat at the festival and meet the other artists. I guarantee you will leave smiling and feeling refreshed.

Wells resident Julie Seedorf’s column appears every Monday. Send email to her at hermionyvidaliabooks@gmail.com.