Musicians play at Mendocino Art Fair on Heider Field, August 1995. (Gift of the photographer, Dave A. Belew)
August 5, 1995 – The 36th annual Arts & Crafts Fair opened on Heider Field. The annual fundraising event supports the operational costs of the non-profit Mendocino Art Center, and 1995 was the second year the fair had been held on Heider Field.
More than 90 artists participated in the fair, displaying “ceramics, wood, glass, jewelry, photography, textiles, handmade and woven wearable art, fine arts and much more.” Children’s activities were very popular and included spin-art, a potter’s wheel, and face-painting.
Fairgoers were entertained by Don Sheridan’s Mendocino Art Center Quartet, the Black Irish Band, Blue Bop, and the Mendocino Percussion Ensemble.
Five food booths sold an array of goodies, including Jennie Zacha’s fabulous wild, hot blackberry sundaes. Volunteers had ventured to the Anderson Valley home of Marty Roderick and “returned torn and bleeding with 11-1/2 gallons of the biggest, ripest, juiciest blackberries in the valley which were washed, sugared, heated and poured over vanilla ice cream donated by the Mendocino Ice Cream Company.”
The following week, the Beacon reported that the fair, “was a resounding success – exceeding last year’s revenues.”
Don’t miss our current exhibit! The Kelley House pays tribute to legendary local ‘70s band Cat Mother with a collection of ephemera, albums, and artwork. Cat Mother was an eclectic rock band formed in Greenwich Village, New York in 1967. By 1970, Cat Mother was living on the Mendocino Coast inspiring locals with outdoor “Boogies” and sparking creativity and community on the coast. Museum Hours: Thurs – Sun, 11 AM – 3 PM.