MARQUETTE - The 52nd annual Art on the Rocks got off to a great start Saturday at Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette, drawing a crowd comparable to previous years despite some rain, according to event organizers.
This is only the second year that the show has been held at Mattson Lower Harbor Park and according organizer Jack Deo, all the kinks from the first year have been worked out.
"Every change we have made has worked really well. The flow (of visitors) has been really good," he said.
Deo said that he has been hearing lots of positive feedback from people attending the show about the artists who are exhibiting this year.
"We have the same amount of artists that came from all over the place as in years before, and everything is made by them. We're happy with the quality," Deo said. "And that's what we work for. So far we're all smiling and everybody's smiling."
There are a variety of artists and crafters at the event that offer something for every taste, from wood and metal work, to jewelry, painting, ceramics, fiber and everything in between.
Paul Mason and his wife Terri Hendra of Mason Welding make unusual pieces out of recycled steel. Their work mainly focuses on lawn and garden art and features the creative reuse of a variety of types of metal - including kitchen utensils, faucets, combination locks and tools - and the concepts are big enough to fit with any imagination. But they also make some smaller shelf pieces.
"It's all recycled and reused metal," Hendra said. "It's all hand-shaped and we kind of specialize in one of a kind products."
Mason and Hendra, who are from downstate Kimball, have been producing their art for 14 years.
Art on the Rocks continues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. For more information, go to www.artontherocks.org.
Claire Abent can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her e-mail address is cabent@miningjournal.net.