Fawn artist Len Kaminski chipped away at a stump of wood inside his booth at the Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival, unaware that a small crowd gathered to watch.
“I just get in the zone,” said Kaminski, a sculptor who got his start as a Boy Scout decades ago. “Ideas come to me and I just release them through the carving. It’s very calming.”
Kaminski was among the 200 artists featured at the four-day fair at Twin Lakes Park east of Greensburg. The event continues today through 8 p.m. and runs 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is free.
“We touch on every aspect of art here,” committee vice chair Jeff Balzer said. “We have the best of the best in handmade crafts, musical entertainment and food that goes to the next level.”
Balzer said more than 100,000 people are expected to browse the wooded festival as it marks its 51st year.
“The weather has played along and we couldn’t be happier,” Balzer said. “We’re blessed.”
The mission of the event, he said, is to expose people to fine arts, handmade crafts, ethnic foods and live music.
Musical headliners at the Island Stage were scheduled to include the Stephanie Grace Band, Sweet Fleet: Tribute to Fleetwood Mac, Beatlemania Now and Aqua Cherry. Food was offered for every palate — Greek, Polish, Italian, Asian — and sweet treats like Dole Whip, cotton candy and berry cheesecake.
The festival spans eight acres and is the largest event of its kind in Westmoreland County.
Attendees started to trickle in before 10 a.m. Saturday to enjoy displays that included leathercrafters, glass art, clothes naturally dyed using plants, roasted nuts, pet treats, jewelry, freeze-dried candy and yard signs made from pallets.
Sam Bernstein of Greensburg brought his Pariah Glass for the first time to the event. A glass-blower for 10 years, Bernstein said the response from the crowd was exceptional. He sold out of pendants and other merchandise the first day and had to restock for a busy weekend.
“Glass-blowing is kind of a dying art,” he said. “People were excited to come by and watch us in action.”
Members of the Westmoreland Historical Fencing group showed off their sword skills with demonstrations on the hour. Jarad Trout and Evan Nicholson said the New Florence-based club meets every Sunday to practice longsword, messer and sidesword.
Mickey Patton of Scottdale brought his Native American-inspired creations that included antelope foot daggers and tortoise shell windchimes.
“I’m part Iroquois,” he said. “I remember watching my grandmother as a young kid. That’s where I picked up the skill and I make everything the same way as my ancestors – there’s nothing artificial in my products.”
Sarah Hunter, who serves on the executive board at the Greensburg Art Center, brought her skills in painting and pottery to the fair. A graduate of Saint Vincent College, Hunter’s work focuses on nature with many of her vases, mugs and bowls featuring floral designs or bees.
An avid gardener and beekeeper, Hunter uses flowers for inspiration, she said.
“I like to capture the energy of nature with a paintbrush,” she said. “I hope to inspire others to find wonder in nature.”