Sun City’s Art and Crafts Faire is not only for Sun City residents, but by them as well.
One Sun City artist participating this year is Sue Toth.
Toth, a ceramist/potter, lived in Buffalo Grove for 19 years before moving to Sun City more than eleven years ago. She is retired and is a Neighborhood 21 resident.
Sue Toth. (Photos by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)
“I have been fascinated with pottery all of my life. I had a friend, when I was in my 20s, who was in pottery at a local college. Then when my husband and I were looking at homes out here (Sun City), after my husband saw the softball field and I saw the pottery studio, we both said ‘If we can afford a house here, we would buy one,’” Toth said. The rest is history.
Toth has been creating pottery for more than ten years. Her “specialty items” include ceramic artistic creations featuring leaves. When asked how many hours she engages in making her art, Sue answers “It varies. I work zero to 10 to 15 hours weekly, which usually is 2 to 5 hours per piece…There are, of course, different steps involved to mature the pottery piece: drying, glazing, firing, etc.”
Sue adds, “I do all of my pottery in the pottery lab here at Sun City. Mary Abodzinski, a professional pottery artist who has instructed me and others in the lab, is wonderful!”
Toth’s excitement about her studio experience is clear.
“The pottery group is a wonderful group of people! It (the classes) can be easy to challenging without being too difficult. We have great instructors such as Mary. We go into the lab and feed off each other (with ideas and enthusiasm).” Toth said. “The studio here provides us with everything we need; it is completely inclusive.”
This is Toth’seight year of participation in Sun City’s art fair.
“I generally bring 40 to 75 pieces to the fair. I love the large, lively crowd! It is a very good art fair with many artisans. I sell a lot here. As a result, this is the only art fair that I participate in yearly,” she said.
You can find Toth’s table in front of our Library’s door entrance in the Prairie Lodge’s Main Room.
Howard Hoyt, is another Sun Citian participating in the faire.
A woodworker, Hoyt has lived in Sun City for seven years. Formerly, he was a resident of Woodstock for five years. Previously, Hoyt worked in a (somewhat) art-related job as a career architect and is now retired. He will be displaying his talents in woodworking using quilt patterns.
Howard Hoyt.
“I owe my interest (in woodworking) to a grandfather who was a carpenter, to my dad who did some woodworking, and to friends who are quilters,” said Hoyt.
He has been creating this particular form of artistic craft since he joined the Woodchucks here in Huntley. When asked what his “specialty items” are, he replies “Wood trivets and cutting boards that are inspired by traditional quilt patterns.”
Hoyt, like Toth, is also dedicated to his artistic endeavors. How often does he work on them?
“As much time as the wood shop is open,” he said.
Hoytalso explained how he achieves the look of his 3D wood quilts.
“Naturally, wood is three dimensional, and quilt patterns are two dimensional, but interestingly, some quilt patterns create the illusion of three dimensions.”
This will be Hoyt’s first year of participation at the Sun City Art & Craft Faire, but his crafting has a longer history.
“Besides the Woodchucks’ toys for local families, my wood items sell at a Christmas craft bazaar in Woodstock called ‘Mistletoe Magic.’ It has a 30 year record of raising funds for (charities): Turning Point, Direct Assistance Program, and Wednesday Night Pads.”
Hoyt also offered a hint to those attending the upcoming faire.
“Buy early and buy often. I will fill my table up!”
This year’s Sun City’s Art and Craft Faire will be held on Sunday, October 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Prairie Lodge Activity Hall. This will be Sun City’s 15th annual faire with our residents selling their own original works of art and handcrafted objects. The event has free admission and is open to the public.
