The line of artists wound through the hallway in Tamarack's conference center. Some held their wares carefully in their arms; others pushed large dollies laden with carved furniture. Brilliant canvases leaned in stacks against the walls as artists schlepped them to and from their cars.

Jurying day at Tamarack brings out a variety of artists and craftsmen, all hoping to be accepted as a vendor in the Tamarack system. This year's session had components that will help the artists in ways that are hard to measure by bottom-line numbers.

"It's value-added," explained Sally Barton, director of the Tamarack Foundation. "While they are waiting to be juried, they can sit in on a business seminar about the ABCs of marketing and business." The seminar was presented by the Women's Business and Training Center.

"Artists typically work alone, so networking is valuable to them," Barton said. "They are often in isolated areas - we have artists from all 55 counties - and traditional economic development programs don't often apply to artists and craftsmen. We're trying to give them a place to meet and learn from their peers."

She continued, "Of course, we want to help them so they can be the supply chain for Tamarack. But additionally, if we can help them to network with other artists and if we can expose them to other markets, it only helps our state. It might not be reflected in the cash registers at Tamarack, but it is an economic stimulator."

Exposure to those markets was available right outside the jury room. Representatives from the Mountain State Art & Craft Fair, The Depot in Huntington, West Virginia University's Jacksons Mill, FestivALL and Allied Artists were invited to visit with the artists to see if they could work together in the future.

"We know what fairs are looking for. For example, if a candle maker is needed at a certain fair, we can connect them with candle makers we have met," Barton said. "These connections may not affect Tamarack's bottom line, but they are good for the artists and for West Virginia."

This work meshes with the nonprofit foundation's mission "to advocate and expand artisan entrepreneurship in order to create a vibrant economy for West Virginia." This mission includes developing and training artists and artisans, providing them with business development skills, exploiting new markets and raising funds to accomplish these goals. In Barton's five years with the foundation, $2.7 million has been raised. She hopes to tap into national foundations for funding in the future.

Ron DeWitt, Tamarack's artisan services director, organizes the jurors, who work in pairs. They are all Tamarack vendors with experience in marketing and production. The artisans who arrived at the final jurying last week had been "pre-screened" at sites throughout the state, with the intention of making it easier for artists to gain access to Tamarack.

DeWitt, Barton and others scour fairs and festivals for potential craftspeople. They are enthusiastic about helping artists bring their works to the public and about creating successful businesses for the artists they meet.

Jurors this year included Brian Van Nostrand, pottery; Stephanie Danz, glass; Sally Rowe, textiles; Judy McDade, baskets; Wayne Ellis, wood; Colleen Hurley, bath and body; Bruce Bowersock, fine art-painting; and Brian Ferguson, fine art-photography.

VonNostrand and Danz spent nearly an hour with David Huffman of Charleston, discussing the ceramic game boards he creates. Barton "discovered" Huffman's work at FestivALL in Charleston. While his works weren't accepted into the Tamarack system this session, the artist said he received valuable feedback form VonNostrand, a potter who sells his creations at Tamarack as well as other galleries in the region, and Danz, who makes jewelry and glass pieces.

"Of course, this isn't the outcome I had hoped for, but this process has been so beneficial," Huffman said. He will receive a grant from the Foundation to work with a more experienced ceramic artist to fine-tune his work so it can be juried next year.

In the past, fine art jurying for the gallery took place separately from the craft selection. This year, all artists came at the same time. "The reason was combining resources, especially staff to save time and expense," DeWitt explained. Barton said it's easier for the artists, as well, because they only have to transport their works one time.

Once an artist is accepted by Tamarack, they can sell there indefinitely. "As long as they continue to sell to Tamarack and the public continues buying their products," DeWitt said.

Reach Sara Busse at sara.bu...@wvgazette.com or 348-1249.

Artists accepted into Tamarack

Accepted into the Tamarack system at this month's jurying session are the following artists, their home county, and their art or craft:

Jennifer Allen, Raleigh, fine art

Joseph Bourgeois, Berkeley, wood carving

George Bragg, Raleigh, photography/souvenir

Marjorie Campbell, Barbour, baskets

Allen Dangerfield, Fayette, wood figurines

Elaine Diller, Pocahontas, note cards

Jessica Ferguson, Nicholas, photography

Trisha Fox, Kanawha, pottery

Lisa George, Wood, ornaments

Jacki Griffith, Putnam, diffuser oils/potpourri

Traci Higginbotham, Kanawha, fine art

The line of artists wound through the hallway in Tamarack's conference center. Some held their wares carefully in their arms; others pushed large dollies laden with carved furniture. Brilliant canvases leaned in stacks against the walls as artists schlepped them to and from their cars.

Jurying day at Tamarack brings out a variety of artists and craftsmen, all hoping to be accepted as a vendor in the Tamarack system. This year's session had components that will help the artists in ways that are hard to measure by bottom-line numbers.

"It's value-added," explained Sally Barton, director of the Tamarack Foundation. "While they are waiting to be juried, they can sit in on a business seminar about the ABCs of marketing and business." The seminar was presented by the Women's Business and Training Center.

"Artists typically work alone, so networking is valuable to them," Barton said. "They are often in isolated areas - we have artists from all 55 counties - and traditional economic development programs don't often apply to artists and craftsmen. We're trying to give them a place to meet and learn from their peers."

She continued, "Of course, we want to help them so they can be the supply chain for Tamarack. But additionally, if we can help them to network with other artists and if we can expose them to other markets, it only helps our state. It might not be reflected in the cash registers at Tamarack, but it is an economic stimulator."

Exposure to those markets was available right outside the jury room. Representatives from the Mountain State Art & Craft Fair, The Depot in Huntington, West Virginia University's Jacksons Mill, FestivALL and Allied Artists were invited to visit with the artists to see if they could work together in the future.

"We know what fairs are looking for. For example, if a candle maker is needed at a certain fair, we can connect them with candle makers we have met," Barton said. "These connections may not affect Tamarack's bottom line, but they are good for the artists and for West Virginia."

This work meshes with the nonprofit foundation's mission "to advocate and expand artisan entrepreneurship in order to create a vibrant economy for West Virginia." This mission includes developing and training artists and artisans, providing them with business development skills, exploiting new markets and raising funds to accomplish these goals. In Barton's five years with the foundation, $2.7 million has been raised. She hopes to tap into national foundations for funding in the future.

Ron DeWitt, Tamarack's artisan services director, organizes the jurors, who work in pairs. They are all Tamarack vendors with experience in marketing and production. The artisans who arrived at the final jurying last week had been "pre-screened" at sites throughout the state, with the intention of making it easier for artists to gain access to Tamarack.

DeWitt, Barton and others scour fairs and festivals for potential craftspeople. They are enthusiastic about helping artists bring their works to the public and about creating successful businesses for the artists they meet.

Jurors this year included Brian Van Nostrand, pottery; Stephanie Danz, glass; Sally Rowe, textiles; Judy McDade, baskets; Wayne Ellis, wood; Colleen Hurley, bath and body; Bruce Bowersock, fine art-painting; and Brian Ferguson, fine art-photography.

VonNostrand and Danz spent nearly an hour with David Huffman of Charleston, discussing the ceramic game boards he creates. Barton "discovered" Huffman's work at FestivALL in Charleston. While his works weren't accepted into the Tamarack system this session, the artist said he received valuable feedback form VonNostrand, a potter who sells his creations at Tamarack as well as other galleries in the region, and Danz, who makes jewelry and glass pieces.

"Of course, this isn't the outcome I had hoped for, but this process has been so beneficial," Huffman said. He will receive a grant from the Foundation to work with a more experienced ceramic artist to fine-tune his work so it can be juried next year.

In the past, fine art jurying for the gallery took place separately from the craft selection. This year, all artists came at the same time. "The reason was combining resources, especially staff to save time and expense," DeWitt explained. Barton said it's easier for the artists, as well, because they only have to transport their works one time.

Once an artist is accepted by Tamarack, they can sell there indefinitely. "As long as they continue to sell to Tamarack and the public continues buying their products," DeWitt said.

Reach Sara Busse at sara.bu...@wvgazette.com or 348-1249.

Artists accepted into Tamarack

Accepted into the Tamarack system at this month's jurying session are the following artists, their home county, and their art or craft:

Jennifer Allen, Raleigh, fine art

Joseph Bourgeois, Berkeley, wood carving

George Bragg, Raleigh, photography/souvenir

Marjorie Campbell, Barbour, baskets

Allen Dangerfield, Fayette, wood figurines

Elaine Diller, Pocahontas, note cards

Jessica Ferguson, Nicholas, photography

Trisha Fox, Kanawha, pottery

Lisa George, Wood, ornaments

Jacki Griffith, Putnam, diffuser oils/potpourri

Traci Higginbotham, Kanawha, fine art

Marilyn Holt, Kanawha, blown glass

Kenneth Isom, Raleigh, fine art

JoAnne Jacobs, Kanawha, fine art

Francheska Jones, Tucker, candles

Michelle Kelly, Fayette, photography

Sally Knuckles, Kanawha, candles

Ronald Kress, Wood, wood sculpture

Patricia Langerhans, Jefferson, fiber art

Cindy Ledsome, Wood, photography

Melissa May, Marion, fine art

Betty McMullen, Kanawha, fine art

David Merrill, Monongalia, fine art

Elaine Mosel, Jefferson, textiles/fiber art

Zachary Orcutt, Wood, metal sculpture

Andrew Pense, Fayette, ceramics

Benjamin Pettry III, Fayette, fine art

Debbie Rapp, Greenbrier, textiles/fiber art

Lynda Rhodes, Wood, fine art

Jon and Lynn Rudloff, Webster, pottery

Stephen and Jodie Schemel, Ritchie, metal sculpture

LeeAnn Simonds, Nicholas, stone carving

Mary Stewart, Marion, glass ornaments/jewelry

Patricia Sutphin, Putnam, fine art

Regina Swim, Kanawha, pottery

Lisa Walden, Cabell, fine art

Tessie and Matt Wallace, Kanawha, metal ornaments

Penny Whitlock, Kanawha, bath and body

Laura Wolfe, Cabell, post cards

Patty Wolford, Putnam, fiber art/textiles