If you're looking for an unusual Christmas gift on a college budget, go no farther than ASUNM's Holiday Arts & Crafts fair for handmade gifts.
"We're providing students with an affordable way to buy gifts, but we're also promoting the arts at UNM in general, and arts straight across the board," said Zane White, event director and contributing artist. "We're going to have all mediums of fine arts there."
The fair starts at 11 a.m. today in the SUB Ballroom and runs through Friday.
White said the craft studio juries all pieces - ceramics, porcelain, glasswork, jewelry, silk screens, photography and paintings - before they are accepted in the fair. There also will be a vendor selling homemade jam.
"Everything must be handmade," he said. "That means whoever sends in an application of their work (must include) pictures of them doing their work. Even then, if the stuff is a little too easy to be made, like you could buy it at Wal-Mart, or if it's really a little bit too corporate, we won't select them, either."
White said 70 people were selected from more than 90 applicants. The artists are mainly UNM students or faculty.
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"The porcelain club, the ASUNM Craft Studio and the ceramics club do a really good job at making their stuff really cheap," White said. "We definitely discount our prices to make it affordable for students."
The fair will have live music from local musicians such as Felix y Los Gatos, Cosmic Squid, the Rooster Spectacular and Le Chat Lunatique.
"I stress Thursday for people who come for the music - especially from 4 to 6," White said.
Raffle tickets will be for sale, with a drawing on Friday at 11 a.m., giving people the chance to win free artwork. Also, UNMPIRG will be there promoting sustainable holiday gift wrapping.
Lobo Louie and Lucy will be available for pictures.
ASUNM's Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair
Wednesday and Thursday
11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Friday
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
SUB Ballroom
