A vital art beat on the South Shore

Hailed by craft artists as one of the best art fairs in New England, the South Shore Art Center summer festival offers high-quality crafts, art shows, music by regional favorites including the Rusty Skippers, children's activities, and high standards in taste -- think lobster rolls, strawberry shortcake, and kettle corn.

Beginning June 15, the three-day festival on Cohasset Commons is a signature event for the arts center, its biggest fund-raiser of the year. The juried exhibitions bring work by 100 crafts artists and 61 visual artists, plus another 160 pieces of art exhibited in a members show.

Some of the artists bring traditions of their own. Duxbury photographer Steve Eames and his wife, Karen, who makes one-of-a-kind purses, compete for the favor of the fairgoers.

"Whoever sells the most buys dinner," Steve said.

"It's something we do well," said Sarah Hannan, the center's executive director of the event, now in its 52d year. "A very careful jury looks at mixes of jewelry, wood, and other crafters," she said, referring to the selection of exhibitors.

The center's Diane Kennedy, the festival's chief organizer, said the event takes the traditions of the New England summer festival and pays "extra special attention" to the details, and volunteers call up months ahead of time to offer their services.

Art teacher Patrice Kelley of Hanover plans activities for children, which will include making something for Father's Day, which falls on the last of the festival's three days. The student winners of the congressional art show for the 10th district, represented by William Delahunt, will also be on display.

About 9,000 people are expected to attend over the three days.

That popularity means orders for jeweler Kieli Storm Dooley of Scituate, who said she would look forward to the festival "even if I wasn't selling." Since she doesn't have a storefront for her distinctive sea glass and sterling jewelry, repeat customers look for her at the festival. "They say, we've been waiting all year," Dooley said. "We've been looking for you."

Craft artist Olivia Baldwin, of Seagrape Studio in Cohasset, said the festival's juried entry process produces "an amazing group of artists."

"It's fantastic marketing, good exposure, one of the premier arts festivals in New England," Baldwin said. "If invited, you'd be crazy to say no." Baldwin makes women's accessories including aprons, handbags, belts, and other pieces, marked by her signature bright, bold floral designs.

Steve Eames brings matted and framed color landscape photos, many of them local scenes: "People like seeing something they recognize."

Music, food, and special prizes are also part of the festival package. Led by instrumental music teacher Steve Biagini, the Rusty Skippers are a group of locals who play band music in addition to working their day jobs. Members include Rockland Trust CEO Chris Oddleifson and Cohasset postman Peter Lindfors.

Another group, Ana Buckley and the Armstrong Brothers, consists of Buckley, 16, singing lead for a band that teams her music teacher Joe Armstrong on mandolin, his brother Jim Armstrong, her younger brother Thomas, and Plymouth drummer Bill Holbrook.

New this year is a prize established by Hingham painter Dorothy Palmer, recognizing a single outstanding painting. Palmer said the festival was important for attracting attention to art by people who might not set foot in an art gallery. "While they're wandering through, they go to the tents and take time to look at the exhibitions," Palmer said. "What could be better for us?"

Kettle corn, for the uninitiated, is prepared in an oversized kettle heated to 750 degrees, with precisely measured doses of salt and cane sugar. The flavor is "salty-sweet," aficionados say, "and everyone loves it."

The festival runs June 15, 2 to 7 p.m; June 16, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and June 17, noon to 6 p.m. A $5 entrance donation is requested. For more information and directions, see ssac.org or call 781-383-2787.

Robert Knox can be reached at: rc.knox@gmail.com