There’s been an empty space above the fireplace for years. Or maybe there’s a blank wall near the stairs or between the windows in the kitchen.

They’re the spots that home-owners struggle to fill, searching for just the right framed floral painting or black-and-white print. After a while, those blank spaces seem to taunt you.

Saturday’s Saco Spirit Art Festival might offer a solution. The annual gathering of artists and crafters means a huge range of works will be available in one local location. And you might finally find the perfect piece to fill that seemingly unfillable space in your home.

Returning for the 40th year, the art-filled festival boasts more than 100 vendors from Maine and away. Artists and craftspeople will take over downtown sidewalks and parks to showcase their work.

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saco’s Pepperell Square will be filled with crafters whose handmade items include pottery, jewelry, children’s clothing, dog collars and more. Fine art and photography will populate the Main Street sidewalk.

There will also be a silent auction running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the park near Vic and Whit’s Sandwich Shop on Main Street. The auction includes many items donated by the artists and crafters in the festival and proceeds benefit Saco Spirit and the Saco Food Pantry.

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“The money goes back into Saco Spirit, which goes back into the town,” said Nadeen DeSilva, executive director of Saco Spirit. “We also encourage people to take advantage of restaurants and local shops while they’re here.”

Art seekers can be proud to know that they’re not just purchasing a handcrafted silver bracelet or a hand-painted scene of waves crashing on Maine’s rocky coast. They’re also supporting Saco Spirit — a Main Street Maine organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of Saco’s downtown.

Also next to Vic and Whit’s will be the Saco Spirit booth, where volunteers will be selling hot dogs, chips and sodas (aka the classic summer lunch).

Approximately 15 area nonprofits will be on hand in the Trinity Church parking lot, sharing information about their organizations. Some will also offer face painting and balloons for the kids or baked goods for anyone in the family who’s worked up an appetite.

So clear out the backseat of the car and empty the trunk. With prices as low as $10 right up through the “pretty penny” range, there’s sure to be something affordable for everyone. And with the multitude of artisans in attendance, even the pickiest of connoisseurs should find the perfect piece.

And that’s a relief. That wall in the family room has been bare for far too long.

Staff Writer Shannon Bryan can be reached at 791-6333 or at:

sbryan@mainetoday.com

 


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