Holiday craft show supports grassroots causes

Organized by artisans Daphna Lewinshtein, Marguerite Bromley and Jacob Mactonell, Besuto will feature unique hand-crafted items with an environmentally friendly design and fair trade goods.

Among several local artisans, the organizers have invited community organizations sponsoring international projects to participate. Eighteen Westmount High School art students will host a table promoting their art/fundraising project with Free the Children. Grade 10 art students from Selwyn House will be selling their own hand-made ceramic bowls to benefit the Flying Kites orphanage in Uttarakhand, India. And Westmounter Brendan Timmins will be selling brownies, made with help from Mom, to raise money for the Rift Valley Children’s Village and Orphanage, where he volunteered in the summer of 2008 and will be returning in summer 2010.

Montreal artist Gabrielle Thibaudeau, who recently returned from a one-year residency in Java, will be selling an assortment of batik cotton sarongs made by Indonesian artists which will be sold in accordance with fair trade business practices. Florence Mohy will be selling fair trade postcards as part of the Fairmail project that offers technical and artistic training to disadvantaged children in India and Peru.

What would a craft sale be without a café? The Afghan Women’s Centre of Montreal, a diverse catering collective run by immigrant women in conjunction with Montreal Urban Community Sustainment, will host a café where visitors will be able to enjoy a sampling of Afghani food and baked goods while enjoying a cup of coffee.

The Besuto Craft Show will take place on Friday, Dec. 4 from 12 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6 from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Trinity Memorial Church Hall, 5220 Sherbrooke St. W. For more information phone Daphna at 514-295-2765 or email daphna1000@gmail.com