Linda Frank’s love affair with the art and craft of German wax ornaments in the early 1990s on a trip to Germany. A few years later, she started making these unique items, then selling them at local shows. Now, her works are eagerly collected by many in the area by people who appreciate fine workmanship and traditional design.
The centuries-old craft begins with pouring beeswax into carved fruitwood cookie boards, called “lebkuchen” found in most German households. The symbols on the boards spoke to the culture and folklore of the area, and had spiritual significance as well. By Victorian times, the wax ornaments were brought to Great Britain (along with many other Christmas traditions), and the German wax ornaments gained popularity on the newfangled Christmas trees found in people’s home.
Linda creates a unique collection of handcrafted reproductions from the original German ornaments, painting them with paints used by the old masters since 1664. In a slight departure from tradition, she uses a blend of melt-resistant waxes — important when storing the ornaments.
Linda’s work will be featured at the Gathering of Artists on November 21 and 22 at the Bona Thompson Center, 5350 University Ave. Hours are 6-9 p.m. on Friday, with admission $5 at the door; admission includes hors d’oeuvres and a first crack at the thousands of items on display. On Saturday, hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. with free admission.
This year, returning artists include Cynthia Orr with stained glass, Alan Reinhardt with his Art Deco tiles and some amazingly cute-ugly trolls, and Michelle Fife with her lovely pine needle baskets. Everything at the Gathering is hand crafted by local artisans, making for one-of-a-kind gifts.
