Artists, crafters, and musicians will share their talents with Les Cheneaux residents and visitors Sunday, July 19, at the sixth annual Music and Art Dockside festival in Hessel. The free art fair is sponsored by the Les Cheneaux Area Artisan Cooperative and will be at the Hessel Marina from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Artists and crafters from the Les Cheneaux, Pickford, and DeTour areas in the Artisan Cooperative will display their wares to sell to passersby as they peruse the 14 vendors. Only the work of cooperative members will be displayed during the show, said event chair Kate Windsor-Otstot.

This year's vendors will include Randy Dunn with ironwork sculptures, Brent Heerspink and Julie Porter-Heerspink with pottery, Rick Shapero with blown glass, Roxanne Eberts with fiber art, Moira Wilson, author and fiber artist, Arlene Thompson with watercolor and oil paintings, Ron Paquin with Native American art, Frank Aben with photography, Yoshiko Van Voorhies with watercolor and ink paintings, Elizabeth Fels with photography, Jan Houghtaling with jewelry, Marianne Milkowski with oil paintings and jewelry, Amy Polk with homemade soap, and Mrs. Windsor-Otstot with fine art and vintage images.

Three musical acts from Pickford and Les Cheneaux will perform for festival-goers. Acts will range from the Gordon Lightfoot-like folk sounds of Les Cheneaux resident Griz Prusick, to the folk sounds of Pickford resident Marty Feldhake, to the southern-rock styles of the North Country Band, also from Les Cheneaux. Mr. Prusick will play from 11 a.m. To 12:30 p.m., followed by Mr. Feldhake, who will play until 2 p.m., and closing with the North Country Band from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

A craft area for children will also be set up during the festival, allowing children to make their own arts and crafts, including beaded necklaces and bracelets, decorated fabric bags, and sun visors. Face painting will also be offered.

Concessions will be available.

The show provides co-op members an outlet to sell their goods, which is the group's main goal. The co-op organizes two shows each year for members, Sunday's Music and Art Dockside, and its sister show, Music and Art in the Park, which is scheduled for Saturday, September 5, during Labor Day weekend in Cedarville.

The shows are funded through members' sales, public donations, and a $10 annual membership fee. The co-op collects 10% of artists' sales, up to $100, during each of the two shows.

The co-op was established in 2001 to help members promote and enhance artistic talent in the Les Cheneaux, Pickford, and DeTour areas. It has about 40 members.

Organizers expect up to 1,000 spectators to attend this year's show. Mrs. Otstot said attendance really depends on the weather. Three years ago, she recalled, the show was canceled owing to strong winds and rain.

"It all depends on the weather. If it's too nice or it's too hot, people may go to the beach instead. If it rains, people won't come, either," she said. "It's a rain or shine event."

She expects the event to attract spectators from the Les Cheneaux, Pickford, DeTour, St. Ignace, and Sault Ste. Marie areas.

"It draws people from local areas and resorts in the EUP," she said. "It's just put on by the local artists and creates a fun summer event for the people. It's fun."

Those who would like to join the Artisan Cooperative can contact Mrs. Windsor-Otstot at by writing to P.O. Box 135, Cedarville, MI, 49719, or by telephone at 484-2515.