Arts, Crafts Festival to Benefit State Park

About 30 area artisans will exhibit and sell their wares Saturday and Sunday at the Nature Center in Topanga State Park in an effort to raise funds and help support the park’s volunteer program.

In the first Santa Monica Mountains Gathering of Arts festival, fine arts and crafts--including paintings of California parks, pottery and ceramic sculptures, handmade porcelain tiles, decorative tile tables, photographs, jewelry and rustic handmade furniture--will be available for purchase between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Revenues will support the park, which has suffered cuts in state funding during the last decade.

“All of the parks are in a budget crunch,” said Nancy Williams, spokeswoman from the Topanga Gallery Group, the cooperative organization of artists sponsoring the event. “There are three rangers who cover five parks [in the Santa Monica Mountains].”

Williams said Topanga State Park also loses much-needed funds when visitors avoid paying the $5 parking fee by parking their cars on nearby roads. She said she hopes the festival will generate about $3,000, of which 10% would be given to the Topanga Docents.

The docents, about 60 local volunteers who teach individuals and school groups about the park’s flora and fauna, will lead nature walks and sand-painting activities for children during the weekend event.

Donna Potter, president of the docents group, said using the arts to raise awareness for the environment and the park makes perfect sense.

“I think it’s a great idea, especially with Topanga being such a well-known artists’ community,” Potter said. “Most people have no clue that Topanga State Park exists. It is a hidden gem that we have in our mountains.”