If you need to get some Christmas shopping  done, but would rather be keelhauled then go to a  mall at Crhistmas time, then take a break and support some of Lethbridge’s craftspeople at the Gate, Dec. 17.

Craftateria members are looking forward to  their second annual show and sale, Dec. 17 at the Gate ( 522 3rd Ave South).

“ We have twice as many vendors this year,” said Shannell Papp, one of the members, noting 18 are involved this year.
The event takes place  from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

“ The vendors have everything from zombie sock monkeys and crochets to lampstands made out of suitcases,” she said emphasizing there will be a variety of items created by Lethbridge artists.

They are looking forward to having the event in a larger venue this year as last year’s event was in a cramped studio belonging to Mary-Anne McTrowe and David Hoffos.
“ Not a lot has changed, what’s different is we’re offering a great escape from the mall and big box stores,” Papp continued, adding she is proud of the participants this year.
“ They love talking to people,” she said adding they like talking to each other as well, so the event is a great opportunity for them to catch up with each other.
“It’s very hard getting 18 people together,  so events like this are a chance that we can have to get together,” she said.

  Lethbridge artist Sarah Christensen decided to have some fun sharing her deepest and sometimes darkest emotions, during a brief, three part show at the University of Lethbridge,  Dec. 7.

 Her show “The Undergrad’s  Journey,” began with a  room full of laptop computers, of which only three were working, showing  three different  surreal videos.

The first featured what looked like like a  moving shot of her feet on bus with the soundtrack of her weeping.

Across from that computer was another computer showing the same video except featuring her laughing maniacally.

 The last video, featured the same video but with her talking about clearing out the clutter and  touching on her misgivings and insecurities about  being a student.

Lethbridge artist Sarah Christensen is chronicling her journey through  university as a mature student through art. But the exhibit only runs for two hours— 2-4 p.m., Dec. 7 on levels 7 and 8 of  University Hall.

 “An Undergrad’s Journey” is  a video based  multi-media exhibit.

“I'm exploring video as a main component of self-exploration, looking at my place in the academic undergraduate world in relation to the projected societal acceptance and expectations,” she noted in an e-mail.

 The exhibit has three components— Venue  one is called a video diary and features a collection of video entries taken  over a two month period.
“With A Video Diary, the audience is permissed to witness my personal thoughts and musings,” she described.

“Venue #2, called ‘ A Walk Within’ is an installation of laptops with an interactive component to bring the viewer into my existence rather than just viewing it,” she continued.
The third venue is A Lecture Class, which will be a performance that brings into relation the institutional influences on a student. She did all of the filming and editing herself.