Columbia's Zipper Craft and Art Festival aims to promote connection

Jul 24, 2023

From True/False to Treeline, and many, many points between, Columbia earns its reputation as a first-rate festival town.

Our college town greets so many festivals, in fact, that it might seem we've seen and done it all. But before it even begins, an upcoming makers' festival is showing off what makes it distinct. From the personality of its web presence — complete with a quotation from novelist Tom Robbins — to its explicitly kind aims, The Zipper Craft and Art Festival suggests fresh means toward enduring ends.

Coming up Saturday, Sept. 9 in the Arcade District, the Zipper festival features an A-to-Z (or rather A-to-S, from Acid Fruit Art to The Subtle Sparkle) roster of local artists and craftspeople.

From detail-rich drawings to handmade earrings, wood to leather, bathworks to floral arrangements and fine art, nearly every conceivable medium and mood will be represented. And passersby will encounter both known quantities on the Columbia scene — creators like Jessica Pelzer, Jessie Starbuck and Ken Nichols — and new-to-them artists.

But organizers hope to move beyond the mere, though not insignificant, acts of browsing and buying; founders Kelli Canada, Gina Froeliger and Josie Thompson want to go deeper. The festival's website makes plain its goal of bonding neighbors and shedding loneliness in the presence of others.

"Zipper is bringing people together in an environment that encourages human connection through art and entertainment," the website notes.

One step toward this beautiful aim: the festival website anticipates the presence of Connection Corners, created by area artists. These spaces "will be staged throughout the festival and provide a cozy, cool spot to interact in, talk with someone you know or someone new."

Festivalgoers can also get to know local bands and performers, with a strong entertainment lineup planned. Musicians on the docket include sibling band Drona, garage rockers The Lemon Settlement, duo Poundcake, rapper Nic Danger and artful indie act Telepathy Club.

Also on approach: aerial artists, a group called Dancing Divas, a dance performance from the Jabberwocky studios and a Columbia legend, Derrick "The Hacky Sack Guy" Fogle.

As for that Tom Robbins quote, the fest's websites documents the "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" writer's thoughts on zippers themselves:

"Zippers are primal and modern at the very same time. On the one hand, your zipper is primitive and reptilian, on the other mechanical and slick."

Somewhere where those ideas overlap, between the fundamental and the novel, the fest will exist. The Zipper Festival runs from 1 to 7 p.m. Sept. 9, and admission is free. Visit https://www.thezipperfest.com/ for more details and a full list of participants

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at [email protected] or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter @aarikdanielsen.