The Arts and Humanities Academy (AHA), one of Berkeley High School’s small schools, hosted a student art craft fair on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 11 and 12, 2025, during lunch. The fair allowed students an opportunity to showcase and sell original artworks, ranging from prints and figurines to jewelry, apparel, and handmade accessories. “Events like this give students the chance to share their creativity and feel proud of their work,” AHA junior Megan Cleary, who sold handmade figurines and jewelry at the craft fair, said.
The two-day event happened outside of the G Building, presented as a marketplace of student creativity, with tables adorned with colorful displays and dozens of artists eager to discuss their work. Many students used the fair as an opportunity to share their personal interests and creative passions with the wider school community.
Cleary’s table featured laser-cut figurines inspired by “My Little Pony,” along with earrings and trinkets she made by hand. “I’ve been watching ‘My Little Pony’ since I was really little,” Cleary said. When asked what message she hoped people would take from her art she added, “Friendship is magic.”
Other artists showcased work that required long, intricate, and complex processes. Amelie Klocek sold riso prints, hand-painted designs, and handmade tissue-paper flowers. One of their prints began as a watercolor painting, before being scanned and printed using a risograph. “The most challenging part was probably how long it took,” Klocek said. “They did take a while, so it was mostly about finding time to make them,” she added.
BHS sophomore Molly McGowan sold handmade lace chokers, each one carefully sewn and designed by hand. McGowan said she wanted to sell her work because she already enjoyed making the chokers and thought the fair would be a fun opportunity to share her work with other artists. “First I find materials I think would work well together, and then I sew everything by hand,” McGowan said. She added that the most difficult part was sewing detailed sections. “It takes forever,” she said.
For BHS senior Toby Quilty, the craft fair was a way to reflect on multiple years of artistic growth. Quilty sold prints created across different grade levels, including detailed linoleum prints. “A lot of these pieces are from different time periods of my art,” Quilty said.
Quilty described self-expression as a central theme in his work, “I think a reason a lot of artists make art is self-expression, and being able to share that with others is why I’m selling it.”
BHS junior Camila Masatz also displayed prints and paintings, including a hand-painted piece titled “Vision of Serenity.” The piece depicts a fictional landscape of a river, stream, and bridge. “I made these just for fun, what I’m interested in and what I think looks nice,” Masatz said. She noted that one of her challenging pieces to make involved painting on a very small scale before repurposing it as a sticker.
The AHA craft fair gave students the chance to connect through art, support their peers, and celebrate creativity within the small school.