Kurt Hauglie/Daily Mining Gazette Linda Lohman of Houghton looks over some wooden bowls Saturday made by artist David Payant of Marquette at the Copper Country Community Arts Center 40th annual Poor Artists sale at the Calumet High School gymnasium.

CALUMET — Linda Lohman has been attending the Copper Country Community Arts Center’s Poor Artists Sale for many years, and Saturday she was looking for items she could give as gifts.

Lohman, who is from Houghton, said she doesn’t have a preference for any particular item.

“I’m open to all mediums,” she said. “I look for some of the artists I see every year.”

Lohman said she also looks for artists new to the event.

Her shopping wasn’t specifically for Christmas gifts, but that was a possibility as well as just general gift giving.

“There’s always something for a friend,” she said.

Cynthia Cote, CCCAC executive director, said Saturday was the 40th anniversary of the Poor Artists Sale, and she has been involved with it since 1992.

This year, Cote said about 60 artists who work in a vast variety of media took part in the event. Most of them are from the Copper Country, some came from the Marquette area.

Cote said she was pleased with the turnout Saturday for both artists and potential buyers.

“I think the turnout has been great,” she said.

The Poor Artists Sale started as a way for some artists to raise money for a gallery showing, Cote said.

“There weren’t that many venues for artists,” she said.

Since 1992, it has been a fundraiser for the CCCAC, Cote said. There is no entry fee to get to the sale, Cote said, so funds are raised by charging booth fees for the artists, and by a membership drive, which takes place at the event.

The event has taken place in the Calumet High School for many years. Although weather was good Saturday, it can be a factor for turnout, but Cote said it is intended to be a way for people to buy Christmas presents, which is why it’s conducted in December.

“It’s always been the first Saturday in December,” she said.

There were 15 artists who took part in the event for the first time, Cote said.

“We always like to have new artists,” she said.

One of those new artists was David Payant from Marquette, who offered bowls he turned on a lathe from several species of wood, including birds eye maple.

Payant said he started turning bowls just five years ago.

“I did it some in high school, and I did it again in the 80s,” he said.

Another first-time participant in the event was Tim Barrett, who is a student at Finlandia University. He and fellow Finlandia students Levi Grannis and Bill Thompson were offering clay bowls and other clay items.

“I just wanted to experience getting out art out there,” Barrett said of his reason for attending the sale.

Cote said the intention is to continue the Poor Artists Sale for as long as possible.

“It’s a very successful show,” she said.