Artists, craftsmen and other experts from the U-S and Europe meet in Perrytoday for the start of a three-day conference at the historic Hotel Pattee.Organizers of the gathering say it focuses on the “Arts and Crafts Movement”which was rooted in England and had a great influence on the AmericanMidwest.Elaine Ellis is coordinating the conference called “Uniting the Useful Withthe Beautiful.” She says the arts and crafts movement changed homes insideand out in England and the U-S, influencing architects like Frank LloydWright and Marion Mahoney. She says no single design is being featured.Speakers include art historians, curators and architects. While the mainfocus of the conference is education, Ellis says there will also be itemsfor sale.The conference in Perry runs today through Saturday with bus tours ofhistoric structures in Mason City on Sunday. For more information about theconference, call (515) 243-4123.
