Firing The ee end Whimsical wares, jewelry, porcelain, raku and stoneware styles will be represented at the all-clay show. Bonnie Greenwald's abstract functional and decorative clay art will be among works featured this weekend in Royal Oak. et art and about this weekend. More than 125 artists from 12 states will showcase their crafts at the Royal Oak All-Clay Invita- tional, presented by the Downtown Royal Oak Association. The invitational is held in conjunction with the '96 Royal Oak Folk Fest, Taste Fest and Kids Art Fest. "I use the surface as a canvas because I like to paint," says ceramicist Bonnie Green- wald of Manchester, Mich., who's returning to the invitational for her second year. "I pare the edges of my pieces a lot to make them look like handmade paper and use stains and oxides as if I'm watercoloring the clay. • "The public ap- preciation and attentiveness to what we are selling, as exten- sions of our- selves, is something like no oth- er experi- ence that I've ever had. j- It keeps draw- , . , ing me back," adds Greenwald, who participates in about 15 art fairs across the country each year. Over at 204 W. Fifth Avenue (that's Royal Oak, not New York), would-be Keith Harings will be creating sidewalk art with chalk, clay pinch pots and sculptures, beaded necklaces and bracelets and rubber-stamp tattoos. "Last year, we had both sides of Fifth Av- enue covered with chalk pictures from the kids," says Andy Sharkey of Andy Sharkey Gallery, coordinator and overseer of the chil- dren's portion of the festival. "We're doing these activities to expose kids to art and let them have actual hands-on experience with it. The kids love it; they have such a good time." Complementing the invitational is an all- star line-up of regional and national folk and acoustic musical performances. "The folk scene in Detroit, on a national scale, is considered to be absolutely booming. There's tremendous interest in Detroit artists and what we have to offer," says Folk Fest Artistic Director David Folks. "But, unfortu- nately, the local audience is naive as to the treasures we have here." Folks hopes that the Folk Fest line-up will raise the awareness: Saturday, June 15 —Jim Perkins (noon); Sabsabu Afrikan Dance The- atre (1:30 p.m.); Janet Krist (3:30 p.m.); and Michael Smith (4:00 p.m.). On Sunday, June 16 — Small Potatoes (noon); Stewart Francke (2:45 p.m.); and Sister Seed (4:00 p.m.). "It's not going to sound like Peter, Paul & Mary," adds Folks, who will be performing himself at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. "There will be more of a jazzy, funky feel to some of these acts — very energetic." ❑ — Julie Yolles Sponsored al oak All ton Avenueb4 will be h4Idir". June 15, and The ki , es '331 6 Pv-nt „..T., eli atittli Taste Fey !.. the OCQV Street. For more i 1 . .5474000 (Friday until 5 p.m. I or (810) 398- ; 5389. This Week's Best Bets e Aca wining song -an the story of Elsa the hones at the Redford Theatre. 17360 Lahser, Detroit. (313) 534-1954. Fri.,•8 p.m.; Sat., 2 & 8 p.m. Busy B's & Tiny Tots Hot Country Jam "B" that as it may. Beethoven. Bumblebee. Bach. Baton. Ballet. Bring your 3- to 6-year-old to this interactive concert presented by the DSO. Mercy High School Auditorium, Farmington Hills. (313) 833-3700. Doug Stone, Mandy Barnett and Great Plains are among the featured performers at this festival of music, carnival and food to benefit the National Kidney Foundation. Thorn Park, between Telegraph and Dix-Toledo roads. (313) 259-W4W4. Sat., 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p m. The -final performance of th week-long fest featUres - Jain Tomo, Ruth Laredo, Yehonatan Berick and more. Tetrple Beth El Sanctuary, Bloomfield Hills. (810) 362- 6171. Sat. 8 p.m. Fri., 3-11 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., noon-11 p.m. . It's Father's Day, and dads will be kvelling during this Broadway musical revue starring more than 60 talented area youngsters. Maple-Drake JCC. (810) 661-1000.