Just south of Pullman, in Uniontown, sits a lofty white barn. Here, artisans can share their projects and people of all ages are encouraged to test their creativity.

On Saturday, the Artisans at the Dahmen Barn will host its ninth annual Art Demonstration Day in conjunction with WSU’s Mom’s Weekend. The Barn is a non-profit creativity center with a gift shop, ever-changing exhibits, and multiple special events each year.

Manager Leslee Miller said the barn brings in artists and other resources who have something special to offer in relation to the theme of the Art Demonstration Day. This year’s theme is books.

“We want to enable people to learn more about the topic and learn more about books,” Miller said. “We want to peak people’s interests and maybe following the event they will take a class and continue exploring the topic.”

Miller said the barn began hosting this event on the same weekend as WSU Mom’s Weekend to give moms and students something fun to do. They will offer a wide variety of different presenters at this year’s event, Miller said.

“We will have various artists who illustrate and write their own books, or even those that alter books to be fun art things,” Miller said.

The event will feature many presenters giving their two cents about a topic related to books. Local authors Carole Simon Smolinski, Keith Petersen and Joyce Wilkens will also be available for book signing from noon to 2 p.m.

Sue Benier, a self-publishing author from Moscow, Idaho is one of the presenters. Benier said she will have a display board about how to get started with publishing, book samples, and handouts with her six-step process on beginning publishing.

“Since retiring and moving to Moscow in 2006, I have written short stories for a hobby, not for profit. I enjoy gifting my stories to friends at holidays,” she said.

Benier said she first explored the self-publishing company Lulu three years ago.

“Friends now and then say I am a walking advertisement for Lulu, but I love the affordable service it offers,” she said. “I am happy to share my experiences and help others.

The biggest challenge with self-publishing is attention to detail, Benier said.

“Nothing substitutes for good editing and intentional choices,” she said.

Miller said WSU students can bring their moms to Art Demonstration Day and enjoy a meal at one of the two eateries in Uniontown. There will also be an antique and collectibles sale in the community building. The Art Demonstration day runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., but the barn is open until 6 p.m. For more information, refer to the Artisans at the Dahmen Barn website.

Reporting by Brookelynn Graditi