Two years ago, Emilia Seabourne, founder and producer of the Autumn Alley Art Market, wanted to create opportunities for small-scale creatives in the Noblesville area. That’s why she created an art market for painters, authors, candle makers, crochet artists, metal workers, performers and other artists to showcase their skills in alleys in downtown Noblesville.

The Autumn Alley Art Market is scheduled for 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 21 in the north, south and east alleys of the downtown Noblesville square. From 7 to 9 p.m. the market will have haunted hours with actors dressed in witch costumes with cauldrons. Families and children are welcome to attend the earlier hours of the event, which will be family friendly.

When the market was created two years ago, it involved only 18 artists and was supposed to be presented once a year, according to Seabourne. But the event grew to the point where markets are now presented in the fall, winter and spring.

Fifty artists are expected to attend the Oct. 21 market, with 22 on a waitlist.

The market will feature businesses and artists, including Iriemani Screen Printer; Ginger Root Plant Co.; David Sendelweck, an acrylic painter; Kimberly’s Treasure Shop, which sells stained glass pieces; and Susanna Rose, a local artist.

The market will display services and products from a wide range of artists, Seabourne said. Artists selling their products or services and might also accept commissions for bigger projects, Seabourne said.

“There’s so many incredible artists and creatives that helped shape me when I moved here,” Seabourne said. “With all the growth and the progress, I wanted to make sure that that didn’t get lost, that the neighborhood’s still got to be present because this neighborhood is so cool. I’ve lived all over the U.S., and this is just the coolest place.”

Parking is available in the Levinson garage and Hamilton County garage.

For more, visit facebook.com/alleyartmarket/.

An elegant, energetic menagerie continues to emerge from Lisa Lloyd’s Brighton studio. Known for her painstaking precision and deft layering process, the artist (previously) imbues her paper sculptures with an immense amount of life, each creature conveying movement and vigor.

One of Lloyd’s most recent works, “Flux,” centers on a pair of fighting fish with gracefully swishing fins. Made in collaboration with the printer Barnard & Westwood, the bettas sport tiny speckles and stripes on their scales as their bodies curve toward each other. Additional sculptures include the anatomical “Ovule,” which depicts a bird severed to reveal a gold spine and flower in its torso, and her recent Rise series of avian-like forms with long, sweeping tails.

Many of the works shown here will be on view through October 15 at StART Art Fair at Saatchi Gallery in London. Lloyd also generously shares insights into her process on Instagram.

Detail of “Flux”

Detail of “Flux”

“Ovule”

“Rise 01”

“Rise 03”

“Rise 02”

The artist works on “Flux”

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Exquisite Paper Fish and Birds by Lisa Lloyd Twist in Elegant Motion appeared first on Colossal.

Why Small Businesses Matter

Shop small, do big things for your community

Why Small Businesses Matter puts a spotlight on the local merchants who donate their time, talent, goods, and services for the betterment of our community. The shop local movement spreads virally as local businesses who are “tagged” have the opportunity to share their story!

You’re IT Art & Color Marketing!

Three questions with Luis and Natali, co-founders of Art & Color.

Why did you start your business?

My husband and I founded Art & Color Marketing with a goal in mind, and that is to boost and empower small Latino-owned businesses through marketing strategies, web design and development, and print.

Our community is one of the most entrepreneurial communities in the world, yet it benefits the least from the leverage and advantages of a good marketing and branding strategy. We created Art & Color Marketing to fill this gap. As we continue to grow we have entered other markets and industries and continue to expand our services not only to our surrounding Latino community but our general local community as well.

What is your best-selling product/service?

Our best-selling services are our Branding and Web Design & Development packages and our print services (marketing collateral, car wrapping/lettering, signage, t-shirts, etc.)

Have you “reimagined” your small business?

Yes, we have! we founded Art & Color Marketing in 2020 as a branding and marketing agency and in 2022 we expanded our business to offer print services along with our current services. The goal in mind was to transform our business into a full-service marketing agency, where our clients could come to us with just an idea and we would bring their entrepreneurial ideas/dreams to life through marketing.

Natali would like to nominate Rozella’s Flower Boutique in Danbury to be featured next!

Visit Art & Color online here!

HamletHub thanks Fairfield County Bank for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!

HIGH POINT — A collection of rare, hand-painted art plates, once used to assist in the creation of intricate, hand-woven rug designs will be on display in the Discovery Center gallery of the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame when the High Point Market kicks off this week.

The Peykar family, founders of Nourison Home, have provided a sampling of original artworks to be featured in the exhibit. These individually sketched and hand-painted art plates reflect key periods of rug-making history and design. The plates, drawn nearly a century ago, have been carefully preserved by the Peykar family and provide a glimpse into both the evolution of rug design as well as its deep connection to global culture and history.

“From their humble origins as a means of comfort, rugs and carpets have undergone many evolutions: from status symbols and elaborate works of art to today, a staple in modern spaces and lifestyles,” said Alex Peykar, Nourison Home chairman. “While advances in engineering have made rug design faster than ever, the ideas for the original carpets were borne out of individually sketched and hand-painted plates.”

According to Peykar, many of the plates in the Nourison Home collection were drawn nearly 100 years ago and pay homage to even earlier design eras. The plates reflect both the skill of the artists as well as the painstaking craftmanship that goes into making high-quality rugs.

“Rug making truly is an art,” he said. “The first step to crafting all rugs begins with tracing. Artists start by drawing on a sheet of tracing paper, fusing aspects of traditional design with the artist’s personal style. The tracing paper allows the artists to combine different motifs to create new, original artworks.”

After tracing, artists draft notes regarding color and scale to be used to create a full-sized plate of the rug. In handmade rug factories, one master singer calls out each color noted on the full-scale plate, each of which represents a knot woven into the final rug, Peykar said.

In the special Discovery Center exhibit at the Hall of Fame, visitors will see rare examples of art plates incorporating these rug designs:

• Aradabil: Inspired by the “Oldest Dated Carpet in the World,” the Ardabil Carpet was woven as part of a pair near the city of Kashan around 1539 to 1540 CE. While the original reason these rugs were crafted is contested, many believe them to have been a gift to Sheikh Safi al-Din in Aradabil. The hand-drawn replicas shown in the Hall of Fame exhibit feature intricate florals commonly associated with Islamic art, as well as a reimaging of the mosque pendant lamp that appeared in the original.
• Aubusson: Named for the town in central France, where renowned weavers have been making tapestries since the 14th century, Aubusson style rugs typically feature detailed florals and complex architectural design elements.
• Directoire: A Neoclassical style paying homage to ancient Greece and Rome. The Directoire period of the decorative arts became popular toward the end of the French Revolution and favored classical motifs such as laurel wreaths and geometric shapes.
• Empire: Introduced by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte following the Directoire era, this period’s design elements included ribbons, sphinxes, amphoras and other prominent Greco-Roman motifs that came to be associated with Napoleon’s rule.
• Kashan: Located in the Isfahan province of Iran, Kashan has long been known for producing some of the world’s finest rugs and carpets. Kashan design elements often include blossom and leaf patterns and medallions.
• OCM-Symrna: Smyrna, now Izmir in Turkey, was an ancient Greek city on the coast of Anatolia. The now defunct Oriental Carpet Manufacturers, incorporated in London in 1908, was headquartered there and employed thousands of weavers in the region. Although the company’s factories later expanded to Iran and India, the Symrna-era designs fused aspects of traditional Persian and Turkish weaving with modifications favored by U.S. buyers. Some designs also were influenced by classic Chinese rugs.
• Oushak: A small town south of Istanbul, Oushak has been a major center of rug production since the dawn of the Ottoman empire. These designs borrow heavily from Persian rugs and typically include medallions or other all-over floral patterns.
• Ningxia: One of the oldest rug-weaving centers in China, Ningxia was a major rug producer during the 18th and 19th centuries. Rugs produced in this region often included traditional elements such as dragons and cloud bands, representative of the heavens.
• Peking: Peking rugs, woven in Beijing, initially came into production after World War I for export to Europe, and the U.S. designs often incorporated Chinese art, Buddhist symbols and nature scenes. Patterns evolved over time to include aspects of Western design such as Aubusson style.
• Tabriz: The city of Tabriz, capital of East Azerbaijan in Iran, is among the oldest and most famous weaving centers in the world. While designs produced are incredibly diverse, there are some staple elements that appear in traditional Tabriz carpets, including ornamental flowers with toothed leaves, cypress trees and arabesque stems.

“We are so privileged to be able to share this rare look inside vintage designs with the industry and the community at large,” said Karen McNeill, CEO and president of the Hall of Fame board of directors. “It’s just one example of the many treasures to be found in the industry’s new home and an example of an only-at-the-Hall of Fame experience.”

See also:

“Where is the outline of one’s self beyond the physical body?” asks the artist Kat Kristof. “If I stand close to you, am I part of you? If we touch, our beings intersect, where do I start and do you begin? Do we share a single being between us?”

In Her & the Self opening next week at BEERS London, Kristof expounds on what it means to try to define something as mutable, fluid, and fragmented as the self. She paints in neutrals and muted jewel tones, rendering figures that are disjointed, mirrored, entwined, and glitched. In works like “She & Her,” for example, a secondary figure appears to peel itself off the body of the subject, a motif similar to that in “Portrait of Them IV.” Other pieces, like “Portrait of Her IV,” show a single woman looking directly toward the viewer, while another identical form slyly peeks out from her left side with a knowing expression.

A statement about the exhibition poses the theory that each portrait equally depicts the sitter and the artist, further ensnaring several identities and perceptions into each of Kristof’s works. While composed of geometric blocks of subtle color, her stylized figures defy clear delineation, their forms often melding into one another and blurring any boundary between the two. The subjects also retain their anonymity and distance from the viewer, further questioning the limits of what we’re able to glean about each other and ourselves.

Her & the Self runs from October 20 to November 25. Glimpse Kristof’s studio and process on Instagram.

“Portrait of Her I” (2023), oil on canvas, 135 x 145 centimeters

“Portrait of Her IV” (2023), oil on canvas, 100 x 100 centimeters

“Portrait of Them II” (2023), oil on canvas, 150 x 150 centimeters

“Portrait of Them IV” (2023), oil on canvas, 145 x 110 centimeters

“Her & Her” (2023), oil on canvas, 185 x 125 centimeters

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Disjointed and Mirrored Figures Break Into Indistinct Selves in Kat Kristof’s Portraits appeared first on Colossal.

Courtesy of Magnus Resch

Controversy was a common thread at a Monday evening’s art talk at the Yale School of Management, which took place during the most recent class of “Entrepreneurship in the art market,” an interdisciplinary course that combines the arts and business. 

“I would say that we have three of the most controversial figures in the art world [with us tonight],” Magnus told the class before introducing the first speaker. 

Magnus Resch, an author and economist, is the instructor for “Entrepreneurship in the art market.” 

Every class session throughout the course begins with an artist talk. There are also guest lectures with a Q&A section prepared by student groups. 

Due to the nature of the class, the final project can be either a paper about the future of the art market or a piece of artwork students create that reflects what the they have learned.

“I’ve always been interested in the intersection of art and business,” Resch told the News. “It’s important for artists to understand what industry they’re really getting into.” 

The lineup began with Jeff Koons, the most expensive living artist, who was followed by art columnist Kenny Schachter and art collector Stefan Simchowitz — all three of whom dialed in on Zoom. An expensive artist is someone whose work is sold at high prices. 

Big names like these are typical for guest speakers in Resch’s course. Students in past years have heard from speakers including artists KAWS, Alex Israel ’03 and Tavares Strachan ART ’06. Other past speakers have included prominent figures in the business world, such as the CEO of Sotheby’s, Charles Stewart ’92 and the Chairman of the Fine Arts Division at Sotheby’s Amy Cappellazzo.

Every year, the course brings in notable players in the art world to speak directly to students about their experiences making, selling and buying art. The students also receive hands-on opportunities in the form of class trips to art fairs, such as the Armory Show in New York.

“Magnus is not only an engaging speaker, but his deep involvement in the subject matter makes the class feel authentic and dynamic,” Rafael Villares ART ’24 wrote the News. “Furthermore, the class serves as a unique intersection between two worlds often kept separate in academia. Many art schools shy away from discussing the art market with students, so this class is enlightening in that regard.”

Koons is a sculpture artist known for his large-scale works like “Balloon Dog,” “Puppy” and “Rabbit.” He has also made headlines for plagiarism and copyright infringement allegations. 

His works, which he self-described as having “transcended” the art world, have sold for millions at top galleries including Gagosian, Pace and David Zwirner.

Each discussion with the three speakers was framed around questions compiled by students in the class. The topics included art and technology, criticism and career planning. 

“I think what I’ve come to appreciate about this class and about the interview of the guest is that we’ve been really encouraged to ask the hard questions,” Samanta Cubias DRA ’24, SOM ’24 told the News. 

The prestige surrounding Koons’s work prompted Cubias to ask about the power imbalance between artists and the galleries and curators that they work with. She asked if Koons’ status had provided him with an upper hand in negotiations with gallerists.

Koons responded by saying that he enjoys the social and relational aspects of his job — working with galleries and curators — but his purpose in art making is always to serve his work and others. 

“Hopefully when people come into contact with my work, they realize their own potential,” Koons said.

During his interview in class, Koons also shared anecdotes about his family and his early life as an artist, mentioning the time he met surrealist painter Salvador Dali at The St. Regis Hotel in New York.

When one student asked him if there was “a point where you had to release the need to have your hands in every piece,” Koons’ responded that since his works have gotten larger, he has required a team of people to help execute his vision. Processes like casting, which Koons said he has other people do, “take a lot of instruction.” 

Koons said that he had to relinquish control over his work “Puppy,” which is composed of live flowers. Despite planning out where each flower was to grow, he said the ultimate creative decisions were up to nature.

The second speaker, Kenny Schachter, made his first appearance in the art world as a writer and critic. He now has a column for Artnet, an art market website, and has his own exhibitions.

Schachter did not elaborate much on current issues in the art world during the talk — beyond referring to the art market as “the most conservative, backwards business … 90 percent of which is old white rich people.”

“Women and people of color are [still] underrepresented in galleries and museums. It’s an uphill battle for a lot of [these] artists to make a living and find success and recognition for the work that they dedicate their lives to,” Leigh Bushnell SOM ’24 told the News after class.

During his segment of the talk, Schachter showed the audience his two most recent exhibitions, called “Keep hope alive” and “Kenny’s list.” 

Students in the class then asked Schachter to explain the meaning behind some of his most prominent works. One of the chosen pieces was “Koons Call of Duty,” a photo of Jeff Koons holding his balloon sculptures with an edited Call of Duty backdrop. The text in the foreground reads: “There’s an artist in all of us.”

When explaining the purpose behind his art, Schacter said that humor is often integral to his creative process.

Stefan Simchowitz spoke last. Simchowitz was recently profiled in The Wall Street Journal about his success in curation and art collection. Similar to the previous two speakers, however, he also received criticism and backlash during his career, with one New York Times headline referring to him as “The Art World’s Patron Satan.” Those that criticize Simchowitz’s work claim that he buys the work of young artists and then “flips” them to increase the prices before selling them to buyers. 

Simchowitz spoke about his non-traditional approach to curation and art collection. He discovers budding artists on Instagram, rather than through networking at art events.

In a similar way to the speakers at the talk, Resch said he entered the art world early on by selling art as a way to finance his undergraduate education. However, he said that art is not a very good investment.

“Don’t buy art as an investment, but to support artists and the art community,” Resch told the News when asked what advice he would give to students interested in art and business. 

“Rabbit,” a sculpture by Jeff Koons, sold for $91.1 million at Christie’s.

The Last Samurai by Randy Selbe.
(Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — The Parkersburg Art Center will host two special events this weekend.

On Friday, from 5-7 p.m., the PAC will be hosting an exhibit opening reception for artists Newman Jackson and Randy Selbe.

Jackson’s paintings vary from large, portrait-style paintings to smaller canvases with imagery revealing the more psychological aspects of humanness.

Selbe is a formally trained graphic designer and illustrator, but decided later in life that clay was a great medium for her artistic endeavors.

“Charleston artists Randy Selbe and Newman Jackson both work in bold colors and shapes. Even though these are two separate exhibits, we believe viewers will enjoy seeing how well the pieces complement each other,” said Abby Hayhurst, Parkersburg Art Center Artists Director.

“Stringing Breens” by Newman Jackson.
(Photo Provided)

“My father showed me how to draw a human leg (comparing it to a baseball bat) when I was 8. Later, my high school art teacher led me to famous black artists I could relate to, like Henry O. Tanner and Charles White. Years later, I earned extra cash while in the Navy by drawing my buddies and their girlfriends,” said Jackson. “All of my canvases represent tidbits from my personal Appalachian experiences — an episode of my youth, a wandering thought, or an event in the present.”

Selbe also grew up in West Virginia.

“I have great love of the outdoors, travel and art. The look and texture of my pottery expresses my life: visions of home, travel, and many other indelible imprints and influences. My goal is to create pottery that balances uniqueness and appeal with true functionality and usefulness,” she said.

The Exhibit Opening Reception on Friday cost $10 to attend but is free to Art Center members and children 12 and under. Hor d’oeuvres and refreshments will be available.

The exhibit will remain on display through Nov. 11 and can be viewed Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular admission is waived for all of 2023 thanks to the Admission Sponsorship of WVU Medicine Camden Clark.

The Parkersburg Art Center will hold its annual ArtOberfest event from 5-9 p.m. Saturday.
(Photo Provided)

The Parkersburg Art Center is located at 725 Market St. in downtown Parkersburg at the corner of Market and Eighth streets with parking in the lots along Eighth Street between Market and Juliana. Find out more about the Art Center on Facebook, Instagram or their website www.parkersburgartcenter.org.

In the other weekend event, Artoberfest and Chalk the Block will be Saturday on Market Street in the 700 and 800 blocks in front of the art center.

The Chalk the Block chalk art competition will be 1-5 p.m. and ArtOberfest will be 5-9 p.m.

For the seventh annual ArtOberfest, artists will fill the block in front of the art center with unique and hand-crafted items for sale. Vendors include jewelry makers, potters, fused glass design, pen and ink artists, painters, authors, crochet and knitwear crafters, sign makers and more. J.D. Williamson will be back this year drawing caricatures.

Musical entertainment for the evening includes performances by Evie Schaffer, Evan Cunningham, Moonking and Division Street. Food and drink will provided by WineDown on Market, Sips Coffee Truck, Parkersburg Brewing Company, DJs Sweet Creations and Royally Baked WV with gourmet pepperoni rolls.

The art center and the PAC713 Market will also be open all evening so guests can shop at the gift shop and enjoy the gallery exhibits by Jackson and Selbe. The mezzanine level will be set up as a Lego Building station for kids of all ages inside the Art Center.

During Chalk the Block on the 800 block of Market Street, teen and adult artists will create temporary works of art directly on the sidewalk. Music will be provided by DJ Casey Powell and additional artful entertainment by the crew from ArtBeat Studio. The public is invited to join the fun, watch the creativity flow and vote for favorites. Cash prizes will be awarded thanks to Chalk the Block sponsor, Artsbridge. Artists are to pre-register if they want to be eligible for the prizes at www.parkersburgartcenter.org/upcomingcurrent-events

Attending either of these events is free, but donations will be accepted at the entrance and funds go to purport PAC arts outreach programs and help the PAC grow the senior arts studio. There are no tickets to buy and plenty of parking in the lots along Eighth Street.

If it rains, the ArtOberfest party will move inside the art center. Chalk the Block will be rescheduled in the event of rain.

ArtOberfest is free due to the title sponsor Bill Bailey Insurance, and other sponsors West Virginia University at Parkersburg, United Bank, Artsbridge, Joe Munoz, Downtown PKB and Discount Pool Supply with extra help from Wine Down on Market and Parkersburg Brewing Company.

“Stringing Breens” by Newman Jackson. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — The Parkersburg Art Center will host two special events this weekend.

On Friday, from 5-7 p.m., the PAC will be hosting an exhibit opening reception for artists Newman Jackson and Randy Selbe.

Jackson’s paintings vary from large, portrait-style paintings to smaller canvases with imagery revealing the more psychological aspects of humanity.

Selbe is a formally trained graphic designer and illustrator, but decided later in life that clay was a great medium for her artistic endeavors.

“Charleston artists Randy Selbe and Newman Jackson both work in bold colors and shapes. Even though these are two separate exhibits, we believe viewers will enjoy seeing how well the pieces complement each other,” said Abby Hayhurst, Parkersburg Art Center Artists Director.

The Last Samurai by Randy Selbe (Photo Provided)

“My father showed me how to draw a human leg (comparing it to a baseball bat) when I was 8. Later, my high school art teacher led me to famous black artists I could relate to, like Henry O. Tanner and Charles White. Years later, I earned extra cash while in the Navy by drawing my buddies and their girlfriends,” said Jackson. “All of my canvases represent tidbits from my personal Appalachian experiences–an episode of my youth, a wandering thought, or an event in the present.”

Selbe also grew up in West Virginia.

“I have great love of the outdoors, travel and art. The look and texture of my pottery expresses my life: visions of home, travel, and many other indelible imprints and influences. My goal is to create pottery that balances uniqueness and appeal with true functionality and usefulness,” she said.

The Exhibit Opening Reception on Friday cost $10 to attend but is free to Art Center members and children 12 and under. Hor d’oeuvres and refreshments will be available.

The exhibit will remain on display through Nov. 11 and can be viewed Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Regular admission is waived for all of 2023 thanks to the Admission Sponsorship of WVU Medicine Camden Clark.

The Parkersburg Art Center will hold its annual ArtOberfest event from 5-9 p.m. Saturday. (Photo Provided)

The Parkersburg Art Center is located at 725 Market St. in downtown Parkersburg at the corner of Market and Eighth streets with parking in the lots along Eighth Street between Market and Juliana. Find out more about the Art Center on Facebook, Instagram or their website www.parkersburgartcenter.org.

In the other weekend event, ArtOberfest and Chalk the Block will be Saturday on Market Street in the 700 and 800 blocks in front of the art center.

The Chalk the Block chalk art competition will be 1-5 p.m. and ArtOberfest will be 5-9 p.m.

For the seventh annual ArtOberfest, artists will fill the block in front of the art center with unique and hand-crafted items for sale. Vendors include jewelry makers, potters, fused glass design, pen and ink artists, painters, authors, crochet and knitwear crafters, sign makers and more. J.D. Williamson will be back this year drawing caricatures.

Musical entertainment for the evening includes performances by Evie Schaffer, Evan Cunningham, Moonking and Division Street. Food and drink will provided by WineDown on Market, Sips Coffee Truck, Parkersburg Brewing Company, DJs Sweet Creations and Royally Baked WV with gourmet pepperoni rolls.

The art center and the PAC713 Market will also be open all evening so guests can shop at the gift shop and enjoy the gallery exhibits by Jackson and Selbe. The mezzanine level will be set up as a Lego Building station for kids of all ages inside the Art Center.

During Chalk the Block on the 800 block of Market Street, teen and adult artists will create temporary works of art directly on the sidewalk. Music will be provided by DJ Casey Powell and additional artful entertainment by the crew from ArtBeat Studio. The public is invited to join the fun, watch the creativity flow and vote for favorites. Cash prizes will be awarded thanks to Chalk the Block sponsor, Artsbridge. Artists are to pre-register if they want to be eligible for the prizes at www.parkersburgartcenter.org/upcomingcurrent-events

Attending either of these events is free, but donations will be accepted at the entrance and funds go to purport PAC arts outreach programs and help the PAC grow the senior arts studio. There are no tickets to buy and plenty of parking in the lots along Eighth Street.

If it rains, the ArtOberfest party will move inside the art center. Chalk the Block will be rescheduled in the event of rain.

ArtOberfest is free due to the title sponsor Bill Bailey Insurance, and other sponsors West Virginia University at Parkersburg, United Bank, Artsbridge, Joe Munoz, Downtown PKB and Discount Pool Supply with extra help from Wine Down on Market and Parkersburg Brewing Company.

This was printmaker Cecelia Murray’s first time at the market. As a frequent vendor at Durham’s Craft Market, she said she noticed the Calico Makers Market’s different atmosphere and close-knit camaraderie between artists. 

“Sometimes you go — nobody knows anybody,” Murray said. “But, there are people here that I’ve worked with before, and everybody seems very nice.”

Calico Creates, a subsidiary of Calico Studio, repurposes scrap fabric into accessories, according to Sharece Ramos, an interior designer for Calico Studio. Their products are dyed in house with natural ingredients planted from the studio’s garden, located in the same acreage where the market was hosted. 

She said that the market allows Calico Creates to gauge what people are interested in.

Friends Holly Roper, Allison Thompson and Anna Kim regularly enjoy perusing small markets and holding group crafting nights. Roper learned about the Makers Market from seeing their signs on her commute down Smith Level Road and posts on Facebook and invited her friends to join. 

The three noted how friendly the artists were and the diversity of artistic mediums at the market. 

Thompson said she remembered a printmaker from last year and wanted to see them again this year. 

Kim said that all three enjoy walking around and looking at art. She said she would take note of the things her friends took interest in at the October market to help with Christmas shopping.

Exploring the market inspires the friend group’s own crafting, Roper said. 

“You’re seeing all these people at different stages of crafting and their experience and you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s really cool, maybe I should try to do that too,’” she said.

The Calico Makers Market started as a venue for artists to sell their work and maintain community during lockdown, and has grown to an organized art weekend where visitors not only buy work, but chat with artists and create art themselves.

“More people are starting to come out because we’re becoming more known, so that’s always great,” Ramos said. “The foot traffic expansion has been awesome.”

@dailytarheel | lifestyle@dailytarheel.com