As seen on Arkansasonline.com
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2011/jun/26/new-hot-springs-market-opens-crafts-20110626/
Hot Springs is home to several annual arts and crafts shows, but a newly created indoor market provides artisans with an opportunity to showcase their wares each month in downtown Hot Springs.
The Hot Springs Artisan Market, which is held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the third Saturday of the month at STAR Gallery, 610A Central Ave., features handmade items from artists in Hot Springs and surrounding areas.
“The Artisan Market is 100 percent local and 100 percent handmade,” said printmaker and mixed-media artist Heather Montgomery, who founded the market. “We don’t want to have anybody who’s reselling. We want everybody to have their story behind what they’re making.”
Montgomery started the market in May after the Historic Downtown Hot Springs Farmers Market adopted new regulations that no longer allowed arts and crafts vendors, providing more space for fresh produce and other food vendors.
Montgomery had been a regular vendor at the farmers market, where she displayed her popular postage-stamp pendants.
“When there was a change in the regulation for the farmers market, there were some local crafters who didn’t have a place to show locally, and I wanted to make a place where they could come,” said Montgomery, who began scouting indoor locations.
“The nice thing about an indoor space is that there were some people who weren’t prepared for outdoors, so they are able to come to this market,” she said.
The first market was held at Studio Ten, also in downtown Hot Springs, before relocating to STAR Gallery, an artists collective founded by sisters Rebecca Stone and Beth Jones.
“Beth and I love having them at the gallery,” Stone said. “I hope more people join up with them and STAR Gallery. We need to show the community and the tourists that come to Hot Springs that unique things are still made by hand with care and not churned out of a factory somewhere.”
In addition to June’s regularly scheduled market, a holiday Artisan Market took place during Memorial Day weekend.
“It was a really good fit,” Montgomery said of the space. “This is our second time to set up here, and I think that it’s just going to continue to grow and, hopefully, it’s going to become [one of the] stops that people have.”
Five vendors were at the June market, but Montgomery expects to have an average of eight to 10 vendors each month.
“They’ll change based on who can do what, and I think that’s nice because it’s not going to be the same market every time,” she added.
Vendors pay an $8 booth fee, which goes toward renting the space at the gallery.
“It’s exciting to be a part of it, and it definitely feels like a place where I belong,” said Hot Springs resident Elizabeth Mehlin, who displayed her “garden adornments” at the June market. “I hope to continue doing it, and I hope that it continues to grow in the awareness of the community.”
Other vendors at the June market included jeweler Allison Eastman Britt of AEB Design, who makes rings, earrings and necklaces from reclaimed sterling and fine silver; Brandy Kurth of The Perfect Memories Boutique, who makes infant and toddler clothing and accessories; and Genie Garrett of Art Genie, who makes aprons and skirts.
“I’m t r y i ng to e x hibit down here in Hot Springs as much as I can,” said Garrett, who is based in Bryant. “I’m a home-based operation, so I have to find opportunities to get my stuff out there and get it shown. I love it. I love coming down here.”
This month’s Artisan Market saw both tourists and locals, including Hot Springs resident Lauren Kudabeck. She had not heard about the market previously but stopped in to shop with her family while strolling through downtown.
“You never really know about local businesses,” she said. “It’s hard to find little nooks and crannies around town, and right here, passing through, it’s nice to see something going on.”
For more infor mat ion about the Artisan Market or to become a vendor, call (501) 520-8244.
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2011/jun/26/new-hot-springs-market-opens-crafts-20110626/
New Hot Springs market opens for crafts
The Hot Springs Artisan Market, which is held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the third Saturday of the month at STAR Gallery, 610A Central Ave., features handmade items from artists in Hot Springs and surrounding areas.
“The Artisan Market is 100 percent local and 100 percent handmade,” said printmaker and mixed-media artist Heather Montgomery, who founded the market. “We don’t want to have anybody who’s reselling. We want everybody to have their story behind what they’re making.”
Montgomery started the market in May after the Historic Downtown Hot Springs Farmers Market adopted new regulations that no longer allowed arts and crafts vendors, providing more space for fresh produce and other food vendors.
Montgomery had been a regular vendor at the farmers market, where she displayed her popular postage-stamp pendants.
“When there was a change in the regulation for the farmers market, there were some local crafters who didn’t have a place to show locally, and I wanted to make a place where they could come,” said Montgomery, who began scouting indoor locations.
“The nice thing about an indoor space is that there were some people who weren’t prepared for outdoors, so they are able to come to this market,” she said.
The first market was held at Studio Ten, also in downtown Hot Springs, before relocating to STAR Gallery, an artists collective founded by sisters Rebecca Stone and Beth Jones.
“Beth and I love having them at the gallery,” Stone said. “I hope more people join up with them and STAR Gallery. We need to show the community and the tourists that come to Hot Springs that unique things are still made by hand with care and not churned out of a factory somewhere.”
In addition to June’s regularly scheduled market, a holiday Artisan Market took place during Memorial Day weekend.
“It was a really good fit,” Montgomery said of the space. “This is our second time to set up here, and I think that it’s just going to continue to grow and, hopefully, it’s going to become [one of the] stops that people have.”
Five vendors were at the June market, but Montgomery expects to have an average of eight to 10 vendors each month.
“They’ll change based on who can do what, and I think that’s nice because it’s not going to be the same market every time,” she added.
Vendors pay an $8 booth fee, which goes toward renting the space at the gallery.
“It’s exciting to be a part of it, and it definitely feels like a place where I belong,” said Hot Springs resident Elizabeth Mehlin, who displayed her “garden adornments” at the June market. “I hope to continue doing it, and I hope that it continues to grow in the awareness of the community.”
Other vendors at the June market included jeweler Allison Eastman Britt of AEB Design, who makes rings, earrings and necklaces from reclaimed sterling and fine silver; Brandy Kurth of The Perfect Memories Boutique, who makes infant and toddler clothing and accessories; and Genie Garrett of Art Genie, who makes aprons and skirts.
“I’m t r y i ng to e x hibit down here in Hot Springs as much as I can,” said Garrett, who is based in Bryant. “I’m a home-based operation, so I have to find opportunities to get my stuff out there and get it shown. I love it. I love coming down here.”
This month’s Artisan Market saw both tourists and locals, including Hot Springs resident Lauren Kudabeck. She had not heard about the market previously but stopped in to shop with her family while strolling through downtown.
“You never really know about local businesses,” she said. “It’s hard to find little nooks and crannies around town, and right here, passing through, it’s nice to see something going on.”
For more infor mat ion about the Artisan Market or to become a vendor, call (501) 520-8244.
