A beautiful, creative, inclusive market experience comes together in Lower Gibsons every Saturday during the warm season. Located across from Winegarden Waterfront Park, it’s like a little fair. Tents are provided and space sharing is encouraged. New makers have a welcoming, easy-access location to display work, and busy (or shy) makers can arrange to have their work displayed for them. With live music and performances every week, and a free 9:00 am yoga session to start things off, this Artisan Market wonderfully extends the summer strolling possibilities in Lower G for both tourists and locals.
While two years of restricted social opportunities did give creative types some time to hone their talents, artists and makers of all kinds have suffered like the rest of us from isolation and fewer opportunities to share their talent and hard work. Kimberley Francis, Lexie Snowden and Steven Hughes are the visionary and operations crew caring for the details of each Saturday. With intention, an environment has been crafted where hospitality, flexibility and accessibility are foundational. This makes for a gentle and immersive experience for both artists and the greater community who attends. Impromptu skill sharing, open ended studio sessions embedded throughout the market, and live music invite attendees to stay a while. A few empty spaces intentionally remain to provide the visual cue that new artists are always welcome.
Francis, who creates unique and gorgeous wood carvings, enthuses: “The truth of what sparked it was to provide greater economic security for several families on the Coast, . . . who were having to go off-Coast every summer to sell their work in a market setting. Many of the existing markets on the Coast have mandates allocating 15% or less of spaces to artists, so in a market with 60 spaces only nine would be open to artists. We value creating a non-competitive space where emerging artists can be mentored by more seasoned studio artists, over fifty artists and designers in one place.”
Browse the ceramics, woodwork, painting, flowers, textiles, photography, leather, weaving, and vintage items, with new and different offerings every week. It’s very organic feeling, a coming together that celebrates the makers of our community. A place for them to share, and to inspire and encourage each other. Here are some of the words artisans have used to describe the experience:
“Humble, inspired, shoshen.”
“Motivating, supportive, inclusive.”
“Poetic, strengthening, collaborative.”
“Inclusive, fun, kind.”
