News Release
Market gives artists of all kinds a chance to show off their work
July 30, 2009
By KYLE MULLIN Daily Gleaner
Robert Dugas has always been his worst critic when it comes to his paintings of tulips and pansies, mainly because he's been the only one to lay eyes on them.
But he has had his first chance to showcase those works this summer at Downtown Fredericton Inc.'s Artist Market, held every Thursday in Wilmot Alley.
"I had all these paintings piling up at home with no where to show them, much less sell them," said Dugas.
"It's like old Quebec out here, people see your work and chat you up about it on their way by, and I'm glad to finally have the feedback."
Shasta Stairs, a marketing and communications employee for Downtown Fredericton Inc. who spearheaded the project, said the city deserved a new outdoor venue for art that otherwise might have gone unseen.
"Having it outside gives the whole thing a nice, organic, casual atmosphere," she said.
"It can be difficult for local artists to get seen, so this market can at least be a chance for them to get their designs out there."
Aside from Dugas, the market features photographer Gary Weeks, Monica Memory's painted silk scarves, live music, the occasional juggler, and pieces by potters, jewelers, fibre artists and painters.
Kelly O'Neill started selling her organic casts at the market last week. The jewelry is made from nuts, twigs and other natural materials she glues together and douses in plaster.
She then places them in a kiln that burns all the organic matter away so she can inject the newly hollowed plaster with molten silver. The result is plastered silver jewelry that looks as though it was picked fresh from the vine.
O'Neill said the best part about the Artist Market, unlike other venues, is there are no restrictions on artisans or any of their unconventional crafts.
"If you like to make things, why not show them off?" she said. "That's what this is all about for anyone - the more the merrier."
Megan MacKay, an assistant on the project, said it's been difficult to run the market with all the poor weather so far this summer. But she said it's crucial for Frederictonians to become better acquainted with their city's lesser-known artists.
"With our economy and whatnot, we don't want to let our arts community dwindle, because that's what helps us realize our New Brunswick identity," she said.
"The market's designed to be a chance to see what your friendly neighbourhood artisans are capable of."