1stSatArtMarket

First Saturday Arts Market returns April 2, from 11 a.m – 6 p.m. as it does every first Saturday of the month. The seven year anniversary show in March was met with what market manager Mitch Cohen described as, “Every weather event we’ve experience in 7 years rolled into one day.” Cohen says that he warned artists it would be a “character building” day with 20-40 mile per hour wind gusts, heavy rain, cold, heat and finally afternoon sun.  Cohen adds, “It turned out to be a great day by the time the sun came out, the artists did well and the patrons just poured in as if they’d been waiting on cue!”

Artist Profiles

The Bachers Family, New Boston, Texas.

Gary Bachers’ work is created with Prismacolor pencil on Duralar film. The result of his intricate layering is a vibrant work resembling paint. The full moon is usually present in his work as well as other signature features.

Christopher Bachers started painting with acrylics in grad school to take a break from the reading and writing, his “doodles” quickly evolved to include musical instruments with a vibrant color palette. Doodles begin as quick pencil sketches exploring motion, tension, and asymmetrical balance. Their organic interlocking forms express both wholeness and fragmentation, and the vivid colors of the final compositions create designs both of harmony (in their balance) and of dissonance (in their shifting optical illusions). Such musical terms are appropriate to his current work, which integrates musical instruments into the doodle designs.

David Vollmer – Wired Antiks, Sugar Land, Texas

“My artwork is all created by hand using ordinary knitting needles and various pliers. I have developed my own technique of knitting with wire, which I call “knitting off the needle.” With my technique I use only one needle at a time for the purposes of pulling the stitch and controlling the stitch size.”

Pettus Touré Mitchell – Memphis, Tennessee

For nearly a decade, artist Pettus Mitchell has traveled around the United States gleaning inspiration for his future works as well as displaying his art at local festivals and art galleries. His paintings run the gamut from historical portraits of the African Americans migration north in the 1940s to their current return to the modern south. Some of his pieces are inspired by cultural phenomena specific to the late 20th century, such as the popularity of video games and the rise of the digital era. Pettus himself is an accomplished graphic artist; he is also a CGI animator. His work is prominently featured at the Center for Southern Folklore and he is a mainstay at the Center’s annual Memphis Music & Heritage Festival.  Mitchell made his first appearance at First Saturday Arts Market in March of this year.

First Saturday Arts Market vendor Linda Hardy had debilitating back problems. She credits art for inspiring her to get out of bed and back on her feet again.

But she credits the market for launching her career.

After only a year of regular participation in the monthly event – held every first Saturday on 19th Street in the Heights – Hardy’s structuralized mixed-media pieces are now being sold commercially.

Stories like Hardy’s aren’t uncommon for artists who participate in the First Saturday Arts Market, which celebrates its seventh anniversary on March 5, 2011. In addition to being a launch pad for careers, the free event serves as a monthly meeting ground for an arts community that stretches across county and state lines; even U.S. borders.

Building a Community
First Saturday Arts Market founder and organizer Mitch Cohen has always intended for the market to have dual purposes – to provide an outlet for artists to connect directly with the public, and for the pubic to have an opportunity to meet and buy directly from the artists.

“Many of the artists connect outside the market, and even mentor each other in both business and in their art mediums,” said Cohen. “The feedback I hear most from artists and patrons is how much they love the vibe of the market, and enjoy visiting on market days. The original mission of the market has evolved far beyond what I ever could have imagined. I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing a community develop.”

Jewel in the Rough
Like Hardy, jewelry designer Steve Sellers has been selling his wearable art at First Saturday Arts Market for five years and attributes the event to the customer base he has today.

“It’s helped my career and helped me build up a regular customer base that consistently comes there looking for my work,” Sellers said. “I’ve been able to meet a lot of great people in the community”

Vendors at the market share trade secrets, fill each other in on hard-to-find items needed to compose their pieces and keep fellow artists in the loop as to where they can find other shows to sell their art.

The support that the merchants of First Saturday Arts Market provide for each other doesn’t stop with their work. When one of the artists was diagnosed with breast cancer recently, the First Saturday Arts Market community rallied to throw a fundraising benefit in her honor.

“To field support and make friendships with other artists and designers that do the same thing you do is not a common thing in this business,” Sellers said. “But our theory is that we’re all in this together, so let’s make it the best it can be for all of us.”

Home Sweet Home

New Caney resident T.D. Snider, a mixed media artist and regular on the gallery circuit, has been involved with the market regularly for about three months.

Snider professes that the networking and the friendships he’s made will continue bringing him back – even if he doesn’t sell anything.

“The First Saturday Arts Market is like home base for me,” Snider said. “I’ve never run across another place that does what they do for artists who are trying to launch their careers.”

About First Saturday Arts Market
First Saturday Arts Market is held in the Wind Water Gallery parking lot at 548 W. 19th Street, Houston, Texas. For more information about the market, call 713-802-1213 or visit www.FirstSaturdayArtsMarket.com.

by Valerie Clifton  | vallclifton (at) gmail.com

Link to high resolution album online.

January 27, 2011

Art market returns after one month hiatus armed and ready with ART for Valentine’s Day Lovers!

On February 5 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the First Saturday Arts Market begins its seventh year with three dozens artists under as many tents, two popular food trucks, two bands and three non-profits. All that squeezed between furniture stores Wind Water Gallery and Heights Modern Home at 548 W. 19th Street in the popular Heights.

First Saturday Arts Market certainly stands out on W. 19th with a 1957 aluminum trailer out front (What’s Up Cupcake!), several rainbow colored umbrellas and the Fusion Taco truck that looks like a race track rescue vehicle that drove through the Pimp Your Ride garage.

Walking in visitors are greeted by musicians, enormous abstracted paintings, dichroic glass earrings, steampunk jewelry, photography and handmade books. There is an eclectic mix to the offerings found here, like the big abstracts or up-cycled handbags, metal and wood sculpture, handmade soap and olive oil tasting. This is the Heights after all!

A certain vibe is apparent as patrons and vendors laugh and talk and share stories about adventures since they last met and teaching “newbies” the ropes. The market hasn’t strayed far from it’s original mission to give new artists a chance to “get their feet wet.” Now there’s a wait for the popular months to get in as the seasoned artists equal new artists in number. That’s good news for shoppers and art lovers!

“I don’t this kind of event could have taken hold anywhere else other than the Heights,” artist and founder Mitch Cohen says of the market. “Seven years ago space to show your art on your terms regularly was very limited and competition for wall space was steep. There are many more choices for artists now and the market is one. I’m very proud to be a part of this.”

The music at the arts market is as original at the art. Solo artist Rory Jagedeo starts the February show off at 11 a.m. with a mix of originals ranging from country to blues to rock. Featured performer Andrew Karnavas performs at 3 p.m. Karnavas is better known as the front man for Runaway Sun, his acoustic melodies are a blend of straightforward chord progressions and slow fingerpicking that combine elements of blues, country and folk.

Non-profits on site this month include Central City Co-op and the US Military K-9 Fund. Visit with Central City Co-op volunteers to learn more about this ten year old and Houston’s first organic farmers market co-op. US Military K-9 Fund’s mission is to support the military canines by raising awareness about their needs, and keeping up the morale of their soldier handlers.

Young actors from Theatre Under The Stars production of Billy Elliot may be found milling about around lunchtime, in their tutus and boxing gloves of course!

For more information and a complete roster of participating artists, visit the market’s website, www.FirstSaturdayArtsMarket.com, 713-802-1213.

White Linen Night in the Heights 2009, originally uploaded by HoustonHeights.

September 4th is the last summer evening show – don’t miss it!  Day shows start again October 2nd at 11am

First Saturday Arts Market begins its fourth year of opening at night only (from 6 pm to 10 pm) for the summer on Saturday, June 5. Featured entertainer at the June show will be emerging artist Sydney Harkreader! Her songs contain catchy lyrics and a clever musical style that taps into human emotion and stirs the soul.

548 West 19th Street at Lawrence Street, 6 to 10 p.m. June through September
Admission and nearby parking are free.

Regulars to the First Saturday Arts Market may recognize a few regulars that return each month and Heights residents may notice their neighbors. The Heights has always been known as eclectic and artsy so its no surprise to find neighborhood artists at an event like First Saturday Arts Market.

Fresh into its sixth year, visitors may notice Paule Hewlett when walking in on the right. Hewlett and her husband Mike are fairly recent residents to the Heights.  Under Hewlett’s white canopied tent it looks like a gift shop boutique, yet all the card sets, handbags, shirts, scarves and kitchen accessories are adorned with the delicate watercolors Hewlett creates in her studio.

Homemade paper beads?  “Yes!” Mitch Cohen, the market founder and coordinator says of Sheena Stegent, “Sheena’s jewelry is truly unique an what we always strive for at the market. She actually makes her beads by hand from paper and only found out it was an ancient art form with modern tools available a few years ago.  She insists on continuing to make them by hand!”

One of the best Heights artist stories may be that

of Jan Johnson. An amateur photographer, Johnson was laid off from her job at UT Health and Science Center and launched Letterscapes at the arts market one year ago. The patron has a chance to be creative with Letterscapes by choosing from Johnson’s vast library of photos of different “letters” of the alphabet and assembling their art of someones name or phrase..  An “a” might be a swing set, or a “b” may be a broken tile.  Each creation is truly unique and its helped Johnson make ends meet in a tough job market.

The arts market has always been an incubator for aspiring entrepreneurs and food in Houston is no stranger to that. Yvonne Cavazos, also a Heights artists has a lot of mouths to feed and started “What’s Up Cupcake!” Cavazos converted an old trailer into a mobile dispensary for her delectable creations.   New on the scene is Wild Bean Coffee Co., another new Heights business.  Amazing!

Entertainment this month is the energetic duo of Rebecca Ferguson and John Stoll of Westbound, performing soft and sweet jazzy songs, classic rock, Americana, and outlaw country.

Saturday March 6 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the parking lot of Wind Water Gallery at 548 W. 19th St. at Lawrence St. – fifty artists will showcase their paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry and handmade wares in as many white canopied tents.

The Heights 1st Saturday shopping shuttle runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The market is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and located on the parking lot of Wind Water Asian Antiques Gallery at 548 W. 19th St. at Lawrence St. Admission are free.

For more information about the First Saturday Art Market, call 713-802-1213 or visit the website www.FirstSaturdayArtsMarket.com

Westbound

Originally trained in classical and choral singing, Rebecca strayed from that path and began finding her true voice in blues, americana and jazz. From there she developed a love of songwriting, fascinated by the endless potential a song has to tell a story or share a moment.

For 17 years, John has played different instruments in rock bands all over Texas, and is defined by the music he plays.

He approaches music with a fire and a passion matched by nothing else in his life, so much so that he regularly and happily loses both sleep and guitar strings in the quest to take the music higher.
Following a series of luck-based circumstances, the two met and discovered an extraordinary  musical chemistry. It was thus that the acoustic duo, Westbound, made its way into the world.

John has found his voice beside Rebecca, playing acoustic guitar and harmonica, singing backup vocals, and playing a very unique and crowd-pleasing stomp-box. Rebecca holds the audience captive with a versatile voice suited for everything from raunchy blues to sweet serenades.

Westbound is currently writing and recording their debut  album, Blackjack Road. They also play frequently at bars, restaurants, festivals, artist markets, living rooms and open mics in Houston, Galveston, Clear Lake and Austin, TX, and in Clarksdale, MS.

You can contact Westbound at thewestboundband@gmail.com, and connect with them online at http://thewestboundband.com.

Artists at the First Saturday Arts Market invite all of Houston to celebrate the sixth year the monthly fine arts event has been in business.  Saturday March 6, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the parking lot of Wind Water Gallery at 548 W. 19th St. at Lawrence St. – fifty artists will showcase their paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry and handmade wares in as many white canopied tents.

Two market favorites will return to entertain patrons and the lawn chair wielding public that has started to gather on first Saturdays in front of the music tent. They are Houston’s self proclaimed soul rocker Kenneth Scott, and later in the day Robin Kirby.

Scott, performs with the punch of a modern day prophet, displaying a fury in his live shows that will make even the cynical believe.  While Kirby brings to mind her musical influences – from her Chicago upbringing to Janis Joplin and Melissa Etheridge – Robin has a driving guitar style and gutsy, emotional vocals that make this musician an American Original.

The first art market was held on an unused lot behind the now defunct Kaplan’s Ben Hur department store.  A couple of dozen excited artists greeted close to a thousand curious shoppers. Today many artists at that first market still attend frequently.

“In a way, we’re a completely different venue now, but we’re still one big happy family. We’re scattered throughout the year – but a lot of friendships have been made at the market.” Mitch Cohen, co-founder and manager comments about his memories of the first show six years ago.

“The most humbling experience those first few years were the slow months when almost no patrons showed up because it was to hot or drizzly out. But the artists and vendors kept coming back saying they believed in me and what I was doing.”

The market and the artists have established themselves and their patience has paid off now with many returning patrons and new shoppers each month.

Cohen continues, “Since we moved to 19th Street business has steadily grown and become more consistent. Last month was a great weather day and we had an awesome turnout. What really got to me were the fifteen to twenty people sitting down under the market umbrellas listening and watching the bands perform! To me just watching that scene, with happy shoppers coming and going with new artwork under their arms in front of a music audience was the best sign of success that I could measure.”

First Saturday Arts Market patrons will have an extra treat in March. The Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce has moved its annual Crawfish Boil to the parking lot next door.

Parking will be available at the Sterling Bank lot at 411 W. 19th Street and patrons can take the Sterling Bank Heights Bike Cabs back to the market. The market web site will have up to date information and alternate parking areas as well as directional signs on the day of the event.

The Heights 1st Saturday shopping shuttle runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The market is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and located on the parking lot of Wind Water Asian Antiques Gallery at 548 W. 19th St. at Lawrence St. Admission are free.

For more information about the First Saturday Arts Market, call 713-802-1213 or visit the website www.FirstSaturdayArtsMarket.com