The 6th Year Anniversary Celebration!

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