Corvallis Artisans Market Boutique
The Corvallis Artisans Market Boutique is open daily at 132 SW 4th Street in Corvallis, through December 24th.
I e-mailed market director, Sheri Dover, and asked her a few questions. Here’s what she had to say!
Tell us about the history of the market.
Corvallis Artisans Market was conceived out of the belief that a strong downtown builds a strong community. I believe that when a community has something central that all of the members can participate in and internalize as something that they belong to, that the community is strengthened and the quality of life is enhanced for everyone. I had several goals in mind when I was planning the market.
With the market I hoped to:
- Create economic opportunities for both emerging and more established artists.
- Enhance what was already happening downtown to create a public market that is appealing and accessible to all members of the community.
- Create a performance space in a neutral venue in order to make a wide variety of music accessible to people who might not otherwise hear it.
- Create a venue where emerging musicians can hone their skills performing before a live audience.
- Create a venue where established musicians can broaden their audience beyond the bar crowd.
- To display art in a neutral setting to make it accessible to a broader audience, including people who wouldn’t normally go into a gallery or museum.
Corvallis Artisans Market opened for the first Saturday on April 19, 2008. Eleven brave artists set up with snow on the ground. In spite of the cold weather it turned out to be a pretty good day. We have been lucky to be able to set up right next to the Corvallis Farmers’ Market. The proximity to the Farmers’ Market and the generous advice and moral support of the Farmers’ Market Manager, Rebecca Landis have been extremely helpful.
We have moved indoors for the holiday season, and it is our goal to keep an indoor market open year-round. We will also continue the outdoor market during the season.
Our vision for the indoor market is to grow it into a public market where we can even more effectively reach the goals stated above. We have a wide variety of arts and crafts, ranging everywhere from crafty items to fine arts. We also have a meeting room and performance space where we are planning events, live music, demos, and are hosting the meetings of community groups.
What types of vendors/items are at the market this year?
All of our products are made by local or regional artists. We have a wide variety of items at a wide variety of prices. There is lots of jewelry, artisan bath and beauty products, knit wear, cards, photography, candies, cookies and pastries, blacksmithed items, organic blueberry products, dog leashes and collars, oil paintings, collages, gifts, baskets, textile arts, fine woodworking, kids’ size puzzle rocking chairs, ceramic tiles and more.
Do you have any special activities or events taking place?
November 19, 5pm – 8pm Artists Reception. Meet the artists, see demos, refreshments. Free.
November 21, 5:30 – 9:00 pm Retread Threads Fashion Show featuring Beech Hill Clothing, Cosmic Chameleon, the superb artisans from the Corvallis Artisans Market Boutique and special guest Lisa Wells. Tickets are $12 in advance, $14 at the door.
Knitting, Crocheting, Spinning Circles are held every Sunday, 2pm – 5:30pm. Free.
December 1. Movie Screening “Who Does She Think She is?” 6:30pm $5 suggested donation.
December 16, 6 :30 – 8:15 pm Writers on the River, reading and open mic. Free.
Live Music:
November 27 & December 10 Mike McLeary Delta Blues, Slide Guitar, and much more. Free.
December 14 Noon – 12:45 Wilhelmina Frankzeda & Friends ~ Gypsy Music. Free.
December 14 1:00 pm Tony Noble ~ Blues. Free.
Also we have some fine artists displaying some of their work. They include: Anna Tewes, Beatrice Rubenfeld, Kristi Hager, and Cherrill Boussonou.
In what other ways can people connect with the Corvallis Artisan’s Market?
We can be found on facebook under my profile, Sheri Dover, or at our Corvallis Artisans Market Boutique page. We are also on Twitter under my Sheri_Dover account.
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