Color me impressed! Nearly 50 artists display their work in artisan market

MARION — Purses made of cork, ceramic kitchenware, handcrafted soaps, glass jewelry and more were all for sale at the Marion Art Center’s annual Arts in the Park event Saturday, July 5.

Nearly 50 artists took part in the event, which Jodi Stevens, the executive director at the Marion Art Center, said runs “like a well-oiled machine.”

Stevens said the center looks for a “good representation” of each medium, including jewelry, ceramics, leather work, and glassblown pieces.

“We have a good showing of different types of materials,” she said.

Jennifer Hofmann of Ayer has been selling her handmade soaps in Arts in the Park for 14 years, returning each year because of the “amazing community” and for an “enjoyable, fun day.”

“I have customers that come find me every year, so it’s really nice having that loyalty,” she said.

Hofmann got into soap making when she was writing an article about the history of soap making and cleanliness.

“I took a soap making class and enjoyed it and it eventually turned into a business,” she said

Heather Brown of North Attleborough has sold her handmade bags, purses, journal covers and pencil cases during the Arts in the Park event for the past three years.

Brown explained her intent is to “create pieces that you use in your daily life to help promote your routines that are self-empowering.”

She said she returned to the market this year for the community and the event’s atmosphere.

“I think that it makes a huge difference when it’s an art centered festival rather than just stuff, and it makes a difference for the vendors, but it also makes a difference for who shows up,” she said.

Anju Rajani of North Falmouth sold functional, handmade ceramics at the market, which she first participated in last year. 

“Most of the images are either cultural references or references to our coastal Massachusetts life,” Rajani said. “I like exploring patterns, so my work is very bright and colorful and has some bold motifs.”

She noted that she plans to make Arts in the Park one of the few summer markets she sells her kitchenware in, explaining that a lot of work goes into setting up, preparing for and making all the ceramic pieces to sell.

Arts in the Park, she said, is well-organized and has a nice selection of vendors who do high quality work.

“Everybody’s who’s here is here with the intention of selling some stuff and making some connections with a clientele, Rajani said.

Stevens said the center keeps the market small at between 40 to 50 artists because it gives “shoppers a chance to see everything without feeling kind of overwhelmed.”

“Some markets just kind of have this magic about them, and this is one of them,” Rajani said.