By Yolanda Ridge, Rossland News
‘Tis the season to go shopping. And this Saturday, you can find something for everyone on your list right here in Rossland—thanks to all the incredible local shops participating in Rekindle and the new, one day only, Kootenay Artisan Market.
Featuring 10 local artists, the Kootenay Artisan Market will have handmade, one-of-a-kind jewelry, pottery, paintings, chocolate, clothing, fine wood work, eco-friendly candles and other unique art on display at 2123 Columbia Ave. (where the yarn shop used to be) on Sunday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Event organizer Miche Warwick is aiming to create “an intimate gathering of fabulous talent and artistry, in an atmosphere that allows us all to show our work, sell our work, but also to talk about, discuss, and explain our work with anyone who wants to go deeper into what we all do.”
Warwick, who recently settled in Rossland after four years on the road—traveling through B.C. in a camper van containing an entire kitchen, a rocking chair, two bikes, snowboards, tents, toys, a full-sized crib, a baby and another on the way—hopes to bring other events like this to Rossland in the future.
“In a short time living here I have learned that, among other things, Rossland is a community which truly values and appreciates the heART and soul in handmade craft,” said Warwick who makes jewelry with organic materials like stone, wood glass, and clay as well as funky crocheted items. “Made to be functional and practical, yet sexy and stunning at the same time.”
To organize the market, Warwick started by inviting artists and artisans she knew in the Kootenays. From there, word got around and before she knew it the space was full.
The result was a mix of work from four Rossland artists, including Sarah Zanussi from Pisces Pottery, Cath Ruthven, who does striking acrylic paintings of trees, and Amy Exner, who creates specialty art cards and posters with pencil crayon.
The other six vendors come from different regions of the Kootenays: Ambrosia Artisan Chocolates and Ink Rebels Screen Printing from Crawford Bay; Earth Community Clay Studios, Creatures of the Sun West Coast Art and Slowburn EcoSoy Candles from Nelson; and woodworking by Shelly Le Beau of Castlegar.
“Rossland hasn't seen a lot of this work before,” said Warwick, clearly passionate about all the market has to offer—and that includes its vendors.
“This is truly a wonderful group of artists.”
Warwick is also planning to have a surprise table at the Kootenay Artisan Market with a selection of work by other Rossland artists, and encouraged Rosslanders to check out the open studios of Jenny Baillie and Christy Holden of Alley Cat Glass Works.
So get out there on Saturday and find something wonderful for all those people on your “nice list”—and maybe treat yourself to something special as well.
For more information, visit the Kootenay Artist Market event posting on Facebook.