This week, I feel like waxing poetic—not the true definition of the phrase, which obviously references poetry and eloquence. I’m leaning toward more disjointed verbosity, randomness, or perhaps I should just say…me. I am king of random!
A friend recently suggested (quite strongly) that I write a book about my experience with outdoor art markets—a guide for artists and perhaps people thinking about starting their own market. I have the experience, notes, and very interesting stories.
For readers who don’t know me, I started Houston’s first monthly art market in 2004. Houston had its festivals, bazaars, and one fledgling farmers market that started that same year—nothing like a regular art market, though.
My experience came through trial and error, and very early on. By early, I mean about 5:45 in the morning. Back then, the market hours were 9 to 5, and I told the artists to come set up around 7 a.m.
I would arrive at 6 a.m., and there were already people waiting for me. Once, someone was actually pitching their tent before I even got there. They had to move, of course—not even in the market area. I changed the hours eventually.
That reminds me (random moment): the only type of dreams—actually, nightmares—I have about the market are setup disasters! The dreams aren’t too different from that gentleman who set up on the sidewalk.
In the dreams, I always get delayed and arrive late. The artists have all set up their tents wherever they felt like it. There’s no order to the layout; they’re spread out too far, on the sidewalks, etc. It’s all just chaos.
Fortunately, I’ve never missed a day or arrived late at my market. (I’m knocking on my wooden desk!) I still get early birds, but I’m smiling at them now. I could be quite ornery back in the day over early arrivals.
Art booths on Preston St. at Market Square Park Farmers Market. (Photo by Ronda Wenger)
I’m participating in a market this Saturday that only good dreams are made of. The organizers of this event have thought of everything, from easy-to-read instructions to treats for the vendors.
Saturday, I return to The Market Square Park Farmers Market with about 16 talented would-be early birds. The artists join a thriving weekly farmers market organized by Central City Co-Op and hosted by Downtown Houston.
The market is this Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The theme this week is a Halloween block party with trick-or-treating at vendor booths, a pumpkin patch, and a costume contest for kids and even dogs. The music will be by the Hooligans Quartet. I covered this market in Art Valet in The Leader on Sept. 28. Link
Market Square Park is located at 301 Milam Street. For more information, visit https://downtownhouston.org.
Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market. Visit his website at ArtValet.com.
