Maker's Market a holiday showcase for local artists

The ParkSide Centre was a busy place Sunday afternoon as it hosted Sudbury's fourth annual Maker's Market.

Thirty vendors from Greater Sudbury, and three more from other regions of Northern Ontario, had a wide variety of hand-made jeweler, soaps, musical instruments, clothing, and anything in between for sale, just in time for the holiday season.

“You're supporting local and helping to really bolster that local arts scene in Sudbury,” said Blaire Flynn, who organized the event along with a number of local artists.

Flynn said the event has expanded every year, and had to move to a larger space at the ParkSide Centre after starting at Fromagerie Elgin and Open Studio, downtown, where space was more limited.

The market showcases many younger and up-and-coming local artists with unique ideas, Flynn said.

She sold earrings she had made from dried birch bark at her booth.

Other vendors, like Sydney Rose, also had unique ideas that reflected the northern landscape.

Rose created pillows that resembled large rocks.

She got the idea for her project, called “Between a rock and a soft place,” when she graduated from the photography program at the Ontario College of Art and Design University in Toronto.

Because photos tend to be rigid and firm, Rose said she wanted turn that concept on its head and bring more softness to her photos.

She took photos of rocks he had collected, using a macro lens, and printed them on fabric, which she then sewed and stuffed, to create pillows.

Each pillow comes with the rock that inspired it.

By noon, only an hour after the market had opened, Rose said she had already sold half her inventory.

“Maker's Market is fabulous,” said local artist Cindy O'Neil. “You see so many creative people.”

O'Neil sold her original art at the show, and said she was happy to see large crowds come out to support local artists, instead of visiting the nearest box store.

“This is how I make my living,” she said. “When people support that it means the world to me. There are many other vendors in this room in that position.”

The Maker's Market was at the ParkSide Centre, located at 140 Durham Street, Sunday, Dec. 6, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.