16th annual Elf Market highlights wide variety of local artists

On Saturday, The ArtsCenter in Carrboro transformed into a lively, festive marketplace. Vendors selling artisan and handcrafted goods were set up throughout the building in lobbies, galleries and various studio rooms for the 16th annual Elf Market. 

Vendors sold everything from handcrafted jewelry, art prints, screen-printed tote bags and T-shirts to ceramics and woodwork. Some of these vendors included Bone Vivant Treats, selling dog treats, and Cottage Lane Kitchen, selling hot sauce and relish. 

“It's an annual artist marketplace where local artists can come together and vend and sell their wares, and share with the community all of the amazing art that they make,” Rachel Manconi, The ArtsCenter's development and marketing manager, said. “We also have it as a fundraiser. This year, we're doing it for western North Carolina as well as The ArtsCenter's youth scholarship program.” 

To fundraise for these causes, the center hosted a raffle. They also sold pay-what-you-can pottery that had been left behind from their ceramics programs. 

Manconi said that the Elf Market had a hiatus due to COVID-19 and The ArtsCenter's move to its new location. This was the first year the market was held in the new ArtsCenter on Roberson Street, which came with some additional challenges.

“I really wanted to do a conscientious effort to give [vendors] a little space between so they can breathe, so it doesn't feel too cramped,” Manconi said. 

Additionally, she said that it was important for The ArtsCenter to listen to feedback from artists. Improving the Elf Market each year, she said, takes trial and error. 

In addition to vendors, the Elf Market offered arts activities for children and families, such as ceramics painting and the opportunity to design a 3D-printed ornament, as well as provided free craft activities. The Triangle Weavers Guild offered art demos in the Fiber Arts Studio. 

Refreshments were also available for attendees to enjoy, from MexiArepa Grill to Elaka Treats to the ArtsCenter bar. Attendees could also relax and eat in the center's theater as the band Loose Lucies performed.

Suzen Bria, a ceramics artist and studio assistant at the center, ran a booth for the first time at this year's Elf Market.

“I have been making ceramics for about two and a half [to] three years, and I actually started here in The ArtsCenter,” Bria said.

Bria said the Elf Market has been a long standing tradition with The ArtsCenter and everyone at the center was glad to be doing it for the first time in their new home. 

Multidisciplinary artist Amy Wetsch was another vendor at this year's Elf Market. She said she likes to combine art and science in her work. 

The work she displayed at the Elf Market was made from copper gasket circles that were discarded after experiments done by planetary scientists, which was inspired by her collaboration with the scientists in their labs. 

“I began working with them to repurpose [the gasket circles] and turn them into artworks and large sculptures and jewelry as well,” Wetsch said. 

One of the best parts of the event, she said, was being able to have conversations with attendees, sharing her art and research. 

For Maconi, she loves seeing the connection between the vendors and the community. She said that the Elf Market reflects The ArtsCenter's slogan: “Creating art, cultivating community.” 

“This is just a place where art and the community come together,” she said.

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