Manifest Makers Market showcases creativity, highlights queer and femme artists

On Saturday afternoon, local artists gathered under brightly-colored awnings to spite the clouds in the first annual Manifest Makers Market, held on North Graham Street behind Rumors Boutique. Vendors sold pieces mainly consisting of jewelry, prints, perfumes, tarot readings and crochet accessories.

Spirits were high as upbeat indie music played and vendors talked to each other and customers. Some pets, including dogs and rabbits, accompanied customers. Creative people could be seen around every corner, sporting colorful haircuts and statement jewelry.

Sophie Heldt, who founded the market, said she wanted to start an art market to complement the Manifest Music Festival. 

“[Manifest Music Festival] is a once-a-year festival that celebrates femme and queer musicians,” Heldt said. “But we decided we wanted to amplify that by bringing in a daytime component. So this is an art market that celebrates femme and queer artists.” 

Shows in the Manifest Music Festival took place this weekend at venues Local 506 and The Cave. Heldt said every art vendor at the market was given a free ticket.

She also owns Taurean Treasures, a business made up of mostly art from preserved insects. Heldt said she mainly gets these insects from the Durham Museum of Life and Science. Her booth was a popular one, with many passersby intrigued by her preserved butterflies on display. 

Also popular was Wanderlust Bee, a small crochet business run by Fran Garcia. She’s been crocheting for ten years, and said she sees it as a form of therapy. 

“I just love being at markets where people celebrate art, appreciate art and it’s just very open and safe to be yourself,” Garcia said. “That is not something that’s very common nowadays, which is very very disappointing. I just love to celebrate everyone, and I like people to feel safe and welcome when they come and hang out with me.”

Walking deeper into the market, browsers might’ve come upon Rendon Foy who owns Myoflorae, an art shop that sells jewelry made from rabbit bones. Foy said their art is about making people feel more connected to their bodies.

“We raise rabbits for meat, just for my family,” Foy said. “And then we try to use all parts of them. I’m also a massage therapist, so I’m thinking a lot about the body’s anatomy and how beautiful and inspiring it can be. I know bones and skulls particularly tend to have a gothic or Halloween-y vibe, but I really like to try to offer these in a way to let it inspire people to maybe feel a little more beautiful in their own bodies.”

Talking to Foy was a platform-boot wearing customer holding an anxious pet rabbit, Esperanza. The customer showed their rabbit the bone jewelry, assuring her not to worry because the art was actually very cool. 

Jasmin Brown’s booth, called The Siren Spell, seemed to have a little bit of everything, from t-shirts to beads, but the centerpiece was her handmade perfumes. Brown said her perfumes are inspired by things she loves, like Strawberry Shortcake dolls she enjoyed as a kid. 

“My products are really just natural-based,” Brown said. “I use essential oils, so you’re really getting a good scent that at the same time is not too harsh on your skin and smells really nice while wearing it.”

The vendors shared excitement for getting to share the market space with other creative makers and showcase their art in person. Heldt encouraged others to try their hand at art, as it’s a more accessible hobby than it may seem. She said there’s a lot more art happening just in Chapel Hill than most people probably realize. 

“Support these local festivals,” Heldt said. “Come to your local venues. There’s more than just music happening! There’s people to support.”

@dthlifestyle | lifestyle@dailytarheel.com