In the market for art

River City MRKT brings creative art and crafts to REO Town

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Great things always seem to come in pairs: peanut butter and jelly, Hall & Oates and Calvin and Hobbes, just to name a few. And while the individual components of famous pairings are extremely enjoyable on their own, it’s always exciting to experience the new life a duo can bring to ideas when they’re together.

So it can only mean good things when two Lansing creatives pair up to create a new art event in Lansing’s historic REO Town. Local artist/photographer Debbie Carlos and jewelry designer Amalia Boukos had the simple idea of bringing more beautiful things to Lansing, but have created something altogether new and unique in the process.

The duo’s endeavor, River City MRKT, is a one-day art and craft market with an emphasis on design-focused offerings. The idea is to bring something new to Lansing’s art scene by highlighting local artists that people probably haven’t heard of and connecting them with an audience who might enjoy their works.

“We were looking for things in line with our own aesthetics. Something a bit more modern, with intentional and considered design,” said Carlos. “We love art and are makers ourselves, and we wanted to create a space for that in Lansing.”

Though you read “art and craft market,” don’t expect knick-knacks made from discarded soda cans or Bob Ross-inspired landscape paintings. The artists on hand offer a broad range of unique pieces: fine art illustration and design, ceramics and even fine-bronze combs. It’s easy to understand if floating the word “unique” a lot can make it a little off-putting for the casual fan, but Boukos and Carlos are mindfully trying not to exclude anyone.

“We really did want to make it for anyone to feel comfortable in. Its not exclusive in any way,” said Boukos. “There are things like stationery and a pop-up flower market. There really should be something for everyone.”

You could almost think of the event as an art show curated by Carlos and Boukos. All the artists featured were hand-picked by the pair, scouting out such maker-fueled art websites as Etsy. Naturally, the artists’ works had to appeal to their sensibilities if they were to be chosen to participate, but the works for sale also had to be affordable. A lot of the art that will be available at the River City MRKT won’t fall too far out of the $25-$50 price range.

One of the participating vendors at the “MRKT” is Ann Arbor artist Abigail Murray. Murray handcrafts ceramics using a variety of techniques, resulting in interesting textures and designs. One of her specialties is porcelain pieces where she takes slabs that she casts from materials like wood grain or aluminum and then layers the individual pieces together into cups or bowls. She also has a set of pieces she calls “dots,” where she uses masking tape to create sequences of undulating patterns on a variety of dinnerware. Carlos states that Murray’s works are exemplary of the kinds of art that make up the River City Art MRKT.

“We were looking for artists and designers that sort of pushed their medium or are not afraid to play with it,” said Carlos. “I don’t know how (Murray) does it.”

Another featured artist is MSU student Elizabeth Welling. Welling specializes in calligraphy, offering paper products featuring her style of functional inscriptions. Welling is one of the market’s younger artists in terms of how long she’s been selling her art professionally. But, as Boukos puts it, being new to the scene doesn’t mean it’s any less appealing.

“I like that we have both really established artists and then have people that are just starting out,” said Boukos. “(Welling) has just a few products, but they’re so beautiful and elegant. I’m really excited to see her stuff there.”

Carlos and Boukos’ nose to seek out interesting offerings for unaware art fans was limited to the space of the event’s venue, the AA Creative Corridor. But the organizers are hardly complaining. They deem up-and-coming REO Town as an ideal locale for such an event. Besides, there is always next year. Even though it’s in its first year, Carlos is hopeful there will be River City Art MRKTs for many years to come.

“I feel like there is a real hunger here for this sort thing,” said Carlos. “Bringing beautiful things to Lansing and making them accessible to people.”

River City MRKT

Arts & Crafts Pop-up

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, June 6 FREE AA Creative Corridor 1133 S. Washington Ave., Lansing rivercitymrkt.com

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