Ready to shop where no man has shopped before? Yearning for quirky, brilliant must-have goods? Sick of same-old-same-old vendors who knit one and purl two while watching Friends reruns? Then save the date for the next Bizarre Bazaar.
The juried show happens every first Wednesday at Coffee House Café downtown, in the back room known as the “warehouse.” The concept started in November as a holiday craft show like no other. There are absolutely no reindeer with felt noses allowed, and Afghan blankets are not even let through the door.
“It started as an anti-cute gift show,” said Jami Moffett of South Salem, who originally organized the event. “We had so many positive comments they asked us to come back on a monthly basis.”
This shopping opportunity really focuses on homemade unique art with a must-have “never-seen-that before” bent. Vendors are all juried in, and it’s hard to say no. But if they make it into the show, then shoppers know they are talented, unique and amazing.
Autumn Anglin helps organize, advertise and contribute to the show. “I am trying to preserve the integrity of the market,” she said. “It is difficult for people who do art like this to find a place to show it off,” said Anglin.
Found art seems to be a highlight of the show, such as quirky USB’s that are an art piece of found objects. Habitual note takers can pick up a unique notepad made of all recycled materials. Shoppers will find one-of-a-kind items, with local people working to support families and artful hobbies.
Moffett has finally come to terms with selling her handmade notebooks. “I use old vintage cabaret photographs and vintage book covers. I tend to run a theme either on color or pictures throughout the whole journal. I like to keep my prices low. My goal is to clean out my whole studio and start over from scratch.”
Moffett is a testing proctor at Chemeketa Community College by day, and at night she creates. “My mom was an artist, and I loved doing anything that had to do with creativity. I was always gluing and cutting. I designed my own paper dolls and made all their clothes,” she said.
The creative aspects are just as much fun for the artists as the shopping is for the shoppers. “I am having a blast doing it. I love being at the bazaar schmoozing with the people and talking with the other vendors. I get to create, and make a little bit of money doing it,” said Moffett.
Part of the fun of participating in the event is the vendors. “We look out for each other. When our two hours are up for parking we take turns watching each other’s booths while we move cars.” Vendors, once accepted, pay $25 for the initial paperwork, and $10 per table at the bazaar.
“Several new people are coming in for the upcoming First Wednesday. We have a fiber artist who makes really cool hats. She just moved from Chicago and she found us,” said Anglin.
Anglin tries to preserve funky. She keeps up the fight and makes sure that every vendor fits the funky mold. So far about 10 to 12 consistent vendors have committed to the project.
Anglin needs to create. She kept busy with a successful photography business, but when her family expanded she still needed to find a way to express herself. “I have children, and if I don’t find time to create, I get crabby. I have to weigh the balance between being a mom and an artist. Right now my dishes are piled up in the sink and my floor hasn’t been vacuumed in a week, but I am deep into building a corset made out of watch bands. The dishes and the vacuuming will get done, at about 2:30 this morning.” Anglin’s steampunk jewelry line is fun and unique. Shoppers stop not only to purchase, but to revel in the found objects turned to art.
It’s all about emerging artists and opportunity. “It’s a low-risk situation for artists who are wanting to give being vendor a try. I would like to get some people who would like to get their foot in the door. This is just a taste of what being a vendor is like,” said Anglin.
