November / 2011 

LAUNCH OF THE PSM ANNEX STORE

Artists of Portland Saturday Market have been hard at work in perpetration of their Pop-Up Shop store launch on November 9th, 2011. The Pop-Up Shop will be an indoor delight for shoppers, featuring handmade goods in fashion, beauty, jewelry, visual arts and more.

"We can only say 'thank you' to the Portland Business Alliance for offering us this opportunity to invite downtowners to experience the wonder of the Market in the comfort of an indoor setting and the ability to shop seven days a week."

-Rick Curtis, Jasmine Star

Our opening will be part of the Portland Business Alliance kick-off event, highlighting the holiday promotions for the city on Wednesday Nov. 9th, 2011 at 1 pm in the Galleria Building. Shoppers and art enthusiasts will have the opportunity to mingle with the 60+ artists to discuss their craft and inspiration. There will be artist demonstrations throughout the day in several craft categories such as glasswork and sculpture.

Portland Saturday Market Annex

600 SW 10th Ave Portland, OR 97205

Corner of SW 10th & Alder in the Galleria Building

Open November 9 through December 27th

Hours of Operation:

Mon-Sat 11-7pm

Sun 12-5pm

SUSTAINABLE SATURDAY

November means different things to different people. Some look forward to family gatherings, football on the television and Thanksgiving turkey with all its trimmings. Some people begin a slow descent in to that eggnog-soaked, mistletoe-trimmed chaos known as the holiday season. For a few brave souls, November means one thing: Black Friday. Now, while we here at the Saturday Market respect their wherewithal, we present another more user-friendly option: Sustainable Saturday.

What is Sustainable Saturday you ask? Well, it's not braving the super stores and fighting with a disgruntled mom in slipper boots over the last package of socks. It's not lining up outside a store for an hour in hopes that you will get a free doughnut before racing off to collect the doorbuster deals. We like to think of Sustainable Saturday as an alternative to the traditional holiday shopping frenzy, an alternative which allows shoppers to buy locally-produced, eco-friendly gifts from the hands of the artists and designers who made them.

This season, the Market is chock full of artists who may not give you a free doughnut, but can give you a story to go along with that bowl, sculpture, or hat. Suddenly, it's not just a hat, but a work of art with a name and a narrative.

What's more, Sustainable Saturday is a day to reflect on the abundance of beauty we are lucky enough to share in the Pacific Northwest; and buying locally-made, eco-friendly gifts, is just one more way to preserve that. 

This season, Tease  yourself or a loved one with a skirt, scarf or leg warmers from Tease Recyclewear. Kate Carder, owner of Tease, creates all of her goodies from reused and recycled clothing and fabrics. 

If jewelry isn't what you crave, then metal artist Brian Mock may be more your style. All of Brian's pieces are created using 100% re-claimed metal objects and material.  His awe-inspiring sculpture would be a great addition to any eco-friendly home. 

So, put down the ads, pour yourself a cup of coffee (in a reusable mug) and head to the Market instead of the mall. Meet some artists, hear a story or two and pick up some unique treasures. You can resume your usual madness on Cyber Monday.

ONLINE STORE 

Portland Saturday Market, the nation's largest outdoor arts & crafts market, announced the launch of their online store.

The site,  www.shop.portlandsaturdaymarket.com  offers access to over 300 artists and thousands of items all from the comfort of your home.  This online option expands the current www.PortlandSaturdayMarket.com website, giving customers an online shopping experience where they can peruse the unique variety of the Market members and at the same time find products from their favorite artist.

"We are finally giving customers the ability to shop when they want, from where they want and how they want. The Market will continue to be the leading weekend event in Portland, but now people from the world over can shop seven days a week." - Lisa Gugino Membership Director

We have created a new avenue for artists to reach a global audience and show case one-of-a-kind pieces that they may not otherwise be able to display in their Market booth space. This site is great news for shoppers across the nation who can't easily get to the Market on a regular basis but still want to support a favorite artist and small business.

Designed by Public Marketspace www.publicmarketspace.com , this state of the art e-commerce platform truly highlights the spirit of the Market: featuring bios on all the Market artists and showcase's their hand-crafted goods. Both expert and novice online shopper will find the site easy to navigate. Customers can search for items in broad categories such as clothing, jewelry or pottery, research individual artists, or look for items by price or materials, all making it easier to find those unique handcrafted items for themselves, their home and their gift giving needs.

We have created a new avenue for artists to reach a global audience and show case one-of-a-kind pieces that they may not otherwise be able to display in their Market booth space.

The online shopping site introduction comes just days before the opening of the Markets Pop up Shop at the corner of SW 10th and Alder in the Galleria Building. Portland Saturday Market Annex, sponsored by the Portland Business Alliance (PBA) and their Pop-Up Shop program will run between November 9th and December 27th, 2011.

MEET YOUR MAKER:  EAR NEST 

dean caldwell, reserve space #237

How did you get started?

 When I was about 7 years old I wanted a sled. My grandfather showed me where the tools were and what wood I could use.   He told me "Put the tools back where they belong when you are done."

It took several weeks to make my sled, and then some changes before it worked right, then a lot of repairs whenever I used it, but I had my sled.

There are a lot of stories between there and my landing at Portland Saturday Market but the theme doesn't change much; I get a lot of pleasure from figuring out how to do something, then to do it.

Who has influenced you most in your life?   

My grandfather: he was a quiet unassuming self-reliant man who went about creating the life that he wanted without asking or expecting anything. He enjoyed his life, his garden, his shop, his books, and his stones; he didn't concern himself with other things. He rarely spoke to me; his influence over me was simply by example, which, to me, was admirable.

What is the difference between PSM and other Markets?

PSM is very unique among the markets that I have seen. It has grown as a loose coalition of very independent artists/craftspeople who have only the common goal of independently selling their creations. It has happened without the obstructions of unrelated ambitions, outside help, or a central plan other than the administration necessary to do what we are here to do. It is simple and pure. It has evolved not by design, but naturally, to be an event and landmark in Portland; that is a rare beauty, and is what sets Portland Saturday Market apart from all others.

Describe the difference between "arts" and "crafts"?  

From our (PSM) perspective, I see "arts" and "crafts" as inseparable. "Arts" refers to the inspiration, vision or idea of our creation; "crafts" refers to the skills and knowledge to render the creation into a form that can be appreciated by another person. Everything we are doing involves both arts and crafts to varying degrees. For a painter, for example, the vision of the painting is the art; the brushstroke is a craft, although the development of technique and the brushstroke has been artistic.

What is the last book you read?

The last book I have read was "Atlas Shrugged".

Sincerely,

Portland Saturday Market