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Shoppers visited over a dozen vendors warming the Live Oak Art Center for the first of its two new indoor winter markets, Saturday, Jan. 31.
Live Oak Art Center’s Winter Market fills a space for a community market in the year. The Columbus Country Market on the Colorado Courthouse lawn meets only March through November. The Winter Market is scheduled for the last Saturday of January and February. While the January market was in full swing, LOAC Executive Director Erin Story said she had already received positive feedback from shoppers.
“All of the people shopping who have stopped in and talked to me about it have said that it’s been great,” Story said. “I’ve gotten really positive reviews. People have enjoyed it.”
Story said she began working on the new market at the beginning of December as a way for the center to become more involved in the community, especially as a third space. A third space is a space for community members to gather and engage in various activities outside of the home or workspace.
“I really would just love for people to be here. Come enjoy the art, come enjoy our courtyard,” Story said. “…I want more third spaces in my life, so I want to bring more third spaces into our community.”
January’s market had 18 vendors sign up, filling almost 20 booth spots, but a few canceled at the last minute due to cold weather. Story laid out vendor spots in the indoor first- and second-f loor gal leries and outside in the courtyard. For February, 13 vendors have signed up, and vendor registration is open until all spaces are filled. Story said hosting vendors at Ladies Night Out in December helped prepare her for the Winter Market.
“I was way better prepared with marking out the spaces ahead of time,” Story said. “I just felt more knowledgeable. I already knew how it was going to operate, so I was a little less worried about that.”
Story said her main focus as Executive Director is the Winter Market will soon shift with February’s market being almost completely planned. After- school art classes have just begun, and the center is scheduled to host the Annual Paint Texas! Plein Air Competition in April. Story said other ongoing projects include minor building restorations and expanding adult art classes and events.
