Annual bazaar opens opportunity to meet new people and support local artists

Downtown Spokane will be dominated by local artists and businesses offering handmade goods Saturday for the 10th annual Terrain Bazaar.

The bazaar includes 133 physical stalls on Main Avenue and Post Street selling jewelry, ceramics, clothing and other products across an artistic spectrum made in Spokane, said co-founder Ginger Ewing. Participants will have the opportunity to see a full musical program and activities for children will also be available.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Expo 74 this year, Bazaar is teaming up with Gabby Ryan, a longtime volunteer coordinator who will host a silent disco near the end of the day with music from the 1970s and some hits modern, Ewing said.

“The event itself is quite magical,” she said. “We always encourage surrounding businesses to do something special to keep downtown activated in a really beautiful way.”

Ewing said the bazaar has seen growth every year.

Director of Field Operations Jackie Caro said the bazaar had to take a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic and while there weren’t as many vendors in 2021, the size of the bazaar has grown steadily since then.

Before the pandemic, the bazaar was only on Main Avenue, Caro said. By last year, the bazaar had grown so much that it extended all the way south to Post Street.

“Coming out of the pandemic, people were really supporting local (artists) and really supporting more community-oriented businesses and events, because when they’re gone, you realize how much you appreciate them,” he said. she declared.

Ewing said the bazaar speaks to Spokane’s desire to support local artists. Since Bazaar launched ten years ago, other art markets have emerged to support these artists.

“The fact that we haven’t seen the money in artists’ pockets decrease — it’s only increased — is a testament to Spokanetes and their desire to support local artists,” she said.

There are several new vendors this year, and Ewing said there will be people she hasn’t met in the 16 years Terrain has been around.

“As someone who has been deeply rooted in the arts community for 20 years, the fact that I’m still discovering new people is really exciting,” she said. “It should be exciting for participants to come and discover new people to support. »

Caro said nearly 50 percent of this year’s vendors are first-time attendees.

Caro said it’s always fun to see the growth and change in trajectory of Spokane’s arts.

“You see that when you start getting this new group of people who are also starting to participate and reach this level in their artistic career to participate in events like this,” she said.

Bazaar’s music lineup includes TS the Solution, Timeworm, the Bed Heads Band, Aspen Kye, Cosmic Fantasy, Snacks at Midnight and Wes Marvin. Food stands include Ben and Jerry’s, House on a Hill Bakery, Good ‘Dilla and Tea’s Company. Fetch Barkery is on site for four-legged friends.

Ewing said Terrain requires Bazaar sellers to sell more than half of their items for $100 or less.

“We want as many people as possible to have access to meaningful objects, meaningful works of art and to be able to bring them into their homes,” Ewing said.

She encourages people to go see what’s on offer, because whether someone can afford a $3 sticker or a $300 item, there’s something for everyone.

Ewing said even if people can’t afford to purchase an item, she hopes community members can still build meaningful relationships with the artists they want to support.

“You might come to the Bazaar and not be able to afford anything this year, but find a particular artist that you like and follow their Instagram or follow their website, follow them,” she said , “and when you will be. able to bring something beautiful into your home, you have this intrinsic relationship with that artist.