Art Talk - Ruston Daily Leader
“NCLAC sets Holiday Arts Market”
Deck your halls with locally made art this holiday season. On December 6, 2019, from 2-9 p.m., the North Louisiana Arts Council will host 25 artists and artisans and their work in a transformed arts market space located in the Norton Building in Ruston’s Downtown Cultural District. Area artists have been selected to display and sell their works of original, handmade items at an affordable price. Shoppers are encouraged to speak with the artists and artisans about their work to learn about their process. There will be a variety of artist vendors selling unique items such as precious stone jewelry, wooden turned bowls, hand-crafted books, artisan soaps and essential oils, leather goods, recycled textile wearables, calligraphy stationery, ceramics, paintings, photography, and more.
The Holiday Arts Market will also feature musical performances throughout the night starting at 2pm by artists Katelyn Fajardo, Sharissa Martinez, Monty Russell, Bill Deese, Buddy Flett, Fiddlin Tim Trio, and Mione Destiny. With the musical styles ranging from a cappella harmony, gentle acoustic harmonies, familiar Americana, blues, and torch-jazz vocals, there is something for everyone. The Ruston Community Theater will perform a preview of their holiday show, “Yes, Virginia. There is a Santa Claus” at 4pm. Community actors will be in costume to give a short sampling of their production that runs December 5-8th.
Children’s craft activities are free and will be available from 2-5pm. Storytelling provided by the Children's Department of the Lincoln Parish Library will begin at 4:30pm. You can have your picture taken in our wintery wonderland provided by Buie Photography from 4-8pm. The Louisiana Tech Greenhouse will be set up selling poinsettias. Get your holiday plants from the largest grower of poinsettias in north Louisiana before they run out.
The Holiday Arts Market will host a Post-Modern Gingerbread House competition with cash prizes ranging from $50-$100 with categories for ages k-5th, 6th-12th, and an adult category. Entry is free and open to the public. All materials must be edible and not extend a 12in x 12in footprint. Submit your gingerbread creation by bringing them to the Norton Building at 2pm. Ruston’s beloved baker Paul Tran will select the winners of the cash prizes and award the Judge’s Choice award. Vote for your favorite gingerbread house to win the honor of People’s Choice by dropping a donation into the jar.
Local food and drinks from downtown restaurants and food trucks will be there to warm your heart and your belly. There will be door prizes of artisan-made items provided by the participating artists given out every hour. With luck, you could go home with a one-of-a-kind handmade gift by entering your name and email into the door prize drawing.
The cozy atmosphere of the historic Norton Building is the perfect setting for a night of family, art, music, food, and fun. For frequent buyers or those new to buying art, the Holiday Arts Market is an inviting place to purchase accessibly priced, gift-friendly artisan goods.
Written by: Victoria Arnold
This article was published in the Ruston Daily Leader Friday, November 15th, 2019.
Shannan Inman vending her handmade stationery "Paperglaze Calligraphy"
Photo by: Cara Beth Buie