By OLIVIA BERGMEIER
Salina Post
Soft holiday music played as residents and visitors milled around tables filled with local artisan goods at the Salina Art Center Warehouse for the second Holiday Art Market.
Salina Downtown Inc. and the Salina Art Center hosted the event for 22 local vendors on Saturday, Dec. 2, allowing new, hobbyist or seasoned artisans to sell their artwork.
The market included jewelry makers, wood carvers, leather workers, ceramic artists, sculptors and visual media artists — all selling their handmade works of art.
Dex Umekubo, a local singer and guitarist, sang Christmas songs between the classic holiday radio hits.
Behind the craft of handmade goods
One of the almost two dozen artisans at the market included Nicholas Pahls, the owner of NAPCraft, who uses hand tools to carve wooden spoons, boxes and decorations.
Pahls was born and raised in Salina, where he grew up alongside the city's art community. Today, he teaches first grade at Coronado Elementary.
While chatting with visitors to his booth, Pahls would continue carving some works in progress with a widdling knife.
"I do that so people can ask questions about the process," Pahls said. "I think if they can see what you're doing, they're a lot more interested in one — buying something but two — just knowing what you're doing."
Often, customers don't understand the process of handmade goods, which Pahls said he enjoys taking the chance to educate.
Behind the finished works displayed on the NAPCraft table, tools like chisels, small adzes and wood planes decorated his station to show customers the process of wood carving.
"My favorite part is people who ask questions about what I do," Pahls said. "When you come to something like this [the Holiday Art Market] where it's all handmade stuff, it's important for people to see what that looks like when it's getting made."
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Anita Specht, a patron of the Holiday Market and neighbor to Pahls, said she enjoys seeing the community's creativity and supporting local artists.
As Specht approached Pahl's booth, he joked that she wasn't allowed to buy anything as neighbors. Specht assured him she was buying gifts for friends.
"Anita gets to hear me in my garage at 12 a.m.," Pahls said. "Anita's gifts come from her just allowing me to do that without complaining."
Specht laughed as she responded, "I don't know how he does it. Well, he doesn't complain when I don't rake my leaves."
"It's okay because I don't do it either," Pahls replied.
Specht heard about the Holiday Art Market through some friends attending the event, so she wanted to take the opportunity to support local artists.
The market allowed shoppers to find unique gifts for friends and family for the holidays, offering a memorable experience for Salina residents and visitors.
"I think it's wonderful. It opens up a lot of opportunities, especially for single people to get out and meet other folks," Specht said. "I think it makes life in Salina more pleasant and enjoyable."
Some of the vendors at the market include members of the Salina Art Center Warehouse, who visit to use ceramic and other art equipment.
Eddie Cheremond, a regular ceramic artist at the Warehouse, decided to take his hobby to the vendor stage, selling some of the artwork he made in the Warehouse.
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His hobby began small, starting with the goal to make a few personal items before he became hooked on the craft.
"I wanted to replace all the bowls and cups I have at home with my own handmade," Cheremond said. "I started doing that, and it was very calming and soothing — so I kept doing it."
After replacing the store-bought ceramic items in his home and his stockpile of artwork grew, he took the opportunity to sell some of his work at the Art Market.
Salina Art Center Director of Education Darren Morawitz encouraged him to have a vendor table at the event, and Cheremond said he was glad he took the chance.
"Throwing, in general, for me, is a way to de-stress," Cheremond said. "To not think about anything else besides the work, for me, it's just really calming."
The Holiday Art Market concluded at 2 p.m., with the Salina Art Center Warehouse clearing for Tuesday's flow of local artists.