Kentuck at Queen City held its monthly Kentuck Art Market on Saturday, featuring vendors who sold various forms of art, including crochet items, paintings and drawings, tie-dye clothing and laser art work. All of the art is homemade and displayed at the market, showcasing the vendors’ talents to the Tuscaloosa community.
The vendors of the market had goals for what they wanted their artwork to bring to the Tuscaloosa community. Crochet artist Candice Wharton said it was her first time at the market selling her crochet creations.
“Everybody needs a little whimsy in their life. If they can buy one of my items and love on it, it makes them smile, that’s what I’m trying to do,” Wharton said.
Janet Estrada, who sells “nature-inspired” laser art, said she wanted to highlight the affordability aspect of selling her pieces.
“I wanted to be able to do it at a price point that those that had lesser incomes could also enjoy,” she said.
The market was set up on the lawn of Kentuck at Queen City, with large grassy areas for children to play with bubbles and makeshift drums as their families shopped around.
“It’s nice to see that Tuscaloosa is so vibrant on a weekend. There’s a variety of kinds of things going on and it’s all relatively family friendly,” said Micah McKibben, an art history instructor at the University and Tuscaloosa resident.
Both visitors and vendors shared in the community and connection of the market. Sue Blackshear, a vendor of large and small print paintings, is still out creating and selling art at 87 years old.
“Sometimes I teach drawing or painting, and I enjoy doing it,” Blackshear said. “The people that come and show here are really nice people, and I enjoy that.”
Blackshear emphasized the importance of “making connections” with others in the community through her artwork, displaying it in the market. The event gave visitors and vendors the opportunity to see the artistic side of Tuscaloosa.
“It feels cleansing compared to most of the other stuff in Tuscaloosa,” said Paulina Liston, a senior majoring in graphic design. “It’s just a different vibe.”
