Artists come together at Chico Elks Lodge for holiday market
CHICO » Artist Christina Seashore has teamed up with four other artist partners to create what they have named the Well Spring Art Collective. With no permanent home as of yet, the group is focusing their efforts on trying to create programs which allow artists flexibility when it comes to overhead costs.
“As you can see a lot of these people are a little store in and amongst themselves,” Seashore said on Sunday. “Its so important for them to be able to reach the public. Its so important that people are able to create things and then be seen for what they create and supported.”
On Saturday and Sunday the Well Spring Art Collective group teamed up with Samantha Zangrilli, an artist and the owner and operator of Turkey Tail Farm in Yankee Hill, to host a 2020 Celebration Market at the Chico Elks Lodge. On Saturday Zangrilli said vendors welcomed 350 visitors to the Elks Lodge.
The group as a whole saw a need for small businesses, including artists, to display their work during the holidays when many are looking for gifts for someone special.
“We understand that people are going to go out and shop for their essential needs and we just thought it was unfair that big box stores like Walmart, Target and Costco get to stay open because they sell toilet paper,” Zangrilli said. “And inevitably someone’s going to buy their soap and their food and at the same time grab a Christmas present.”
Many challenges were faced for those involved with planning this weekend’s events. With COVID-19 restrictions being changed seemingly daily, and rain in the forecast, Seashore said the group had five different plans, all of which would have been successful.
“We’re artists, we’re creative,” she said.
Artist and gardener Michalyn Renwick was at Sunday’s market selling her plants and creations. She was making lit-up wreaths for the holidays and trying to get back into the crafting business.
Renwick had a sewing studio in Paradise prior to the Camp Fire in 2018 that she said was wall to floor in supplies. After the studio burned, she has turned to a new hobby, gardening. She took a year and a half off of crafting, saying she felt very unconnected and life was simply too chaotic.
After a move to Chico, and finding out how much more sunlight her plants got and that the soil in Chico was much easier to work with, Renwick decided to get back into the crafting business.
“I do not sew anymore because I don’t have all the supplies. But I’m cool with it because I found a new hobby. And I love this,” Renwick said.
Renwick said that appreciates the work that Seashore, Zangrilli and the rest of the Well Spring Art Collective put together this weekend, helping bring people together and support local friends and artists. However for her it was a little victory for herself to be getting back into crafting once more.
“I havent done any crafting business in two years. Its nice to kind of be back on the horse,” Renwick said “And its low key and I like that. Its not too much burden, its fun. Its work but its fun.”