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Intrigued by skeletons and bones, Amaiya Reeder embraces dark romanticism and macabre beauty.
“I’m just inspired by creativity itself,” Reeder, owner of Golden bones artsaying. “I am very inspired by anime, simply because of how creative it is in itself. “I like to draw people who look like me.”
Reeder, a Lawrence-based independent artist, was one of nearly 100 vendors on hand Saturday during the first of two days of the Inclusive Winter Market in Lawrence.
The Creators Market features Black and Indigenous creatives and queer creatives, among others who are building their small businesses while living on the margins.
Saturday was Reeder’s first time selling at a large market. He said that in his experience, it can be difficult to access markets of similar size because they typically include registration and sales fees. This market was free to all vendors and Reeder said he appreciates that it showed off Lawrence’s multi-faceted nature.
“Just being able to walk into a space that has everyone — their niche, their art, whatever — is just inspiring to me,” Reeder said. “I love going to events like these and now being a part of them is even better. It’s like now I can express what I feel. I can express everything. “I can see how everyone else expresses themselves.”
Don’t be afraid of the dark
Instead of running away from his fears, Lyd Low turns them into works of art.
Low is afraid of the dark, but after interacting more with the horror genre, he has been able to make connections with the themes. Through artistic expression, they enjoy tapping into all aspects of themselves, even the most joyful ones.
“Some of my things are not just my phobia,” Low said. “Sometimes they are also painful incidents that have happened in my life or nightmares. And I feel like it’s been very healthy to explore them in my art instead of repressing them. I’m really dumb sometimes too.”
Lowan independent artist and musician who lives in Lawrence, said the market was an “area where you feel safe, included and seen.”
glow
Pastel colors, shiny objects like stars and rainbows are in line with Taj Moses’ aesthetic.
“I just like things that are pretty and comforting,” she said. “Anything that triggers something in my brain.”
Moses is the owner of satellite stardrop and creates lively cartoon portraits, sometimes based on television shows and movies or commissioned by clients. Like Reeder, Moses said he could relate to the inaccessibility of other major art markets.
“I’m autistic and disabled and all that kind of stuff too,” said Moses, a freelance illustrator who lives in Lawrence. “And a lot of times, even outside of the monetary aspect, it’s hard to find these things or know who to talk to or whatever. And I think having specific things like this is really helpful and I think it’s a little less intimidating than a standard one.”
fried dough
Puff pastries are Nigerian desserts that are thick, doughy and sweet. They’re like donuts, except “the calories here are really worth it,” according to Kansas City, Kansas, owner Adebola Atanda-Idowu. Aduns Desserts.
Atanda-Idowu has been baking since she was a child, following the example of her mother, whose family’s favorite pastries are puff pastries.
“My mom will be very proud of this, because it’s like a legacy that she left,” Atanda-Idowa said. “And the fact that I like disclosure, because sometimes I sell some and other times I distribute them. That is a joy, it is a joy of the season.”
Moniqué Mercurio, owner of Merc Tribe Designs, and Kassidee Quaranta, owner of KQ Design Co. LLC, are hosting the Inclusive Winter Market as their first major event since reinventing a Lawrence art collectiveformerly known as Art Love Collective. Art Love Continued aims to connect creatives and support the growth of small businesses.
“This feels like a full circle of healing,” said Mercurio, Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Nation. “We are deeply honored and very grateful that the community trusts us to return to the space and continue the work. “This is just the beginning.”
The market will reopen for a second day from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Lied Center, 1600 Stewart Drive.
Visit the Art Love Facebook Page Continued, facebook.com/ArtLoveContinuedto see the logos of the vendors lined up for the market. For additional information, visit the Quaranta website, kassideequaranta.com.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of his work for the Times. here. See their staff bios here.
Molly Adams (she/her), photojournalist and news operations coordinator for The Lawrence Times, can be reached at molly@lawrencekstimes.com. See more of his work for the Times. here. See their staff bios here.
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