Finding a unique holiday gift can be a challenge but, one seasonal shop offers many creations from Central New York Artists. The Art Mart has moved into a renovated brick building next to Salt City Market in downtown Syracuse. There’s a mix of booths offering a little bit of everything. Co-Manager Eva Hunter says the juried event includes established and lesser known artists.
“What that does for the artist is it allows them to know that they’re going to be in a show or event with other like skilled artists. You know, there’s a high quality of artists here. It also gives us an opportunity to promote local artists and gives those artists the opportunity to get in front of people that might not necessarily know about their art.”
Hunter says many of the featured artists are from Syracuse and further away in St. Lawrence and Cortland Counties. There are more than 30 vendors and nine new artists in this year’s gallery.
"So, this is a way for our artists to show their work. We’re here every year we do this and so we have a lot of returning shoppers that support us and they want to support local artists and so this is the place to do that and to come for artists and for the local community.”
Hunter herself is also an artist with a booth of her artistic flair on display. She enjoys painting Christmas tree bulbs.
“They’re hand painted glass ornaments. It’ a little bit of a fun technique that I learned how to do a few years ago and I just really enjoy doing them and offering small, quick little gift, maybe you don’t know what to get someone, so get them an ornament!”
The Art Mart is located at 476 South Salina Street and is open through December 23rd from 11 AM to 5 PM.
