By Libby Hopkins
The Winthrop Town Centre has become the artist hub of the Brandon community. It is the host of many art events including the yearly Winthrop Arts Festival, so it is only fitting that the community offers an artisan market. “I think Winthrop is a beautiful space and it showcases a lot of unique and exciting tenants that we have here,” said Bryant Martinez, Winthrop artist. “There is so much momentum going on in our community that an artisan market would thrive here in Winthrop.”
Martinez owns the Beaux Arts Gallery of Winthrop and he hosts the Winthrop Arts Festival. Most of the artists that are involved with the festival are regular visitors to his gallery and Winthrop and they felt there needed to be a market where artists and local crafters could sell their works on a regular basis. The Artisan Market was created out of this need and it will make its debut on Saturday, November 16 at the Beaux Arts Gallery from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. It will feature arts, crafts and jewelry from local artists that will be for sale along with edible treats and other items. “The community wants the market and I’m excited to get the chance to initiate it at Winthrop,” Martinez said. “We have a vibe here that would work for an artisan market and we have enough artists who meet here on a regular basis to make it work.” The market will have its soft opening at the Winthrop Garden Festival Art Show on Thursday, November 7 at Martinez’s gallery. The market will run as a bi-monthly event starting on November 16 and then again on November 30. “I think the market will bring in more people from the art community who will want to get involved with it and make the market a great thing for Winthrop,” Martinez said. If you would like to learn more about the Winthrop Artisan Market or if you would like to become involved with the market, you can contact Martinez at 601-3129. If you would like to learn more about the Winthrop Arts Festival or if you would like to become a part of it, you can visit the festival’s website at www.winthropartsfestival.org. The Winthrop Arts Festival will be held March 22-23 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. The Beaux Arts Gallery is located at 11252 Winthrop Main St. in Riverview.
