As the weather gets colder and snow starts to swirl around the skyscrapers downtown, a number of events and artists’ markets are set to enhance the holiday atmosphere in the Golden Triangle this year.
Curated to include many local artists who create one-of-a-kind items from hand-bound journals and Pittsburgh-centric stationery to steel ornaments and Himalayan felted hats, the markets are meant to complement those warm holiday feelings.
“We really wanted to offer an alternative to the hecticness of the traditional holiday shopping experience,” says Leigh White, spokeswoman for Downtown Pittsburgh Partnership hosting the Peoples Gas Holiday Market in Market Square.
The market, in its second year, is set to expand by more than twice the size, now including booths featuring Wendell August Forge, Kathe Wohlfahrt traditional German ornaments, and fresh-cut trees and greens.
“For someone who lives in River Vue to buy a live Christmas tree and walk it back to their apartment adds breadth to the neighborhood and incredible warmth to the market,” Leigh says.
While the Market Square vendors focus on ethnic gift ideas throughout December, another day-long market features a more do-it-yourself atmosphere.
In its tenth year, Handmade Arcade welcomes 150 vendors on December 7 to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center with about half from the Pittsburgh area as young as high-school age, says co-organizer Jennifer Baron.
“It’s important to support the one-of-a-kind, the handmade,” she says. “There’s always something you don’t quite expect.”
Now the market is also hosting workshops for visitors wanting to learn the crafting techniques themselves called Hands-On Handmade with drop-in, short and day-long interactive programs, demonstrations and tutorials.
The vendors are a mixture of fun, quirky and cool, which attracted artist Jeff Brunner to the market for the first time this year.
“I wanted to be a part of that, have that energy and be in the atmosphere,” he says.
Many of Jeff’s drawings are whimsical animals and colorful drawings of people, which all started with a children’s alphabet book idea when his niece was born three years ago.
The 37-year-old gay artist from Brighton Heights says he is looking forward to interacting with people who enjoy his art and for feedback beyond his partner and friends.
“That is a really exciting thing, to have those exchanges and conversations,” Jeff says.
Just a few blocks away at 709 Penn Gallery, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has also gathered about 30 artists to showcase their wares through January 5th.
In its second year, the Craftsman’s Guild of Pittsburgh Holiday Market transforms the gallery, normally set for stark artists’ solo exhibits, says curator Sonja Sweterlitsch.
“(The gallery) changes its identity a little but during these couple months,” she says.
The Craftsman’s Guild, founded in 1944, selects participants through a jury process.
“Their artwork is really extraordinary and diverse and shows a high level of craftsmanship that anyone can appreciate was finely and skillfully made,” Sonja says.
No matter which Downtown holiday market you choose, supporting locally made art is one way to give personal, unique gifts during the holidays.
Handmade Arcade
Saturday, December 8
11 AM-7 PM
David Lawrence Convention Center
1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd.
handmadearcade.com
Craftsman’s Guild of Pittsburgh Holiday Artist Market
November 15-January 5
Wednesdays and Thursdays 11 AM-6 PM
Fridays and Saturdays 11 AM-8 PM
Sundays 11 AM-5 PM
709 Penn Gallery
Peoples Gas Holiday Market
November 23- December 23
Mondays to Thursdays 11 AM-8 PM
Fridays and Saturdays 11 AM-9:30 PM
Sundays 11 AM-6 PM
Market Square
downtownpghholidays.com
