Yikes! Next Market: October 13, 14, 15

Scout and Skander are ready....are you?

Thursday October 13th  12 - 8pm

Friday October 14th  11am - 7pm

Saturday, October 15th  10am - 4pm

A brisk snap in the air signals autumn's arrival. We're already getting ready for the next market, "Harvest & Halloween!" Sneak peek photos coming soon.

In the meantime, here's a creative exercise to hone those mad cat drawing skillz. This graphic looks like a worksheet a substitute teacher might mimeograph and give to the class at the end of an cool, sunny October afternoon. 

After getting the call that Mrs. Spahr's 4th grade class needed some one just for the day, the 68 year old sub dug around in her files looking for something fun; a treat for the children. She knew she wasn't a favorite. Her teaching style skewed more authoritarian than Magic School Bus. And yet. It seemed important to her that she not arrive completely empty handed. She wanted to bring something of herself - something the children might enjoy.Something that left them with the impression that she wasn't all schedule and discipline.Ahh...here it is. Under "A" for Animal. She initially searched the "H" file. For "Holiday". Sub file "Hallowe'en." She would hand it out 15 minutes before dismissal and the children would run home through papery leaf filled gutters, eager to show their mothers a perfectly drawn cat. It would be a good day.

Back to COOL

Did you notice the pointy finger at the bottom is holding castanets? Castanets alone bring your coolness factor up to dizzying heights. Like Everest, dude. Gotta bounce. See ya Saturday. xo Susan

Tonight at The Market: FREE Music by The String Connection!

Banbury Building 13 Suite 20

Banbury Building 13 is a hive of all kinds of artistry, and when you come to The Market tonight, you'll hear what we mean!  Tonight, The Cello Connection is hosting an open rehearsal from 6:30pm - 8pm in their first floor studio, suite 20. Playing will be "The String Connection", an adult intermediate level orchestra. Live music ennobles the spirit so if it has been awhile since you've taken a moment to drink in the beauty that occurs when many musicians play together, you really should treat yourself to this open rehearsal.What with the visual delights upstairs at The Market, the wine tasting at Infinity Beverages, and now gorgeous music, I'd say your night is already wonderful. The Packer win will just be the icing on the local artsy cake...

Infinity Beverages Offer Free Wine Tasting During "Back to COOL" September Market 9/8 - 9/10

Lots of exciting things are in the works for this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday as The Market gets "Back to COOL" at its grand opening September 8 - 10.  One of those things will be free wine tasting by Infinity Beverages. Eau Claire's newest LOCAL winemakers make some really delicious wine at a wonderful price point. What better way to savor the flavors of fall than by popping open a bottle of Infinity's Round Corner Red? Or Round Corner Apricot or Round Corner Mulberry, or.....

 I don't know how it happens, but it does: a nice bottle of wine seems to make even the simplest of dinners with family or friends a special occasion. If you like what you taste (and I think you will) Infinity offers a case discount. The only problem is, you might find your social calendar a little too full once word gets out you always bring a bottle of Round Corner wine. Ah well, you'll cross that bridge when you come to it. FIRST, bring a friend or two to the free tastings Thursday, Friday, or Saturday 11am- 7pm.

Next Market: September 9, 10, 11 !

Message From The Market: What Do You Do With Failure?

Redemption piece in process

Yesterday I failed. My inability to understand what a client wanted trumped the several earnest attempts I made to meet the objectives and goals described. Nine hours in, I made the call to quit. I was simply unable to see what I was doing wrong. I began to realize that I'd never understand his vision and what I was supposed to do. I admitted defeat.  I admitted that the task exceeded my skill set. It was embarrassing for me, irritating and disappointing to him. And he let me know that. I apologized.

SO. Today is a new day, n'est ce pas? Mais, non. I awoke with a killer emotional hangover - the incident consuming my thoughts, boring a hole in my stomach. I prayed. I talked with people who love me. I did all of the stuff that I know usually works when trying to get my mind off something that makes me feel sad, mad, bad, and inadequate. Then I reflected on something that I truly believe. Art heals. Creativity helps.

I began a "Redemption" painting. I have done this in the past to great effect. It helped. As I wrote my thoughts on canvas, I began to get some objectivity and by the last few inches of space, I had the lesson. AT LEAST I FAILED TRYING. I took a risk. I didn't mean to misrepresent myself or deceive anyone. I thought I could do it, but I couldn't. At least I tried. That's the kind of person I want to be. I can't wait for perfection. I work with what I have and who I am now. I'm going to fail. To disappoint.

Now I have a big canvas with black and red writing on it. Time to paint. I can be free with a Redemption piece because anything I do is going to make it more beautiful than what I have on it now! Isn't that great? Washing beautiful color over the stark text is meditative and soothing. Tension ebbs. Spirits rise. Even if the finished piece is not wall worthy, the process of covering a stark failure with gorgeous sweeps of color is worth everything.

What do you do when you fail? What do you do with disappointment? Once the initial finger pointing and blame game is over and you leave the table with your "winnings", your part of what went wrong, what do you do with it? How do you let go? How do you move on? It's easier to say, "Be gentle with yourself" or "At least I tried" than it is to actually take hold and believe those statements.

Try a redemption piece. Put it all on paper or canvas. Then cover it with images and colors that please you, that you find beautiful. Use collage, paint, paper, pencils, crayon or all of the above. Don't focus on the result. Your transformation comes during the process.

August Dates and Hours