Looking local: Terrain heads to the mall for a one-day local artisan fair, Brrzaar
Want to feel better about the inevitable surrender to materialism that Christmas demands? Try shopping local and handmade. On Saturday, head downtown to River Park Square to browse a bounty of artisan-crafted goods.
That’s right. The mall. River Park Square will dedicate its first two floors to host 70 booths filled with local artists and craftspeople as part of Terrain’s first ever winter market. Dubbed Brrrzaar to differentiate from Terrain’s annual summer Bazaar, the event is one-day only, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“Almost immediately after our first summer Bazaar, people – both vendors and the public alike – started asking us to do a holiday version,” said Ginger Ewing, Terrain’s executive director and co-founder. “When River Park Square approached us about a possible collaboration … it was just too good of an opportunity for our local artists and makers to pass up.”
The format of Terrain’s winter Brrrzaar is very similar to its summer Bazaar, mimicking the feel of an open-air street market. From art and clothing to home goods and jewelry, booths of locally made products will line the mall’s high-traffic open spaces.
Vendors will include local potters and sculptors such as KJ Pottery, Goblin Pottery and Lisa Soranaka; artists and designers selling prints and stationery such as Mariah Boyle, Megan Perkins, Woodsy Foxman and Jessie Hynes Design; fiber artists like Sage + Moss and M Embroidery; clothing designers such as Jean + June and Fringe & Fray; jewelry makers such as Sarita Star Designs and Silver Element Jewelry; skin care product creators such as Bee You Organics and Orange Thyme Bath Apothecary; photographers such as Cherry Street Studios and Lost Kat Photography; and candle makers like Inland Candle Co. A full list can be found at bit.ly/BrrrZAARVendors.
Terrain’s commitment to keeping prices affordable means at least half of each vendor’s items must be priced at or less than $100.
“We strive to bring art, design and locally made goods to as many people as possible,” Ewing said.
And of course, there’s the added holiday pizzazz, Terrain-style. Attendees can listen to live performances of seasonal music by local musicians, including Caroline Fowler, Jenny Anne Mannan, Scott Ingersoll, Chris Molitor, the Spokane Civic Theatre carolers and opera singer Ann Benson, to name a few. There’s also a bar to belly up to with No-Li Brewhouse beers and Townshend Cellar wine.
Speaking of bellies, (that shake like jelly), what shopping trip to the mall is complete without a stint in Santa’s lap with post-photo proof? For a less traditional photo op for the old holiday card, Bad Santa and his elf sidekick will take over the chair by the gargantuan tree from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. What Santa’s evil doppelganger may say or do is as up in the air as his reindeer. Sit at your own risk for $10 a pop.