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Health & Fitness

Market Art Bazaar

As you stroll through the colorful array of fresh farm produce and artisan foods at a farmers market, look for the whimsical and practical creations made by local artists and crafters, as well.

Art is everywhere in our daily lives. It's displayed on the walls or shelves in our homes in well thought out arrangements. It's in the photographs we take to  chronicle the growing-up years of our children. Our yards and gardens have become virtual museums of ever-changing beauty. And, the food we eat is often prepared and served with the idea of making it as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palette. 

But, exactly--what is art? How did it come to be such an integral and intentional part of modern life as we know it today? Those are good questions to consider as we move into the fall season when art fairs abound offering everything from the silly and sublime to the practical and usable.

In earlier days, when cities were villages and suburbs were farms, people gathered together to trade their goods on specific days of the month or season.  Trading was very practical--animal skins for pots, woven fabric for baskets, beads for shells, animals for iPods (just kidding). But you get the idea; I've made something you don't have and you've crafted something I could use--let's trade!

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The modern concept of art as personal expression through a physical medium like painting and best captured in the phrase "art for art's sake" didn't begin until the 17th century (1600's).The word "art" has a practical origin. The root meaning of art is "put things together, join" and putting together implies "skill". There are still remnants of those earlier trading days around. Terms like "skilled tradesman" and "craftsman" are good examples.

You can also find remnants of those earlier trading days at a modern day farmers market. Beeswax candles and hand-crafted soap are favorite weekly buys, while items like rustic furniture and hand-blown glass jewelry are special occasion "trades".  I love how the past meets the present at a farmers market  It's a place where neighbors gather from near and far to trade news, barter services, and to share their love of art.  

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Here's what's happening this week at the Clayton Farmer's Market:

MARKET ART BAZAAR

Fine Arts & Crafts ▪ Unique and Beautiful ▪ Locally Designed & Crafted



Ardha Luna Design Fine Jewelry Sandi Russe

Black Birch Body Care Products & Scented Oils Jayme Hanna

Bunkys Blend Natural Bath Products Sharon Johnson

Caprice Design Fine Jewelry ▪ Gabriela Figueroa

Contained Beauty Container Gardens Kim Gamel

Dyezines ▪ Tie-dyed Gifts & ClothingKara Newel

The   Earring Lady Sterling Silver Earrings Cheryl Williams

Element 14 Hand-blown Glass Jewelry Fred Vogt

Luna Bath and Body Natural Soaps & Infusers ▪ Mary Zotos

Making It Dog Collars and Scarves Joan Kiburz & Mathew-Dickeys Kids

Newberry Furniture Furniture & Kitchen Tools ▪ Bill & Julie Newberry

Route 66 St. Louis Books and Aprons ▪ Norma Bolin

Rustic John Werner Rustic Furniture ▪ John Werner

Stinger’s Honey Bees Wax Candles & Ornaments ▪ Joy Stinger

Trail Lodge Tea ▪ Hand Embroidered Linens ▪ Annette Hopkins

MUSIC TENT:  9:30AM-12Noon Autumn's Child with Mark Holland Playing Global Chamber Music, these talented musicians blend a hybrid of world, jazz, classical and folk styles. You will love their acoustic instrumental fusion featuring the haunting beauty of the Native American Flute.

DINE AT THE MARKET Smoked BBQ & Waffle-licious Sugar Waffles, , Making It Lemonade, Eilerman Pies, Trail Lodge Iced Tea, and Little Dipper Chocolates

BETHESDA COMMUNITY SERVICE TENT The City of Clayton's Dan Krewson is visiting with information about this great St. Louis suburb!

CHAIR MASSAGE:  A Healing Place Massage Therapy and Wellness

CHILDRENS ACTIVITY TENT 8:30am-12:30pm   Independent Market Play

VISITING FOOD TRUCK The Sweet Divine “This crazy adventure of CAKE all started with ART!!”  Jenna and Jason are bringing their original, specialty cupcakes to the Market.

FOND FAREWELL Element 14 Stop by and visit Fred during his last Market Day of the season!  Shop among his beautiful, one-of-a-kind, hand-blown glass jewelry. 

FEATURING THE BEST MIDWEST PRODUCE AND LOCAL ARTISAN FOODS 

Baetje Farms will not be at the Market on Sept 10.

Reminder: Parts of Downtown Clayton will be closed to through traffic this Saturday.

Visit our website or call 314-913-6632

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