The loyal, masked shoppers of the Athens Farmers Market may have noticed that the Art Market has returned in recent months. The Art Market sets up alongside the Athens Farmers Market on the west edge of the new market site design. This past Saturday, Beth Weingroff of Sledding Hill Pottery, Lisa Heinz of Southeast Ohio Fiberworks, and Hannah Stewart of Spiral Path Therapies were in attendance with their wares.

Since May, the art vendors have adjusted their layout to maintain social distancing, supplying hand sanitizer, and all the vendors are wearing masks, even prior to the statewide mandate. Another special feature of the Art Market includes providing free disposable gloves for use when handling products to safeguard the well-being of guild members and customers. Lisa is a new Athens Art Guild member and Art Market vendor. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis she has been making masks which are now conveniently available to purchase in various sizes.

The Art Market operated by the Athens Art Guild provides an additional shopping option to Saturday market customers. Guild president, Beth Weingroff shares, “Participating in the Athens Farmers Market Athens is vital to keeping Athens Art Guild members connected to the Athens Community. I treasure my weekly conversations with existing customers and talk up all that special about Athens with new customers and those visiting from elsewhere.” Artists, artisans and makers need your support with so many festivals and events being cancelled this year. It is especially important to support our creative economy to preserve the unique flavor of our region.

The Athens Art Guild (AAG) was established as a non-profit organization to provide opportunities and leadership for a diverse group of visual artists and craftspeople in Athens, Ohio and the surrounding area.  As active members of our community, the Athens Art Guild artists represent a wide variety of visual arts including ceramics, fiber, jewelry, painting, printing, sculpture, stained glass, photography, watercolor, wood working, soap-making, book-binding and more. Members include: Plays with Glass, Tina’s Tiaras, Waxingdog Studio, Betty Ranck Photography, Spirit of the Hills, Renaissance Farms, Gustafson Art Glass, A Mother’s Work Folk Art Stained Glass, Forever Fleur, Knitting Addiction, Pine Needle Art, Green Mantle Studio, Jewelry Box Rocks, Jewelry by Cricket, Laughing Leaf Studio, A Wild Hare, Space Cadet Soaps, Peepers Pond Pottery, Karen Beverly Studio, It’s Still Today and Mike West-Artistic Woodworking.

Their website http://www.athensartguild.org/ has a directory of all the members and contact information if you would like to visit their sites to view their work or order online.

Follow the Athens Art Guild Facebook page to get updates on Athens Art Guild activities and links to their members.

Community Update by ACEnet Programs & Communications Coordinator, Meggan Loveland