Diversity of crafts at new summer market

Press, 2 October 1987, Page 8

Diversity of crafts at new summer market

'\: • ' ■•: f-t:,' With as diverse a range of crafts as it is possible to find, Christchurch’s Arts Centre summer mar? ket opens . tomorrow, Sat-. urday, October; 3. . ' This season there will be over ■ 100 staUs selling pottery, knitwear, bone carvings, jewellery, leather goods, to mention only a tew. , >' t ! ’The emphasis of the market is on the crafts being sold by the craftspeople who. make ’them, giving them a New .Zealand flavour which is appreciated by locals and tourists alike,” says Rosemary Hawkey,;. the assistant director of the Arts centre. “Our designer knitwear is an example of a' true New Zealand product” she says. The Arts Centre market allows the public to buy high quality goods at reasonable pieces,- Rosemary Hawkey says, t ; J I “I would like to think the goods are more reasonably. priced because the overheads are low. “Most goods compare very favourably, .with those sold by city >. re-. - tailers,” she spys. I The stall selling sand pictures is one that is popular and fascinating. ' These are made by putting • oil between two pieces of glass and placa a A

ing different colours of sand in. The sand drifts through and makes landscape patterns,-' Rosemary -Hawkey explains.. >1 , A popular attraction is, the Rlki Rangl Carving ' Centre where about four or five carvers give live demonstrations • of their. craft and offer their goods - for sale.' 7 •>?:-'.< *-v ?■' The craft studios sell porcelain- dolls, leather work, graphic art, fabric art, -bone, carving." . | '» ' Then there are paint- • ings, mobiles, kites, rocking deck chairs and stained glass work and lingerie for sale. ■ . ':/ Hopefully, there will, also be fruit and veg& tables In season too, Miss Hawkey says. -. The market offers all the fun of the fair, with many types of food, as well as entertainmenL Six or seven stalls sell Asian food.'- The kebab stall is popular too. For those, wanting light fare, there, are sandwiches and muffins, plus the usual hot dogs and Ice f cream and a Mr. Whippy. The Arts Centre now boasts three restaurants. The Dux de Lux is renowned for its gourmet vegetarian food. The Jambalaya, a more recent arrival, serves Ca-

r- - : - ’ . <■ , . ' jun cuisine, while Le Cafe ./ Concert serves lighter . food for those who do not - want a tull meal. . - Children win- . -be/-/do- - lighted by the clowns and jugglers performing between 12 noon and 2 p.m. along with musicians all add to the festive atmo- ; ■ L Fdt the first time this year the market has been open all year ■ round inr. of only during the -summer ' months. More than 50 stallholders displayed and sold their wares throughout the winter. '• - ? • The summer ? market runs T from [", October through till the end of March. “The market has grown from strength to strength and this market will be the biggest says Rosemary Hawkey. The market was granted a licence to open on Sundays this year. While trade was slow to begin with, it gained momentum and is now a strong part of the market Between 60 and 70 of the stallholders will open on both days. The market is open from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m., wet or fine. When it rains the'market is held in the Great Hall.

} While some craftspeor,, pie. have, outlets besides t the Arts Centre, most do noL- : ;-.■ Many manufacture dur--1 ing the week, then sell . their goods at the weekend/.///'-' ■ : i They sign a contract at . the / beginningof , the i. ' seasph,:stating what they; . are going to sell. This Is a , safeguard against them diversifying and duplicat- ‘ . ing' ware sold by other : ;'stalls: