Budding artists share their wares at the first Savannah's Creative Kids Art Market on Sunday
When Clementine Huerta was 5-years-old she began drawing. Bright swirls, shapes and colors would fly from her markers onto crisp, blank pages. In time, her doodles would grow beyond child’s play when she applied them to painting, sewing and making her own jewelry. And it’s no wonder. Clementine’s mother is Lane Huerta, the internationally acclaimed creative behind Savannah-based Lovelane Designs, a company best known for whimsical children’s clothing and make-believe wear.
On Sunday, December 3, the mother and daughter duo team up to present the very first “Savannah’s Creative Kids Art Market” at The Rainbow House, 25 E. 40 St., Savannah. The event gets underway at 1 p.m. and runs until 4 p.m., featuring art and crafts made by children ages seven to seventeen. Holiday shoppers can enjoy hot chocolate, homemade cookies, and a make-your-own-ornament table while supporting young, local crafters and entrepreneurs.
A team from Renegade Paws Rescue will also be on hand with opportunities to adopt kid-friendly puppies ready to go home for the holidays.
Clementine Huerta, now 12-years-old, relates what it was like watching and learning from her mother. Both traveled together in the makers’ market circuit across the United States.
“I grew up doing craft fairs with my mom, and she was always welcoming and helping people decide what they liked. She’s so good at that,” said Huerta. “I liked that part, the people, and wanted to do that, too, so I started explaining products and talking with everyone. But I noticed at some point there were never any kids doing what I was doing.”
That’s when Clementine realized an unfilled niche for her and her creative friends.
In the Huerta household, creativity is always on. At sleepovers and friend gatherings, Lane Huerta often helps Clementine and her pals with sewing and other projects, so much so, that she’d recently taken note of how savvy the youngsters had become in their product designs and entrepreneurship. Lane was in full support of finding a way for them to promote and sell their work.
A few months ago, Clementine put out a call to her creative friends, and friends of friends, to see if they’d like to take charge of their own makers’ market. About 20 young people answered. And since then, the tight knit group has been diligently at work creating holiday merchandise.
Parker Bennefield, also 12-years-old, has been a crafter for as long as she can remember. As a small child, Bennefield once painstakingly repurposed a large Capri-sun juice box into a farmer’s market for her dolls. For the kid’s market, she has focused on a series of bright bowties for dogs and cats.
“I’ve always really liked crafting, I like having an idea and making that idea real,” reflected Bennefield. “For market, I’m also making bandanas for dogs and bundles of friendship bracelets. I’m looking forward to meeting new, fun creative people and seeing their work. And hot chocolate, I’m looking forward to drinking hot chocolate, too.”
For Clementine Huerta, it’s all about how the process yields the final product and how that product ultimately connects with people. For the event she’s fashioned a range of gift-ables, like FIMO clay bracelets and earrings. But according to Clementine, her most intriguing creations come from ice dyeing, a process in which powdered dye and melting ice produce striking patterns on fabric.
“The ice makes cool designs with the dye, and then I make pillows and tote bags from the fabric,” said Clementine. “The process of making everything is a lot of fun, but the people are my favorite. I like seeing how they interact with the work, and then I interact with them in response to what they experience with what I make.”
Other young makers are bringing more handmade jewelry, ornaments, knitted and crocheted pieces, potted plants, paintings, little fairy doors and so much more. The market also hosts a raffle with proceeds benefiting Renegade Paws Rescue. The Huertas and crew of young creatives plan to host another Creative Kids Art Market in the spring in hopes of establishing the event as a biannual Hostess City tradition.
“There’s going to be puppies and hot chocolate outside and art and crafts inside,” emphasized Clementine Huerta. “It’s a fun holiday pop up that’s free and open to the public and a great way to support young artists and Renegade Paws Rescue.”
If You Go >>
What: Savannah’s Creative Kids Art Market
Where: The Rainbow House, 25 E. 40th Street, Savannah
When: 1 to 4 p.m., Dec. 3
Cost: Free to attend
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Budding artists share wares at Savannah's Creative Kids Art Market
