TLU @ Neighborhood Art Fair

Last month, I had the pleasure of participating in a micro art fair hosted in my neighbor's driveway. The neighbor in question, abstract artist Aaron Hillebrand of Dirtbags and Champagne, collaborates with neighbors and friends every year to make this fun autumn gathering happen. Around a half-dozen artists from the neighborhood set up tables showcasing pottery, knitted hats, colorful clothing, and a wide variety of original paintings in oil, acrylic, and watercolor. The event was just a few minutes walk from my house. You can't get more local than that!

The event wasn't just about art. Lots of neighbors came to participate in the side-dish cook-off and charity bake sale. The mac and cheese won the contest by a landslide, but everything was tasty, and it was nice to enjoy some food and chat with neighbors while hanging out at my table. A few entrepreneurially-minded kids set up a table across from me selling pet rocks complete with googly eyes for $1-4 each. I could hear them making their sales pitches from across the driveway! Much respect to Gen Alpha.

It was heartwarming to see the neighborhood kids playing together in the leaves. I saw some familiar faces and met a lot of great folks, including local artist Jenn Cooper of JLC Pottery. Since I am just starting to plug into the local art scene, it means the world to connect with wonderful humans who have been walking this path longer than I have.

This was the second time I've participated in an in-person vendor fair. These events can be tiring for me, both physically and socially. There's a lot of planning leading up to the event which can cause me to spiral out a little bit. But putting myself out of my comfort zone is always an opportunity to grow, and I'm grateful for it. I can't say I see myself doing these in-person events more than once or twice a year, though!

- anita ✨