This year’s Artistry by the Lake market proved a huge success over the Canada Day weekend, attracting crowds of eager buyers from across Ontario and many American tourists.
The pop-up market, held from June 28 to July 1 at Queen’s Royal Park, featured more than 60 Canadian artists and artisans, including five local Niagara-on-the-Lake creators, showcasing fine art, jewelry, pottery, woodwork and textiles.
“Our message is simple — we value our American visitors and want them to feel welcome in town,” said Evelyn Williams, the NOTL Chamber of Commerce’s event co-ordinator.
Williams, who was responsible for running the event, said many tourists return year after year, drawn by the town’s lakefront charm and Canada’s more welcoming political climate.
“Speaking as an American, visitors will come and say, ‘I wanted to choose to have my vacation here because I don’t support the current administration,'” said Williams.
Valerie Potvin from Crosswind Creations also had high praise for improvements to this year’s market, particularly the addition of a router to facilitate debit transactions.
“Before, we were literally running up the hill holding our phones trying to get a signal, and we lost sales because of it, but this year it’s phenomenal,” said Potvin.
Famous Toronto painter David Vasquez, who has sold works to the Canadian Museum of History and celebrities like Andy Garcia and Vanessa Williams, attended for his seventh year.
“I have so many clients here. Some bought paintings from me 10, 15 years back and still support me,” said Vasquez.
Painter Jill Sapiente from Smithville, Ont., who was attending for the first time, praised the market’s organization but had one complaint: not enough coffee.
“Other than that, very happy, very happy.”
Sapiente appreciated visitors’ feedback on her painting and reported strong sales over the Canada Day weekend.
Kuda Chiromo, a sculptor of serpentine and awarded NOTL’s Best Artist for Fine Arts this year, emphasized the importance of local community support.
“A lot of people, they don’t really do it for the money, it’s for like the passion,” said Chiromo. “On top of that, they are local as well, so I think it’s just a no‑brainer to support.”
Catherine Mangosing, a Virgil artist behind Moss+Method, crafts preserved‑moss wall pieces from reclaimed Niagara‑on‑the‑Lake lumber.
“People have never seen moss art before and are curious whether it’s alive, but it’s preserved, so it doesn’t need watering,” said Mangosing, having sold most of her stock by the last day of the market.
“I felt like I was talking all day because the traffic was so steady.”
Paty Camacho of Paty en la Playa handles sales, marketing and even models for her family’s business, which turns repurposed curtains into boho beachwear.
“We don’t have a storefront — we just travel to festivals — but this show always brings people from everywhere and we love it,” said Camacho.
Williams said about 80 per cent of this year’s vendors had taken part before and there have already been emails to reserve a spot for next year.
With Canada Day falling on a Wednesday next year, organizers admit there is some trepidation about how to schedule the long-weekend market, but vendors say they are eager to return and see the Niagara‑on‑the‑Lake community again.
