Carleton University’s visual arts club is back with its second year of art markets in the Nideyinàn atrium — and it looks a little different from its inaugural year.
Co-president Melvin Qu said the club launched the markets in November 2024 to help Carleton student artists get exposure and vending experience without the pressure of conventional markets.
He noted that this year’s market on Friday was “less rushed” than last year’s “chaotic” planning efforts, when vendors had just a week to prepare after the market was approved.
Fellow co-president Jocelyn Deng said that despite last year’s chaos, vendors came back this year.
“We have a lot of repeat vendors,” Deng said. “They have fun doing it, and they’re benefitting from it.”
Visual Arts Carleton’s other adjustments include changing the market installations from a single-day to a two-day event each semester, allowing them to spotlight more artists.
Implementing a new five-dollar vendor fee this year also increased the club’s revenue. Qu said this fee is still much lower than in other markets.
Javeera Faizi, a fourth-year computer science student, said she participated in the market as a vendor because it was affordable and “the stakes feel lower.”
She found her stall helped her gain exposure for her wedding certificate business, Wedding Essentials Studio, showcasing her Arabic calligraphy on bookmarks and in paintings.
“In other community events, there are a lot more people, so it feels unattainable,” she said.
Tejiri Obaze, a second-year global and international studies student who sold photos they’ve captured over the years in various cities, was also eager to get involved.
“I want to be more involved in the community,” Obaze said. “(The market) makes me feel like there are other local artists that are trying to create space for all of us.”
Addison Linton-Trudeau, a first-year social work student who visited the market, said she enjoyed the market’s spotlight on Carleton’s art community, but wished it were bigger.
“I love it when people express themselves through visual means,” she said. “I feel like I can connect to it in a different way.”
Linton-Trudeau added accessibility issues could hinder artists’ ability to apply for vending because she had to click through several links before applying.
She added that more advertising could be done to bring in artists from outside of the club.
Sophie Audet, a first-year student in architectural conservation and sustainability engineering, said they liked shopping at the market — especially at the fandom-oriented vendors — but expressed similar concerns about outreach.
“It’s important to broaden the horizons and who [the event] is mentioned to, because anyone in any program can enjoy this.”
Still, Audet looked forward to future markets.
“This should definitely happen again.”
Featured image by Zayn Daureeawoo/the Charlatan
