Evanston Made, an organization working to unite and support local artists, hosted a Maker’s Market on May 1 on the fifth floor of the Maple Avenue parking garage.
The market, which began at noon and ended around 5 p.m., featured around 30 local artists who sold handmade goods including jewelry, paintings, clothing, bags, and pottery. Due to COVID restrictions, attendants had to reserve a time slot prior to arriving at the event.
The market also included entertainment for children. Organizers set up cans of paint, canvases, and brushes on the floor of the garage for children to paint with.
One of the organizers, Kathy Halper, said hosting the event in a parking garage was very convenient for many artists since they could use the trunks of their cars to help display their art. The garage also provided a shield from the elements.
This is the third time Evanston Made hosted such an event, said Ms. Halper. The next Maker’s Markets are scheduled for June 5, July 3, Aug. 7, Sept. 4, and Oct. 2.
The Maker’s Markets also briefly overlapped with Downtown Farmers Market. “We would love to see people go in the late morning to the farmers market and then pop over here when they’re done,” said Ms. Halper. “We’re just really excited to grow the program.”
Maker’s Market photos by Adina Keeling