For designer and illustrator Michaela Goade, this weekend’s Public Market offers a chance for her to take her art to a wider audience.
It also gives Goade, who was raised in Juneau, the chance to participate in the annual event she loved as a child.
“I think the little kid in me is going to be pretty thrilled,” Goade said, laughing.
The event, which has been going for more than 30 years, marks the unofficial beginning of the holiday season in Juneau. Goade, 27, remembers what she calls the “holiday energy” of the market, with everybody looking for gifts while also meeting one another and sharing in the excitement of the season.
There will be more than 150 vendors at this year’s Public Market, with more than 30 of them being newcomers. Many of the first-timers are similar to Goade in that they’re looking to expose their small businesses to a larger audience.
Goade, for instance, has been a full-time freelance designer for the past year and is hoping to promote her artwork as well. She’s selling prints of artwork she did for multiple Sealaska Heritage Foundation books, “Salmon Boy” and “Let’s Go! A Harvest Story,” as well as other personal artwork.
Peter Metcalfe, the longtime organizer of the market, said having turnover in the vendor lineup is beneficial for both the new vendors and those who attend the event.
“The good part of that is we get a good rotation because it’s never stale,” Metcalfe said. “Somebody who comes consistently, year in and year out, there’s gonna be 30 to 40 new vendors who weren’t there the last time they were there.”
The market runs from Friday to Sunday, sprawling between Centennial Hall and the Juneau Arts and Culture Center (JACC). On Friday, it will run from noon to 7 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, it will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Three-day admission to Centennial Hall is $7.50, while access to the JACC is free.
Though it’s the biggest show in town this weekend, the Public Market won’t be the only show. At Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall, Central Council of Tlingit &Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (CCTHITA) is hosting its fourth annual Holiday Market. It will run from noon to 5 p.m. Friday and then 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Despite the fact that they’re going on at the same time, they are working in association with each other and encouraging that people go to both events.
Veronica Johnson, the owner of Raven’s Creations and a second-time vendor at the Holiday Market this year, said being at the market serves as a learning opportunity. Johnson puts together art kits for children, giving them materials and instructions to make items such as ornaments, headbands or doll accessories of their own.
The event, which she described as “the place to go” if people are looking for authentic Alaska Native art, serves purposes for both vendors and shoppers.
“It just brings in the community and gets people out and about,” Johnson said. “For me, it was just learning more about how to make my product more favorably. I discontinued certain items and now I’m focused on headbands and ornaments.”
Admission to the Holiday Market is free, and will feature products from sea otter apparel to Devil’s Club salve to woodwork.
Both markets strive for variety in their offerings, and Metcalfe said he tries to ensure that the items at the Public Market are as special to the market as possible. As he goes through applications every year, Metcalfe keeps the phrase “only at the Public Market” in mind. New vendors offer a great deal of excitement in that their products usually haven’t been exposed to a wide audience yet.
Grace Chen, 26, is another newcomer looking to reach a larger audience at the market. Chen, who’s starting up a sewing and clothing business called AK Fashion. Most of her sales are through online outlets such as Etsy and Facebook, and has also been doing alterations and custom dresses as well.
She and her husband Christopher Cox moved to Juneau from Wasilla a year ago, and she’s been building an inventory of dresses, kuspuks, baby headbands and more. Chen also has a series of mother-daughter dresses and even Halloween costumes, which can be made to order. She’s spoken with a few others who have been vendors at Public Market and chuckled as she thought about how big the crowd will be this weekend.
“A lot of people will be there,” Chen said, laughing. “It’ll be super busy.”
Hundreds of shoppers are expected to go to both markets this weekend, and Metcalfe said the new vendors always add a great deal to the spirit of the event. Businesses come and go, but the Public Market has remained a holiday tradition for 35 years.
“These are Santa’s helpers,” Metcalfe said, laughing. “They’re busy in their little workshops, sometimes all year long, trying to build up enough inventory.”
• Contact reporter Alex McCarthy at 523-2271 or alex.mccarthy@juneauempire.com.
