The Swaner Preserve EcoCenter will introduce the public to the seasonal spirit of nature when it opens its second annual Wild Winter Art Market at the EcoCenter on Friday. The boutique will run from 5-8 p.m. and feature 23 artists, a majority based in and around Park City and Salt Lake City, sa id Hunter Klingensmith, Swaner’s director of exhibits and visitor experience. “Each artist has some sort of connection with nature, and that was one of the requirements when they submitted their applications,” she said. “So, the goal for the market is to showcase artists who feature the natural world or do things in a sustainable way that will help us live more sustainably.” Wares include painting, photography, pottery, textiles, fiber and fabric arts, stained glass, woodwork, block prints, digital prints, ornaments and jewelry, to name a few, according to Klingensmith. “We wanted to select artists who have a variety of items, so if people are thinking about holiday shopping, they can do so at reasonable price points,” she said. A staff committee looked over the applications and voted, Klingensmith said. “Last year we had between 35 and 40 applicants, and this year we had more than 60,” she said. “They were all wonderful, so it was really hard to decide.” The idea of the market is to celebrate creativity and community and encourage guests to browse and buy items that help preserve, educate and nurture both people and the planet, Klingensmith said. “The Swaner’s mission is to ‘preserve, educate and nurture,’ and part of nurturing the planet and people is to provide these opportunities for the public to buy local work that inspires and highlights the beauty of the natural world,” she said. Nature-themed tapestries will be among the art and crafts created by 23 different vendors who will participate in the Wild Winter Market at the Swaner Preserve EcoCenter. Credit: Photo courtesy of Hiking Boots Creations Friday’s event celebrates the second year the Swaner Preserve EcoCenter has set up the market, Klingensmith said. “We’re super excited to be back with this iteration of the holiday market,” she said. “When I started working at the Swaner in 2015, and for a few years after, we did some holiday markets on our own and did some in partnership with the Arts Council of Park City Summit County.” The EcoCenter temporarily paused hosting a market because of traveling exhibits, Klingensmith said. “I think we have our traveling exhibit schedule pretty well figured out, which allows us to have more space to host the market,” she said. “The vendors will be set up throughout the EcoCenter, and they will have 4-feet by 6-feet booth spaces. And the EcoCenter’s gift shop will also be open.” This year’s hours run from 5-8 p.m., which is a shift from last year’s schedule, Klingensmith said. “We originally did this from 6-9 p.m., and we found people were ready to go and come right after work,” she said. “So we moved the time up.” Still, the EcoCenter staff will run the event similar to last year. “There is no fee to come in, and artists don’t need to pay a fee to be part of a market,” Klingensmith said. “We do ask them to make some sort of donation to the Swaner once they have made their sales. That percentage is up to them.” The Wild Winter Art Market is a fun way to engage the public with the EcoCenter and build community, according to Klingensmith. “We’ve been thinking a lot about being creative in how we can provide people opportunities to build a connection with nature, and this is a way to do so that is not a nature walk or hike,” she said. “We have such a beautiful space here, and we love to partner with others to bring people into it. So, we’re excited to host this event and artists. We hope they make good sales and meet community members.” Wild Winter Art Market  When: 5-8 p.m. on Friday Where: Swaner Preserve EcoCenter, 1258 Center Drive at Kimball Junction Cost: Free Information: tinyurl.com/3rav3ppm Web: extension.usu.edu/swaner The post Wild Winter Market opens doors to creativity and community appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less