Spiraling Towards Center
The shivering songs handmade market invited visitors to enjoy handmade goods and crafts from local artists and artisans. Some sold things that one might expect to find such as soaps or pottery. While others, like artist Vena Carr, an illustrator and surface designer, come to these events to sell goods and build their brand.
Carr, who is known for her animal and food-themed stickers, greeting cards and postcards. While she enjoys drawing all animals, she is looking forward to writing and illustrating her first children’s book featuring her beloved cat, Velvet. “It’s a poem written from her perspective, and it’s just like a day her life,” says Carr. Still, she is not the only artist at the market with a story to tell.
Self-proclaimed storyteller Duncan Ireland was also a vendor at the market. And while he was also selling postcards and flip books, what he was sharing was something unique. For the last four years, Ireland has been traveling from craft fair to music festival to share his book Spiraling Towards Center.
“Groups will walk by, and I’ll ask, “Hey, can I interest you in a story?” And normally there are people like, “Hmmm I don’t know, but maybe.” And there’s one person in that group that says, “Yes.” They all come in out of the sun or the weather and have a book glow in front of them.”
The book is not your typical storybook. While the message and poetry are reminiscent of an existential Dr. Seuss, the book itself is a scroll that unfolds and opens to reveal mesmerizing images in bright phosphorescent paint. Ireland says the book is meant to be experienced in a blackout environment.
“When it’s in a blackout environment as the story sort of goes away from the light. There is a layer of stars and detail that continues to glow. So there’s a second story that kind of continues.”
The story takes seven minutes for Ireland to perform and holds a special meaning to its creator. According to Ireland, he wrote the book while he was attending the Shambhala music festival. The festival is known for its light displays and was the inspiration for the illustrations.
“The day before, I went to the festival. I had just turned 25. So it was like a reflection. What do I know? What truths have I experienced? And I wanted to see if I could get that experience into a story that other people would relate to?”
Finally, Ireland hopes to start reading his story in schools and feels that the book appeals to many ages and changes in meaning each time it is shared.
“I feel it’s different for every person, Says Ireland.” And for friends I’ve read it to multiple times. They told me it’s different every time they hear it.”
All in all, the market offers a gathering space for the sharing of goods and stories and allows the community to connect local artists and creators.