Davis craft fair spreads community and sustainability

PHOTO: Davis Craft and Vintage Fair’s Flower Dangles stand, created by Less Acosta, exhibits colorful clay jewelry with unique nature motifs.

By Eduardo and Matteo Nouve,

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

The Davis Craft and Vintage Fair was filled with craft vendors, a 12-piece jazz band and various food stands. The monthly, community-based fair took place on Feb. 2, a windy Sunday afternoon, at downtown Davis’ Central Park.

One of the focuses of the fair was bringing sustainable crafts to market. Julie Marks sells what’s known as “upcycled” jewelry.

“Upcycling is reusing old things people usually throw away to create something beautiful,” Marks said. By selling upcycled crafts and reusable utilities, like bags, vendors hope to “reduce the amount of waste we make for no reason,” Marks said.

Vintage pieces are “really cool and really common at the fair,” vendor Weslyn Baptista said.

According to fair director Debra Ariola, these include items 20 years or older that have been refurbished or reconstructed to fit a modern style. “That’s what the vintage part of the Craft and Vintage Fair means,” Ariola said.

The fair accommodates crafters from across the community, due to how easy it is to start selling there. “It only costs $30 to set up a stand here so many people are able to participate,” Ariola said.

Not only does the fair welcome all sorts of vendors, it attracts all sorts of people. “One thing we love about the fair is how inclusive it is of all ages and cultures […] and how it spontaneously brings the community together,” Ariola said.

With a diverse array of products, the fair calls attention to Davis’ creative community, especially for its upcycled and vintage pieces. “We’re hoping to get more of the community involved so more people can enjoy all that these artists have to offer,” Ariola said.