A Mary for Indie Buffalo
by Nathan Adam
Being an artist and running her own business was just not enough for Mary Stephens McGinnis as she saw an opportunity for both artists and consumers in the Greater Buffalo area. The Buffalo Indie Market just started in April and is on its sixth show already with gaining popularity in the community. Mary’s goal was to bring a year long venue to Buffalo that brought local arts and goods to the city on a regular basis. Her main focus has been on the artists, ensuring that the atmosphere was a positive fun experience for everyone. Mary has regularly brought in musical acts as well to help make the market more like an event.
On top of the market itself, Mary runs a blog entitled Buffalo Indie (
http://www.buffaloindie.blogspot.com), which previews artists participating in the market and upcoming musical acts as well. The blog is a great way to get the information to the public about what is going on in the art community. This can also be great way to connect with an artist when in the past there was no outlet to make that connection. The blog site will soon give memberships to artists so they can post a permanent listing, offer discounts for the market and become an active member in the direction of the market. Mary hopes to start blogging about other events such as the Sundae Market in the next couple months.
The artists that have participated in the Buffalo Indie Market thus far have come from very diverse backgrounds in means of there passion. The market has seen photography, fashion, pottery, jewelry, artwork, stationary, knits, handmade dolls, painted objects and much more. The market has a young hip feel and is perfect for anyone that enjoys a mix of shopping, food, music and artist workshops. As participation grows proof that markets like this work is easily seen in Buffalo as the number of etsy websites in Buffalo has climbed from 35 to 100 since April. An etsy website’s primary goal is to give an online venue for local artists to sell there work to the public. Having 65 new etsy sites in the Buffalo area in the last couple months proves that local markets have a strong impact on the community.
Mary embraces the idea of another venue such as the Sundae Market to come to the Buffalo area and sees it as another opportunity for the art community to flourish. She also supports the Sundae Market because it is another option to shop locally which is an advantage to everyone in the Buffalo area. Events such as the Buffalo Indie Market and the Sundae Market are valuable tools which both artists and the public can use to better there community and themselves. As these events grow it will be easy to see the impact they have on their surroundings.
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