Video available here:

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2823640

A new market for local artists

By Monique Beech

Alex Nelson recently spent an hour talking to a six-year-old about dinosaurs.Some could say Nelson, 36, is a bit obsessed when it comes to all things tyranosaurus rex, coelophysis and compsonathus.
"I'm just a din-geek who never grew out of it," the St. Catharines scultpter said with a little laugh and a shrug.
For 10 years, Nelson channeled his love for paleontology into his work sculpting dinosaurs and ancient whales at Beamsville's Research Casting International Ltd., a
museum exhibit specialist that relocated to Trenton three years ago.
Now, the stay-at-home dad shows his love for dinosaur into a small art business he's coined: Pieces of Prehistory, Museum Art.
Nelson uses soft clay to sculpt intricate and realistic dinosaur fossils, such as a tyrannosaurus claw or ceolophysis skeleton. He then makes a mould of his creations out of silicone, and casts it out of urethane, a dense material, to produce prehistoric, decorative wall plaques.
"I decided to do my dinosaur stuff in my spare time," said Nelson, one of more than 20 vendors at the new Brocante Lux fashion and art market at the Market Square in downtown St. Catharines.
"I got all my supplies from my old boss. They're very supportive of what I'm doing. Everything is scientifically accurate. It's sculpted, but it's scientifically accurate."
Promoting the work of artists such as Nelson is the point of the artistic market, said Julie Prescesky, who co-founded Brocante Lux with fellow crafter, Erin Snow.
The first showcase of fashion, jewelry, body care, art, and home decor was held last month. The duo plans to make the artistic fair on the last Friday of every month.
"The people who came out to our first market were very excited, very supportive," said Prescesky, who runs Jules Mae Sustainable Clothing, which specializes in high-end capes and moo-moos out of reclaimed fabrics.
"We had numerous comments on the quality and calibre of the artisans here so we're quite pleased."
Kathie Timpano, a Fonthill artist who makes hand-painted pillows under the name PillowArt, said she's confident the market will grow even more popular with time.
"I think as people become more aware that it will be become a regular show, I think the traffic will continue to increase," said Timpano, who has participated in both the Brocante events.
Timpano said she's a fan of the fair because it's local and accessible.
Snow, who runs Chasing Clouds, an organic bath and body business, said the fair is meant to be place for artists to network and support one another in what can be a tough line of work.
Snow said a lot of artists and crafters work out of their home and make be a bit isolated. It's also hard to compete with the box box retailers, she said.
"When the public comes in they're surprised," Snow said of the arts market.
"They don't realize how high-end these goods are."
For more on Brocante, go to http://www.brocantelux.com. The next fashion and art market is on Nov. 26.
mbeech@stcatharinesstandard.ca

September 15, 2010
The Voice of Pelham

September 15, 2010
Niagara This Week

August 21, 2010
The Standard

In the NEWS!

Video available here:

A new market for local artists

By Monique Beech