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Section: Arts

A Gift That Keeps on Giving: 14 Years of Women’s Gifts
By Ann Marie Trietley

There are plenty of hip women crafting beautiful artwork in Western New York. Thankfully, there is a marketplace in Buffalo where one can browse these creations to the heart’s content while supporting both female artisans and the local economy.

For 14 years, female artists have come together to showcase their artistic and musical talent at Women’s Gifts. This year, the event will move to Babeville, 341 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on November 14. As always, the event is free to the public.

In the summer of 1994, three women bonded over a singular vision. Gwenn Jones Carr, Bernadette Hoppe and Carrie Marcotte all wanted to create a place for artistic women to show off and sell their work. What resulted was a group of 20 or so vendors of varying skill level coming together for the first annual Women’s Gifts.

“At the time, I was unemployed and made jewelry. I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if there was a funky venue where I could sell my jewelry?’” says Hoppe. “This is an outlet to embrace local creativity.”

By 2008, the number of vendors had increased to over 50 specializing in everything from knit scarves and jewelry to natural beauty products and pottery. Gwenn Jones Carr moved abroad in 2004, so Monica Brown and Kathy Shioki joined the team.

The only prerequisite to showcasing your stuff at Women’s Gifts is that you made it yourself in WNY. It can be expensive and time-consuming to own a boutique or manage a website, so this event offers an alternative for artists looking for financial success and self-promotion.

“Everyone loves it,” Hoppe says. “We have new up-and-coming artists because its’ affordable. Artists love being there. Its a very special environment — small, people don’t have to fight each other, low key and cozy, which makes it accessible in the community. We have people who’ve done it from the beginning and still do it to this day.”

Besides artisans, Women’s Gifts also features performances by local musicians, poets and storytellers. While the cacophony of shoppers milling about may muffle their sound, WG has featured Buffalo favorites Drawing Down the Moon and Leah Zicari, to name a couple. This year, Noa Bursie, Kilissa Cissoko and Kathy Morarey will perform.

Prices will range from $5 to several hundred, so whether you are looking for a hand-blown wine glass or an original painting or photo, all budgets will be represented. Offbeat items for the home, like hand-poured soy wax candles and mosaic glass tables, can be found to lend charm to a dull room.

“There’s always a lot of really fun stuff,” Hoppe says. “We try to encourage diversity of items for sale.”

Women’s Gifts will also feature a relaxing café in which to unwind and devour a scone or two. Exotic cuisine will be available for purchase, and there will be plenty of music to keep both sexes entertained.

“We’ll continue it until it’s not fun anymore,” Hoppe said. “Hopefully that will never happen. We always get excited every year, thinking about what we can do that’s new and different.”


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