San Mercado this Saturday

A new art show featuring locally created works by more than 40 area artists’ take on love, a fresh new display of quilts, live music and a variety of unique vendors are all on tap for the first San Mercado of the new year slated to take place this Saturday, Jan. 11 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. inside and outside the Price Center. 

“What’s Love Got to Do with It?” is the result of a community-wide call for art that produced a colorful and creative show featuring 78 original works in traditional media and subject matter as well as an eclectic mix of media, subjects and whimsical treatments in mixed media, assemblage, sculpture, fabric art and more. The works will hang throughout the Center through Feb. 22 and most of the works are available for purchase. A series of unique batik owls served as the starting point for a new series of quilts created by Bee Friends that hang in our stairwell gallery through February. The group also has a wonderful group quilt titled “All You Need is . . . Hearts” hanging in the 1910 Room.

New and returning vendors this month include artists, recyclers/up-cyclers, natural bath and beauty products, novelty fabric items, costume jewelry, fashion nails, makeup, housewares and more.

San Mercado is part of a standing line-up of free, family-friendly activities taking place downtown on the second Saturday of each month as part of the Downtown Association of San Marcos’ (DASM) Downtown Walkabout. Additional reoccurring events include the Farmer’s Market and special activities in downtown galleries, merchants and eateries. This month, the Farmer’s Market will feature live music till 1 p.m. and new art will also be hanging in 218 Co-Op Gallery and the new San Marcos Art Center – both just around the corner from the Price Center. Free Pedi Cabs sponsored by DASM will be available to shuttle between locations.

Admission to San Mercado is free and open to all. The monthly market is made possible in part through grant funds from the San Marcos Arts Commission.