Photography: Mike Dunne

An evening for picking up creative gifts and seeing friends.

Olivia Costa (‘23) was selling jewelry she fashioned with pieces of Murano glass that she had picked up on a trip to Venice. Rising senior Jada Coplin, alongside her mom-slash-sales-rep Celeste Payne, marketed T-shirts with her eye-catching periwinkle-on-white design that exhorted people to “BURST OUT OF YOUR SHELL.” Newly minted alum Ethan “Eebee” Donaldson (‘24) kicked it with chunky men’s rings and unisex denim fashion.

It was Night Market at the Station last Friday, July 12, and attendees were having fun both browsing and purchasing. MassArt Provost Brenda Molife was one of them. “I really love that the Night Market provides a venue for MassArt alumni and students to be able to showcase their work,” she says. “I’m always able to find a couple of gifts for friends and something for myself! This time was no exception, I purchased several beautiful bookmarks and handmade journals.”

But Night Market didn’t just showcase great, one-of-kind pieces that would make well-appreciated gifts – including for oneself. It was also a relaxed evening of fun, friends, and family. For instance, to keep handmade paper sold by Olivia Lynn (‘22) from being blown away by the breeze, her friend, rising junior and glass major Chloe Jones, crafted arresting glass paperweights with swirls of pastels. The two, who welcomed visitors together, have known each other since attending the same middle school in Connecticut.

A mash-up of zines and RISO prints were hawked by four MassArt pals who shared a group booth: rising senior Bianca Lobodin, Maverick O’Meara (‘23), Emmy Kelly (‘24), and Ava Pomilla (‘23). And Jasmine Gonzalez’s family – father, stepmother, siblings, auntie, and others – traveled two and a half hours to enter her interactive Cucina del Amor (Kitchen of Love), where children played and more than a few Night Market attendees posed for photos. How could you not? The vibrant pinks and greens she used to color her kitchen cabinets and appliances were hard to pass up, as were the sliced bread and other foods that she made in the 3D FabLab. 

Taking a break from booth hopping, some visitors enjoyed watching adorable dogs frolic right on the grounds in a pop-up dog park, replete with pool and fountain; the happy pets could (and did) enjoy interludes of cooling off in the water before resuming their games of tag and other canine shenanigans.

Then it was back to browsing and shopping. Jess Baer (’07) sold beautiful ceramic ware such as 3D-printed bowls that she worked on with her husband, Zach Hastings (also ‘07). “He was in ID, so we collaborate on everything together,” says the ceramics artist. Tori Pearson (‘23) showcased handmade journals with truly dazzling, often mesmerizing, covers.

It was a terrific evening where art intersected with both commerce and good feelings–and many more artist offerings than could be mentioned here. If you missed out on it, you can catch the next two MassArt Night Markets on September 6 and October 4.