Second ‘East Portland Art Bazaar’ a success

If you missed it, see all the creative works on display that were for sale at this unique outer East Portland marketplace …

In the Mill Park neighborhood, shoppers meet artists at the 2nd Annual East Portland Art Bazaar.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

An event started in December of 2024, called the “Winter Arts and Crafts Market” – held at the East Portland Community Center (EPCC), next to Floyd Light Middle School – returned this year on Saturday, December 6, now renamed as the 2nd Annual East Portland Art Bazaar.

[To read our story, and view the video, of their first one, CLICK HERE.]

For six hours this past December 6th, the Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) EPCC gymnasium was turned into an artists’ marketplace, offering everything from drawings, paintings, and prints, to wood carvings, succulents, soaps, and other craft items.

The Art Bazaar organizer, PP&R EPCC Recreation Leader James Clarke, says he enjoys seeing the “community building” aspect at this assembly.

“I took over this event from EPCC Recreation Leader Maggie Finley, who started it,” this year’s organizer, PP&R EPCC Recreation Leader James Clarke said.

“Building on the success last year, we’re again providing artists the opportunity to display and sell their creative artwork and crafts to the public,” Clarke told East Portland News.

Author and publisher Alyson Bowen shows one of the works produced by her company, Borderline Press.

Some 35 vendors, a few more than last year, set up displays on tables set up around the perimeter of the room.

There was an easy flow of shoppers and browsers circulating throughout the artist/merchants.

Katie Beaver and Isa Campos showing and selling their creative knitting and jewelry.

“In addition to helping our local artists market their creations, a bazaar like this helps create a greater sense of community,” Clarke observed. “With a greater feeling of community comes more kindness, more understanding, more forgiveness, and less negativity. I think abstraction is one of the biggest killers in the modern era.

“It’s great to see these people here today, interacting face-to-face.”

Into the afternoon, artists and visitors meet, talk, buy and sell.

What’s happening at the East Portland Community Center – which includes the year-around East Portland Indoor Pool – this week? CLICK HERE to see their PP&R webpage!

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