Arts for Grabs
By: Joyce
Art for Grabs held its second bazaar over the first weekend of May at Central Market Annexe. Its core selling point was to get art out to the masses be it paintings, photography, drawings, hand-sewn dolls, T-shirts, mini sculptures, or music; for RM100 and under. With a point to prove that art didn’t have to be for the elitist nor expensive, people were thus encouraged to take home a masterpiece of their own for an affordable price.
Knowing full well there would be handmade knick knacks that could spruce an outfit up, I mustered the shopping enthusiasm to make my way there on Saturday the 3rd.
Cassettee had hand-stitched flower brooches of felt and buttons, painted t-shirts and cute (to its true ‘ugly but adorable’) soft toys for sale.
A macho male friend who accompanied me to the bazaar took an instant liking for a soft toy that was a cross between a dog and a hippo. This 30-year-old friend of mine took a mere five seconds to decide that the dog/hippo was going home with him and promptly paid RM50 for it. Which was fine by me because then I could scour around the bazaar while he entertained himself with the dog/hippo/thing.
Unisex T-shirts for RM35, female tanks for RM25
Take Me, who was also present at Bijou Bazaar, were there selling their plastic and handsewn felt pendants.
Saya Sukalah was selling very simple pendants for RM10.
They had more interesting pendants for RM15, which looked like tiny tile samples stuck on wooden board. Someone proclaimed that it was ridiculous to simply stick tiles on wood and call it art. I diplomatically replied that everyone could call it what they will.
I spent a while at Hugo Garden’s stall that had a wide array of colours, patterns, and materials; that weren’t selling for irrational prices.
I think Take Me has a contender in terms of price war. Hugo Garden’s plastic bead art was going at RM3 a brooch!
Next to them was a girl selling hand-made cloth brooches for RM5 each. See what I mean about garnering items to spruce up an outfit? A picture of nine brooches was snapped.
And then there were six. (When I’d left)
Items totally unrelated to fashion but adding colour to where the accessories and clothes were sold, nonetheless.
Hand-painted plaster pussy cats for RM8.
Handmade toys for RM10.
And the coolest of them all… lights made out of recycled plastic bottles going for RM100. I almost bought them if not for the fact that my room is overflowing with clothes and shoes already. Recyclable lights take a backseat, sorry.
