Riverside Arts Market opens Second Season

[coredumped]

I'll post their response here (probably won't be until Monday). In the meantime, if any one knows the name or site of the shop, please let us know:)

[undergroundgourmet]

The British pie company from the market is from outside of Orlando. They also have a booth at the Fernandina Farmers market on Saturdays 9-1 . Try there.

[coredumped]

If anyone is interested, they wrote me back with the following:

You can find us every Sat at the Fernandina Beach Farmers Market up on Amelia Island. We also attend monthly markets in the Jax area-

1st Sat month Doctor's Village Market in Julington Creek on race track road

2nd Sat month 210 community market SR 210 in St Johns area

3rd Sat month Nocattee Farmers market off US 1

If it's not too far for you to go, we attend St Augustine on a Wed and Ormond Beach on a Thursday.

[floridaforester]

Did anyone else notice a significantly fewer number of vendors at yesterday's RAM?  It looked like the entire row nearest the bike valet was empty.  I really don't understand because yesterday was the first nice warm sunny day that the market has had and so many vendors were no-shows.  Seems odd to me.  I didn't get there until about 2pm, but there appeared to be many patrons still enjoying the day and spending their money.

[hanjin1]

Did anyone else notice a significantly fewer number of vendors at yesterday's RAM?  It looked like the entire row nearest the bike valet was empty.  I really don't understand because yesterday was the first nice warm sunny day that the market has had and so many vendors were no-shows.  Seems odd to me.  I didn't get there until about 2pm, but there appeared to be many patrons still enjoying the day and spending their money.

That's funny because I am a facebook friend with one of the vendors, well should i say former vendors. And she said that after 20 weeks of being a vendor that RAM contacted her and said that her work no longer met "the standards of creativity, execution and craftsmanship". As you can bet she was pretty upset. I wonder if this happened to other vendors? She also did say that a few days later that RAM said they had openings for new approved vendors.

[braeburn]

The guidelines in place seem to cater to "bigger" vendors. I have been wanting to participate in being one at RAM but am too afraid I will be excommunicated from the market 

[sheclown]

Did anyone else notice a significantly fewer number of vendors at yesterday's RAM?  It looked like the entire row nearest the bike valet was empty.  I really don't understand because yesterday was the first nice warm sunny day that the market has had and so many vendors were no-shows.  Seems odd to me.  I didn't get there until about 2pm, but there appeared to be many patrons still enjoying the day and spending their money.

That's funny because I am a facebook friend with one of the vendors, well should i say former vendors. And she said that after 20 weeks of being a vendor that RAM contacted her and said that her work no longer met "the standards of creativity, execution and craftsmanship". As you can bet she was pretty upset. I wonder if this happened to other vendors? She also did say that a few days later that RAM said they had openings for new approved vendors.

well, that hurts...

[9a is my backyard]

Did anyone else notice a significantly fewer number of vendors at yesterday's RAM?  It looked like the entire row nearest the bike valet was empty.  I really don't understand because yesterday was the first nice warm sunny day that the market has had and so many vendors were no-shows.  Seems odd to me.  I didn't get there until about 2pm, but there appeared to be many patrons still enjoying the day and spending their money.

That's funny because I am a facebook friend with one of the vendors, well should i say former vendors. And she said that after 20 weeks of being a vendor that RAM contacted her and said that her work no longer met "the standards of creativity, execution and craftsmanship". As you can bet she was pretty upset. I wonder if this happened to other vendors? She also did say that a few days later that RAM said they had openings for new approved vendors.

I partially overheard one of the vendors complaining about what sounded like the Market 'board.'  I couldn't make everything out, but this would seem to fit with what's posted here.  It was odd that there were significantly fewer vendors there.  I got there around 2 as well and thought maybe some had packed up already...

[urbanlibertarian]

From http://www.riversideartsmarket.com/FAQs.html#visualart

Does RAM review all products to be sold at RAM?
Yes, all products are reviewed during the application process by a peer group called the Arts Review Committee.  RAM Staff also does a second review on Market Days, visiting each vendor, and ensuring that RAM Guidelines are being followed and no unauthorized products are being sold.

[RiversideLoki]

Well that stinks, because I went specifically to get veggies and growers' alliance coffee. I got veggies, but no growers alliance coffee... I hope that's not why they weren't there.

[Joe]

^ It probably was. Their rules seem to prohibit any art or food that was packaged elsewhere for resale. They want the grower/artist/cook to be selling their own products.

I agree with some other comments that these rules seem very harsh, and it's a shame that they would actively drive away vendors. On the other hand, I am sympathetic with RAM. If they didn't actively police their vendors, it would turn into a flea market within weeks. Vendors would start selling little plastic trinkets made in China and packaged food products they bought wholesale.

Perhaps as time goes on, RAM will naturally develop a middle ground.

[undergroundgourmet]

Its not fair to vendors that follow the rules and have the proper permits. Example: there are 2 sellers of honey. One that has actual honey hives, the equipment to extract it and packages it himself. The other one buys honey in bulk wholesale and repackages it into household sizes and brings it to the market. Not fair to the guy who has to maintain and process, pay the permits, taxes etc.

[Dog Walker]

Bold Bean coffee has been there before.  They roast and package their coffee here in Jax.  Don't know why they weren't there on opening day, does anyone?  There was a Kenyan coffee seller there last year too.

[grimss]

Re. fewer vendors this past Saturday, you're right. From what I understand, this was a light week for a number of reasons, but the bulk of booth reservations really start in April.  Vendors choose which dates to attend based on their own schedules, so it's not something RAM is doing.  As for vendors who were approved last year, but not this year, I believe there was a concerted effort to limit the number of "bead stringers" (as one ARC person told me).

[hanjin1]

i understand about people resellin stuff that's already made and packaged, but this lady did her own work with making computer artwork with pictures. it is actually pretty neat and the only booth i remember like it. just weird that they would turn her artwork down, since she actually does it herself.