In case you haven't noticed, the Urban Air Market has taken over Lower Haight.
As we recounted earlier this week, the annual design fair hosts more than 60 booths on Haight from Fillmore to Pierce, each selling jewelry, clothes or other handmade goods.
The event is centered around independent, creative people making unique things—often in the time away from their day jobs. In that spirit, we've highlighted a couple artists to check out while you're passing through.
Right in front of Merch (629 Haight), check out Corey Chenault and his handpress. Chenault is a Lower Haight resident and the creator of Classic Impressions, a print and greeting card company.
Framed wall art by Chenault
Chenault picked up printmaking four years ago after seeing a live demonstration of the craft at another street fair not unlike Urban Air Market.
"I remember seeing these large, complex equipment create something so delicate and intricate—the whole process really inspired me," Chenault said.
Printmaking, once a hobby, is now Chenault's artist passion. When he is away from his full time job as a project manager, Chenault is making prints for Classic Impressions out of his friend's garage and selling them to Merch or buyers through his Etsy page (which he is currently updating).
Chenault at this handpress
Many of the San Francisco-themed greeting cards and framed wall art at Merch is from Chenault's print "studio." Chenault also designed Merch's current window display, which he will redesign next week.
This afternoon, Chenault will be holding live demonstrations with his letterpress. Passersby are welcome to stop by and pull their own impressions.
Hideo Yoshida, a longtime Castro resident and ceramics artist, will be holding a trunk show inside Cove (683 Haight). You'll find teacups, vases, bowls, plates—all made by hand out of Yoshida's studio on Noe Street. Although he is of Japanese descent, Yoshida, 73, was born and raised in the Bay Area and has spent the last 35 years in San Francisco. Yoshida describes his work as "functional" and "wabi-sabi", a Japanese aesthetic that embraces natural imperfections, roughness and asymmetry.
"I don't make anything insane, and I'm not interested in mass producing," said Yoshida. "I just make what interests me."
(photo via Hideo Yoshida)
Cove regularly carries Yoshida's work, but this afternoon Yoshida will be in-store to debut a selection of new items and discuss his inspiration and artistic process.
The Urban Air Market is free to attend and open until 6pm.
