orks out of her home studio in the Gastown area of Vancouver, B.C. cl4/RE A. WILSON PHOTO

ilderness. Mason will be selling her bone creations at the East Van-based Weirdos Holiday Market this
DA MASON PHOTO

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aserve the oddities in life

An art piece featuring a taxidermied mouse, created by Heather Bennett. HE4THER BENNETT PHOTO

Weirdos Holiday Market:
from creepy to curious

Vendors find a place for their unique and unusual wares in East

Vancouver during holiday season

he fifth-annual Weirdos Holiday Market
is coming up this Christmas season in
Vancouver for those looking for items
that fall outside of the mainstream art scene.
Started by Rachel Zottenberg, the market
offers vendors and visitors a chance to admire
works ranging from taxidermy to built bones.
This gathering lets individuals who work
outside normal artistic paradigms to come
together. For vendors, it offers the opportunity
to learn about one another in an accepting envi-
ronment. One of the main values of the market is
to ensure labeling and language is representative
of each artist featured.
“The word ‘weirdo’ kind of liberated every-
body,” Zottenberg said. “It doesn't have a lot of

deeper layers, it doesn't have a lot of historical
context.”

Yolanda Mason, an artist specializing in the
use of bones, has been a vendor in the market
since it first started out. For her, the market
represents a source of support.

“It's sort of like it's acommunity,” said Mason.
“And I think it's given us a little bit more confi-
dence all together.”

For two weeks this December, artists will be
able to pursue their passion projects while also
making a living. For Mason, it’s refreshing to be
in an environment with others who care.