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.