The Falmouth ArtMarket takes place on Tuesday, August 1, from noon to 6 PM, with live music, a Meet the Author booth, over 25 creative artists, and ice cream from Sea Scoops. The ArtMarket continues every Tuesday throughout the summer at Falmouth Marine Park, 180 Scranton Avenue.
The Harper and The Minstrel will perform from 3 to 5 PM. The duo is the husband-and-wife team of Jay and Abby Michaels, passionate performers of music from the past, sung and played on a wide variety of diverse musical instruments, including the Electric Harp, Celtic folk harp, bowed psaltery, recorders, Irish wooden flute, penny whistles, mountain dulcimer, hammered dulcimer, Viola da Gamba and guitar. They sing and play beautiful love songs, jigs, reels, and dances, medieval, Renaissance, Celtic and more.
The featured author is Linda Maria Steele, adjunct faculty at Dean College. She is a freelance writer and the author of Finding the Writer Within, Tending the Marsh and Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen. She lives in West Falmouth.
The ArtMarket is organized by Jane Parhiala. A former member and chair of the Falmouth Cultural Council, she feels strongly that the mission of the ArtMarket is not only to offer an entertaining afternoon for Falmouth residents and visitors, but to support the arts.
Vendor fees are kept low to encourage aspiring crafters, as well as professional artists, to participate. Live music adds to the appeal of the ArtMarket and provide income to local musicians. It is also important to Parhiala that the proceeds of the ArtMarket support the Falmouth Cultural Council’s grant program.
The Cultural Council also receives funds from the Mass Cultural Council and the Town of Falmouth. Funds support grants in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences. The FY24 grant cycle begins September 1. For more information, visit falmouthculturalcouncil.org.
Parhiala is a weaver, creating woven runners, wall hangings, towels, pillows, bags, cloth, and peace flags. The yarns are soft, often handspun, and the colors are subtle hues of secondary and tertiary colors—soft purples, lavenders, greens, golds, and orange, as well as natural and neutral shades of yarn.
“I love the colors of the threads and the textures. I love putting colors together; the harmony gives me joy,” said Parhiala. “I also love the natural shades of wool, the greys and whites. I like beauty, coordinating colors, and making beautiful things.”
Parhiala took up weaving after retirement. “It’s the perfect thing for me,” she said. “This is my life—textiles, colors, and textures. And I love it.”
Parhiala is also the author of “Reckless at the Border,” a dual memoir written by her and her ex-husband about their lives together. From different cultures, they share a story of travel, traditions, dreams and deceptions.
For a full list of artisans, musicians, and authors, visit Falmouthartmarket.com.
Notes on The Arts 