As a part of the Artist Spotlight series, Montgomery Community Media’s Education and Community Engagement team visited BlackRock Center for the Arts’ Artisan Market in Germantown in June.
BlackRock Center is a venue for visual arts and performances in Montgomery County. Visitors can see galleries, exhibitions, live performances and take art classes.
The Artisan Market is held on the second Saturday of every month. Artists share and sell their work while visitors can purchase artwork or simply observe!
Here are the artists MCM spoke with:
Melonie Dunston, ‘MeloGravity and Family Customs’
MeloGravity and Family Customs is a health and wellness boutique owned by Melonie Dunston and her family.
“We pretty much have something for everyone,” Dunston said.
Dunston used to be a rehab nurse and knew she enjoyed working with her hands, so she has since begun creating jewelry and collecting books.
Dunston shared that her husband, family, and community inspire her artwork.
“I love BlackRock. This is now the fourth time we have been here with my family, and it is always a great experience. We always meet the kindest people,” she said.
Dunston added that the BlackRock Market is helpful for networking, and that it is extremely important to her because she i social media. It is a space to allow artists to inspire each other.
“Just like other artists put a spotlight on me, I want to put a spotlight on them,” Dunston said.
Find MeloGravity and Family Customs on Instagram @MeloGravity8
Kyra Frisby, ‘Kyra’s Kreations’
Kyra Frisby, owner of Kyra’s Kreations, makes products with semi-precious stones, natural metals, and fibers. She is a math and science teacher, which is why she loves to create with these materials.
Frisby creates various crochet products such as hats, animals and bags.
“I love the community here in Montgomery County,” Frisby said.
This was her second time at the BlackRock Artisan Market and mentioned that both the other artists and the visiting people are incredibly supportive.
Learn more about Kyra’s Kreations at www.kyracrawford.com
Hassti Hamidi, ‘Hassti’s Lab’
Hassti Hamidi is the owner of Hassti’s Lab, a lip gloss company inspired by Persian culture and heritage.
Hamidi created her glosses using household ingredients. The goal is to hydrate while maintaining a glossy finish. She started in November 2022 with a rosewater gloss and has since grown since to use vitamin E oil, grapeseed oil and castor oil.
One thing Hamidi loves sharing with her customers and other artists is the cultural meaning of her business name. “Lab” in Farsi means lips. “Hassti’s Lab” has a dual meaning of both Hassti’s lips in Farsi and Hassti’s laboratory in English.
This was Hamidi’s third market at BlackRock but she plans to keep coming back all summer.
“I love being here at BlackRock, the people are always so kind, so genuine, and always asking questions about my business,” Hamidi said.
Hassti’s Lab is on Instagram at @hasstis.lab
Haley Holden, ‘Holden a Note’
Holden a Note is a clay polymer earring business owned and created by Haley Holden. Holden, a former elementary school music teacher, began crafting with polymer clay to be creative after work without using her voice
Holden hosts a podcast called ‘The Polymer Clay Podcast,’ where she discusses techniques, tools, and how to create with polymer clay. The podcast can be found on both Spotify and Apple Music.
Holden has been running her business for about two years and has been at the BlackRock Center Artisan Market three times.
“I love the community of all the other artists here,” Holden said, sharing that she has met many people and stayed in contact with them.
Find Holden a Note at www.holdenanote.com or on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok @holdenanote
Danny Queen, poet, musician, astrologer
Danny Queen is a poet, musician, and astrologer. He shared with MCM his new book “Astrological Love Poems: Love in Full Circle,” which is a collection of astrological love poems.
Queen worked on this book for 23 years and just completed it this June. He has written 11 other books, including tributes and love poems.
Queen’s work can be found at www.poetdannyqueen.org or on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @poetdannyqueen
Jill Rabbino, ‘Rabbino Creations’
Jill Rabbino and her daughter, Anna, are the makers of Rabbino Creations. Jill creates multimedia collages on canvas, and Anna makes earrings.
MCM got to speak to Jill at the artisan market about her multimedia collages. The main theme in each one is joy, adventure, fun and meditation. Each layer is a different type of meditation on color and craft. Jill says her creations allow her to release, and she wants to share joy and calmness through her art.
Jill is a lifelong crafter, but only recently started selling her work.
“With each piece, I am thinking about the homes of the people it will land in,” she said.
This was Jill’s second Artisan Market and she really admires the supportive community.
“Everybody is interested in what everybody is creating,” she shared.
Rabbino Creations can be found on Etsy at RabbinoCreations and on Instagram @rabbinocreations
Denise Williams, ‘D’BohoMama’
Denise Williams is the owner is D’BohoMama, a dried florals and paper craft business. Williams creates greeting cards, stationary, and fiber arts such as macrame.
Williams is a mom of three, so she describes herself as a “night owl,” since she makes most of her crafts at night while her children are asleep. Her strategy is to hyperfocus and make sure all her products are exactly right as many are gifts.
MCM spoke to Williams during her third time at the Artisan Market.
“All the artists at the market do such different things that there is no competition,” Williams said, “they are all just there for each other.”
Look at Williams’ work at www.dbohomama.com and on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @dbohomama
Across the board, artists said the BlackRock Artisan Market is a wonderful place to not only sell their work, but to make connections with other artists.
Seeing local art, meeting new people, and spending time with family make for the perfect Saturday.
Artists can apply to table at the Artisan Market here, and visitors can learn more here.
Watch more of MCM at the BlackRock Center Artisan Market on our YouTube channel and keep an eye on our social media for clips!
