LYNN — Lynn rose up to its reputation as the ‘City of Firsts’ this weekend as it premiered its own version of the global cultural movement known as “Fair Saturday.”
First introduced in Spain, Fair Saturday is held on the last Saturday of November for participating cities. The aim is to give people incentive to spend locally and highlight the essential role art and culture play in a community’s development.
Massachusetts is the first state in the nation to try out the idea, with Quincy already having rolled out its own adaptation of Fair Saturday last year. Not to be beaten, Lynn felt out the concept this weekend at four local businesses.
Carolyn Cole, director of the Lynn Downtown Cultural District, said she jumped at the chance to involve Lynn in what she calls “a counter to Black Friday.” She says the fact that Fair Saturday coincided with Small Business Saturday only added to what she wants Lynn’s participation in the movement to highlight: that the city’s community is enriched by its abundance of small businesses and artists.
“Small Business Saturday is about supporting your local businesses, and Fair Saturday is about supporting local causes and initiatives that are important to you,” she said. “Anything is possible through arts and culture. That was sort of the perfect pairing.”
The idea is simple. For a couple hours, a small business provides local artists with the space to produce their art. Proceeds made during this time are donated to a cause of the artist’s choice.
Businesses and artists chosen for this year’s lineup include Land of a Thousand Hills Cafe, which partnered with live painter Gaby Marshall; Uncommon Feasts, partnered with art therapist Christine Connolly; Durum Pasta with live painter Emmanuelle Le Gal; and Nightshade Noodle Bar with mural artist Mike Grimaldi.
At Uncommon Feasts, creative guest Christine Connolly set up space at a table for customers to make mandalas, which she says are part of an exercise in stress management, to raise awareness for mental health.
At Land of a Thousand Hills, Gaby Marshall sat quietly in the corner as she painted a portrait of her partner, Rathanak Pres, while customers casually looked on. Proceeds made during her time block were donated to the Haven Project, a program run in conjunction with the coffee shop that provides job training to young adults living in unstable conditions.
Fredy Hincapie, social enterprise manager at Land of a Thousand Hills, said he was excited when he was presented with the chance to involve the cafe with such a locally-centered project. To him, the importance of the event was less about raising money than it was about building a relationship with others in the community.
“It’s just about having (Gaby) here and letting people know, ‘hey, meet this artist and come in to support a good cause.’ That’s enough for us,” Hincapie said. “I don’t expect hundreds of people coming in. It’s just the thought and the collaboration between (the business and artist).
“I love the collaboration,” he said. “Just having somebody in here to support our cause and vice-versa. For me, that says enough.”
