Artists, spectators and cocktail-curious patrons filtered their way through the East Village Art Market, the first of its kind hosted at The Rail Yard, a self-described “urban beer garden” next to railroad tracks in east Little Rock.

Organizer Brittany Langston has worked on other markets before and said her vision consists of building a community around “not only friendships, but it’s really important to bring exposure to [the vendors] and their art, and make a space where it can be bought.”

Langston’s markets are unique from the bustling vintage clothing scene that cropped up post-pandemic. Because she focuses mainly on makers and artists, Langston only accepts three to four clothing vendors per market.

Mostly, she wants the artists to have a dedicated space to showcase and sell their work.

On the patio behind The Rail Yard, a colorful food truck served street tacos. Artists lined the patio, porch and even the inside of the restaurant. 

The entrance to the patio was flanked by a large pink horse trailer, decorated with handcrafted bouquets and the occasional bumblebee buzzing past your ear.

Britt Tubbs runs Emmylou’s Flower Bar and said that other than her husband helping her haul the trailer to markets, she is a “one-woman show.”

“I’ve been in floral design for about eight years and actually worked on a flower truck years back, and then I ended up moving back down to the South where I wanted to bring that here, but a little bit more southern — so I did the horse trailer,” she said.

Tubbs said the trailer is fully remodeled and when she originally got it, “it was all black and gross, horse poop everywhere.” 

The trailer’s now glossy pink appearance acts as a draw for her bouquets, which she says are part homegrown and part locally sourced.

“I source them from a local wholesaler and I also grow some. I’m in the middle of starting a homestead and a micro-flower farm, so I do grow some flowers,” Tubbs said. “I’m hoping in the next couple of years to grow all of them. But you know, sometimes it’s hard to do because some flowers aren’t in season anymore, so I have to source from sellers.”

She currently grows sunflowers and zinnias and is prepping her land for next growing season.

“I just like to be able to give people luxury bouquets for a price that won’t break their bank,” she said.

Keeping the pink theme, artist Kristin Mccaslin displayed whimsical creations with neon colors and edible elements. Prominently, canvases with black and white photographs of Elvis Presley, Kurt Cobain and Pablo Escobar’s famous mug shots were accompanied by a pink background and cupcake sprinkles, sealed in place by resin. 

Mccaslin said she uses a lot of mixed media: “I use real sprinkles, glitter, resin, acrylic paints, paper, really just whatever.”

“I thought the mug shots would be cool, just because it’s a fun, playful take on something that was probably dark in their lives. I’m like oh — pink and candy.”

Transformed tees were part of the market too, through artist Robin Miller’s brand Revibes x Robin. 

UCA senior Kaylee Walsh was selling her work inspired by her double major in sociology and art.

“I do social work. I work at Haven; it’s a trauma center for young girls in foster care. I’m trying to specialize in women and children that are affected by domestic violence,” she said. 

Walsh’s art is mostly oil pastels and felt. It ranges from serious to funny to introspective.

“I’m really big on community. I think sociology and art go hand in hand,” she said. “I just started art a year ago at UCA. I changed my major junior year, but I’ve been doing sociology since the beginning.”

Patrons sipping the event’s signature cocktail — a hot honey peach margarita — wandered through the booths to the patio, where Dani Butler, owner of Sad Girl Craft Co., was selling custom resin pet tags, earrings and key chains.

Butler said that making art helps her manage her mental health and after a bad spell, she found herself up to her ears in her resin-based products, so she tried markets. Only her third so far, Butler said it’s been a learning experience. At the last market she sold at, her sun-sensitive UV resin trays got squishy from the heat. 

Now, under a shaded tent, Butler said she’s excited for the October market and hopes to see many Halloween costumes.

To keep up with East Village Art Market, apply to be a vendor or plan your next trip visit eastvillageartmarket.square.site/ or follow them on Instagram @eastvillage_artmarket.