To become a vendor at the Penticton Farmer’s Market, you are required to make, bake, or grow your product.
Creativity certainly abounds on the 100 block of Main St. every Saturday morning.
Just ask Maureen Walker.
“These are one-of-a-kind sculptures made out of recycled fabric for the most part, plus aluminum foil and wire. They are completely weather-proof, so they can go out in your garden,” offered Walker, who operates MJ’s Objets d’Art. ”Each one is individually designed and made, so there’s no two alike. And I do workshops, so I can teach you how to do it.”
Walker began making her fabric sculptures three years ago. The business has grown substantially since that time. In essence, she created a full time job for herself.
“I saw similar products at a Christmas market in Enderby. I was absolutely enamoured with it,” explained Walker. “I went to the gal’s place, I made one, and I’m now on probably 120 I’ve made in three years.
The building process is detailed. The finished product is truly a work of art.
“I start with a wire armature, and I use electrical wire. The muscle of it, or the shape or body is built up using aluminum foil, so you sculpt the foil onto it. Then it’s wrapped with strips of T-shirt cotton that’s dipped in liquid polymer. When it’s hardened, it’s completely weatherproof. Once you get to this stage, you dress it with the same process you dip the fabric in.”
It can take Walker up to six hours to complete one of her less-detailed sculptures, and in excess of 14 hours for the ballerina.
They range in price from $120 to $250 for the heron proudly standing at the front of the display.
She was asked where her inspiration comes from for the various sculptures.
“I think I have too many ideas roaming around in my head already,” she replied with a laugh. “I’ve got about 10 of them waiting to be built in my head. And there’s not enough days in the week. Plus, when I teach classes, and do the market, I don’t have that much time to sculpt.”
If you have an idea, and Walker has the time, she will sculpt whatever you want.
“Actually, the bright African lady is a commission piece waiting to be picked up. I just took another commission this morning similar to a piece I already have,” said Walker. “I did one for a foot doctor in Osoyoos. She showed me a sculpture made in Italy way back, it was a woman sitting on a stool and the foot doctor working on her feet. I said, sure.”
Walker’s business is multi-faceted. Along with selling her sculptures, Walker may slowly be eliminating her client base by hosting workshops.
There is a demand for both.
Her two upcoming workshops are full. There will be more in the future. Those dates can be found on her Facebook page.
“We start at 8:30 in the morning, and when they leave, they take their sculpture home with them. I’ve never had an unhappy person leave my workshop. I make sure they’re happy,” she said. “When you make something with your hands, and sure you can buy one, but when you make it, there’s a memory attached to that, and a feeling of pride and joy and accomplishment.
“Look at me. I’ve made over 100 and I still get that thrill when I finish one.”
Maureen Walker is adamant she would not have enjoyed the success she has without the Penticton Farmer’s Market.
“It’s crucial. This was supposed to be my retirement hobby. It’s become a full-time passion. The Farmer’s Market is where, not only do I sell, but I market my workshops. If I didn’t have the Farmer’s Market, it would be difficult for me to do this,” said Walker, who gets a thrill out of watching the reaction of market patrons. “I love the reaction when people just stand and stare. Their mouth eventually drops open, and they say, ‘These are fabulous’. My heart starts palpitating.
“It’s a god-given talent I’ve been blessed with and I love it when somebody acknowledges that.”
