Market has always been the place to go to get just-harvested vegetables and homemade baked goods.

Now it's also a destination for fresh, local art.

Last summer, regular shoppers at Eastern Market, 308 E. King St., grew accustomed to seeing pottery with their pot pie and watercolors next to watermelons.

That's because a small group of independent artists that call themselves Lancaster Indie Arts, asked the folks at Eastern Market if they could set up shop with the local vendors.

The answer was yes.

Debbie Serdy, a fashion and accessories designer, was one of them.

"A community market that happens on a regular basis allows a smaller business to have a sort of retail space," Serdy says. "It's kind of like Central Market for artists."

The merging was so successful, that Serdy inadvertently came up with an idea which has since taken on a life of its own.

After the market closed for the season leaving the artists with no outlet, Serdy almost offhandedly commented that it would be great if they could use the market themselves, since it was getting close to Christmas and the best time of year for any small retail establishment.

The result is this weekend's "Winter Wonderland" community arts market offering both the casual visitor and the connoisseur opportunities to shop for that hard-to-buy-for person on their list.

Lancaster Indie Arts joined forces with Creative House of Lancaster to produce the show, which premiered the Saturday after Thanksgiving and returns this Saturday for its final appearance.

"We knew it was going to be a big task because our group is only eight people. I thought of Anne Kirby (from Creative House), so we joined with them to put it together.

"It's all about the community working together for this," she says. "Thank you to Tabor Community Services (which owns the market building), and thank you to East King Street Improvement District (which runs the building.) It wouldn't have happened without them."

More than 50 area artists will display and sell their works, which include jewelry, photography, clothing, gourd art, stained glass, handmade cards, body products, children's ware and much more.

"From kids to grandparents and in all price ranges, too. There's definitely something for everybody," says Serdy.

In addition to the art, a variety of live music will fill the space all day long. Those donating their talents to help support the arts in Lancaster are Anthony Kirby and the Throwbacks, performing rock and blues; DRBE, alternative folk; Chris Scheler, alternative rock; and Lonesome Stragglers, Appalachian fiddle tunes.

Visitors can also purchase local and ethnic food, as well as gourmet coffee.

The turnout at the first community arts market in November was substantial, according to Serdy. And they're looking for an even bigger affair this time around.

"A lot of the people who came last time said they'd come back and bring their friends," she says.

For the members of Lancaster Indie Arts, the community arts market is another way of getting their work out to the public, Serdy says.

"The independent artist works by herself. You're in a studio by yourself, on the Internet by yourself ... Sometimes you can get a little goofy."

By joining together, the group learns from each other and accomplishes goals none could do easily on his or her own.

Many independent artists, including Serdy, do a lot of business via the Internet, often using the Website ETSY.com to set up stores.

"But it's also great to have that person-to-person contact," Serdy says. "You need that balance."

CONTACT US: kdaminger@LNPnews.com or 481-6015

Community Arts Market
Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free
Eastern Market, 308 E. King St.
www.lancasterindiearts.com or www.thechl.org