With a plethora of food, antiques and goods solely produced in South Carolina, the weekly Soda City Market is a staple of Columbia’s culture and community. The market provides artisans and artists with a space to sell their creations every Saturday and a platform to promote their creativity and share their voices.
Many artists are able to share handmade works ranging from wearable vintage-inspired jewelry at Cosmic Flower to framed miniature art pieces at Bee Bottom Art.
Kimber Kirton, the owner and artist behind Cosmic Flower, said the Soda City Market provides artists with a unique platform to reach the regional community.
“It's been an incredible link to the community. I don't know any other opportunity to see the customers on a weekly basis. They get to know you, and they come back as repeat customers," Kirton said. "They want to know your story… and as a handmade artist, you can't beat that."
The owner and artist of Bee Bottom Art, Stacey Black, said she shares similar experiences with the patrons of Soda City Market.
Local singer-songwriter Sadie Belle performs at the Soda City Market on July 6, 2024. Musicians and vendors lined the street on Saturday to share their creations and voices.
“Soda City has been great. I've been here since 2020, and I do it most weekends. There's a constant flow of patrons,” Black said. “It's been really good, and I've met so many nice people, other vendors and customers who recognize me and come back.”
Soda City Market, as a platform for artists, extends to all mediums and art forms. Musicians often line the blocks of Main Street, performing for the crowds of marketgoers.
Local singer and songwriter Sadie Belle said the experience at the market has been more than rewarding.
“The connections have been great. I've had some people come out and I've gotten gigs this way and some private events. You get to meet awesome people, and I get to pet animals. I think that's my favorite part,” Belle said. “I've always enjoyed myself doing it. It makes for a great time and makes for extra money on the side so that's always nice.”
Each artist at the Soda City Market has a story about how they found inspiration for their craft. Belle said that her journey with music wasn't her first step after graduating high school.
"I love writing music and I love singing, but after I graduated high school, I was like, 'I kind of need to find a real job now.' I did that for a little bit, but I realized really quickly music is like the one thing that I'm good at. I stuck with it, and now this is my number one gig, and if I have time, come out here (Soda City Market)," Belle said.
Black and Kirton said sharing their stories and inspirations with the world can be scary, but they believe it is an integral part of their respective art forms.
“I suffer with severe anxiety. So painting is very calming for me, and painting things that make people smile or feel comforted,” Black said. “If you have the impulse to create art, do it and keep going because even if you think that it's strange or unusual, your people will find you and support you.”
Kirton said that pushing through the worries and being vulnerable helped her find connections with people.
“Absolutely, go for it. I know it's really hard to put yourself out there as an artist. It's scary to put your art out and not know how people will accept it. But it can be so rewarding,” Kirton said. “When people can connect with your art, whether it's silly earrings or painting or a poem or music, whatever it is, it really makes you feel like you're not so alone in the world.”