Fernley Farmers Market is set to offer ‘Art in the Market’ in June

The 2015 Fernley Farmers Market will open Thursday, June 4, and will feature “Knots & Bolts” by Craig Johnson and “Glass with Class” by Brenda Retterer. The two have teamed up to combine Retterer’s talents with those of Johnson’s in creating a line of new and redesigned functional art.

The market’s theme in June is “Art in the Market,” as area artists and crafters, including Johnson and Retterer along with Stephen Emery and Earth Mother Herbals, will be on hand to talk with visitors and to display and sell their products.

Johnson descends from a line of carpenters and as a youngster he always thought he wouldn’t become one. He went into design and owned a graphic design business for 15 years before hearing the siren of saw blades and sanders.

Johnson’s eye for design comes into play with what he sees in the raw wood. The design brings out the best in the material and the end result is gallery-quality objects.

Explaining how he began Knots & Bolts Johnson said, “I started out giving the pieces to family for gifts at Christmas time and such.”

It was his son who finally told him, “Don’t give ’em away, sell ’em,” Johnson realized he was on to something and a new career was launched.

Most of his stock is from reclaimed old growth redwood or live edge where you can see where the bark has been originally growing next to the solid tree trunk.

Johnson says he considers the pieces sturdy and with enough strength.

“When I sell a table I know the kids can jump on it. It is durable. It’s manly and industrial, but can be dressed up by adding flowers and it works.”

The Fernley Farmers Market, which accepts EBT/SNAP benefits, offers fresh produce, including Certified Organic fruits and vegetables, and products handcrafted by local artists and vendors. It runs from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 13 in the Big R parking lot, 465 E. Main St.

The market is sponsored in part by the Fernley Convention and Tourism Authority Grant Funds. For more information, follow Fernley Farmers Market on Facebook, or email fernleyfarmersmarket@gmail.com, or call Market Manager Lisa Young at 775-287-2811.