ABOVE: Creators are set up for the first Imagine Martin Art Mart of the season on Thursday evening at West 1st Street near downtown Fairmont. Imagine Martin Art Marts will be held on Thursdays, June 18, July 16, and Aug. 6.

FAIRMONT — The Imagine Martin Art Mart returned for its second year on West 1st Street in Fairmont on Thursday.

Attractions and activities at Art Mart include more than 40 local creators and vendors offering fine art, artisan and handcrafted products, wearable products, jewelry, cottage food and more, live music and entertainment, a petting zoo, food trucks and the addition of the Imagine Martin Community Information Hub and the newly-opened studio, The Hive, operating during the Art Mart.

“We are very excited about this season,” said Imagine Martin Chairman Jeff Rouse. “We want everyone to come enjoy themselves.”

This year, there will be four Art Marts held monthly from 5 to 8 p.m. The first was on May 21 and the rest are on June 18, July 16 and Aug. 6. Last year, Imagine Martin held nine Art Marts total, on an every-other-Thursday basis.

“We are looking at not necessarily slimming it down, but condensing them. It will be four larger events as opposed to nine small ones. So we are looking forward to bigger, better, exciting things going on on West 1st Street,” said Imagine Martin Intern, Scheckre Wheeler.

Throughout the Art Mart festivities, Imagine Martin hopes to foster an inclusive environment for both the creators and visitors.

“Art is really important to strengthening communities like ours, especially, and so I think the Art Mart really helps highlight those artists and allows our community to be aware of who those creators are and help support them in that way. And it helps establish that line of communication, not just between the community and the artists, but the artists and each other. I think it’s really helpful in just making people aware of what exists and creating that communication,” Wheeler said.

For additional information about Imagine Martin and the Art Mart, visit imaginemartin.com or contact info@imaginemartin.com.

“Art is just as much for the viewer and consumer as it is for the artist,” Wheeler said. “Art is a manifestation of culture and community and connection. And I think the art mart is a really great way of creating a physical manifestation, like a significantly more physical manifestation of that celebration.”