Our talented and creative vendors are gearing up to head down to NOLA for the 2015 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola in less than 30 days. While some are joining us for the first time, we have esteemed artists who’ve been with us for over a decade. Each year, thousands of new customers become fans of their work and their brand. The ESSENCE Festival offers the unique opportunity to expose your best work to the best people in the nation—our ESSENCE readers.
If you haven’t already seen his work on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, you may have noticed it in Tyler Perry’s Diary of a Mad Black Woman home or in the presence of our very own Commander in Chief. Get to know 12-year ESSENCE Festival veteran, Lydell Martin, in this weeks’ ‘Vendor Spotlight.’
LYDELL MARTIN: Visual Artist, Owner of Atlanta-based “Faces With Vaces Art Studio” [www.lydellmartin.com]
ESSENCE: After 12 years, what has been your fondest memory while on the festival grounds?
One of my fondest memories is when J. Anthony Brown came into my booth and ushered others into the booth to witness my craft, he introduced me as if he were a host of the festival, I thought that was cool.
ESSENCE: Tell us about your business.
The name of my business is VASES WITH FACES ART STUDIO. We are based in Atlanta, Georgia and we’ve been in business since 1993. My wife and I started our business in a small flea market in Atlanta, but with faith, our business has won awards and my work was also presented to president Barack Obama as a gift by THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BLACK MAYORS.
ESSENCE: What quote or manta do you live by?
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
ESSENCE: What is the ESSENCE of your business? Why should ESSENCE FEST fans visit your exhibit?
Being able to connect with people and to share my story of success and failures. I remember one year at ESSENCE Festival a customer stood at the entrance of my booth and a tear ran down her face, my wife asked was everything OK and she said, “God is so good, this is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” At that moment I realize how important Essence is to our community, I needed that moment in my life as well.
ESSENCE: Please describe your Artistic technique and process for creating the work that will be on exhibit in The Shops at ESSENCE.
This year I will be presenting my mosaic sculptures and crystal embellished “DIVAS”. My mosaic sculptures are sculpted out of wood and tiled with mirrors and Australian Crystals… As a artist/designer I spend a lot of time studying different ways and methods to make one of a kind pieces, each year I want to bring something different, I enjoy hearing people say how excited they are to come by my booth to see what’s new. I am proud to say I’m a part of ESSENCE Festival.
Make sure you visit Lydell and all of our talented artists at the Shops at ESSENCE. Tickets to the 2015 ESSENCE Festival are on sale now!