Elk’s Eye Art Market partner learned quilting and crocheting from her grandmother
ZANESVILLE – She’s an MBA with an eye for art.
“I was a pretty typical kid,” recalled Carol Bridwell. “I loved to be outside, and I liked making things. One of my favorite things was spending time with my grandparents. My grandmother was a quilter and crocheter and I was fascinated by the process. She taught me how to crochet when I was very young, and I still love making intricate patterns. My great-grandfather made braided rugs from wool, and I liked to watch his process. I knew these things would be a part of my life but didn’t see them as an end goal.
“As an adult,” she continued, “I created many things through sewing and crochet and similar activities for my home and family. Eventually I got into weaving, which quickly became my favorite form of expression. I’ve been weaving now for 40 years.”
Once she retired she began entering her pieces into arts and craft shows. While she enjoyed the shows and meeting people, over time it became difficult to consistently sell her creations.
“It’s time consuming to set up and tear down for shows, weather you can have a significant impact on audience, and you’re often putting your work at risk of damage. Many times, people like what they see but they are not ready to buy yet. When they are ready, they often can’t find you again for a variety of reasons. This is what led me to the idea of a brick and mortar art market.”
Today, Bridwell is the managing partner at Elk’s Eye Art Market.
“I’m at the market every business day,” she said. “In addition to managing sales as they occur, I receive the artists’ work to be shown and sold, get it into inventory and set it up for display. Depending on what it might be, I might build displays for it. I do the inventory management and bookkeeping and all other necessary duties.”
The name Elk’s Eye Art Market, by the way, is a nod to the former purpose of the building.
“It was built solely to be the Elks Lodge,” Bridwell explained. “And it’s a reference to Elk’s Eye, commonly thought to be the Indian name for Muskingum.”
Bridwell grew up just outside of Zanesville, graduated from Zanesville High School in 1972, then Ohio University Zanesville with an undergrad degree and master’s in business administration. She spent 36 years at Armco/AK Steel, ultimately in operations management positions. But she never lost her passion for art.
“I began looking for a location to put an art market that could carry the work of a variety of artists,” she said. “I wanted a location that had character itself and a sense of history in the community, a connection. After a couple of options that didn’t pan out, I bought the former Elks Lodge in downtown Zanesville at sheriff’s sale. I spent the next two years just getting the building back into operation and renovating the main floor into the art market. We opened the art market in July 2023. When I say we, I mean my two daughters and I. They’re my partners in this venture.”
Theresa Dolen is an artist at the market with her Dragonfly pottery.
“When Carol opened the Elk’s Eyes Art Market, I was one of the lucky ones she asked to participate in it,” said Dolen. “She’s probably one of the hardest working women I’ve ever had the luck of working with. She has worked and continues to work at bring art to Downtown Zanesville. She’s very knowledgeable and honest about how to run her market. It’s been a pleasure to work with her and her girls the last two years that I’ve been there.”
“I love what I do,” responded Bridwell. “Giving 31 artists, including me, a place to show and sell their work, having art available several days a week, every week, and relishing the opportunity to bring this awesome building back to a beautiful, useful purpose, I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
Elk’s Eye Art Market is located at 22 S. Fourth St in Zanesville.
Aces of Trades is a weekly series focusing on people and their jobs – whether they’re unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at trnews@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com.
