If you’ve ever gone to an artisan or craft fair, you’ve probably found some really neat and unique items. Every artist is diverse in their own ways and it’s cool to see what people make out of their own creativity. But one woman in Oregon pointed out craft shows aren’t what they used to be. Now, we’re seeing more and more reseller junk and even AI “goods” that don’t fit the bill.
“I want to see real, unique stuff people are making!! I’m tired of seeing the same useless junk everywhere I go,” says TikToker Binky. She’s been attending several fairs and festivals where she’s seen people “peddling the same, stupid junk” and can’t believe people have the nerve to come to an artisan market with “Amazon [expletive].” Those stands were always bad at fairs and art events, but I’ve noticed an uptick, too. It’s usually a bunch of cheap shirts with funny sayings and dad jokes.
“Why is it every time I go somewhere, there’s a dude peddling 3D dragons? 3D printed dragons. They’re always the same ones, too,” Binky continues. She noticed vendors will find a design online and “slap it onto a cup” or, even worse, steal someone’s art. It’s whatever they can quickly and cheaply print on a t-shirt.
Binky says flea markets are some of the worst places. She said it seems like they “all go through the same distributor” when they buy and resell items. In some cases, she said there could be “hundreds of vendors” literally all selling the same thing. In Binky’s eyes, they aren’t providing any value at an art show where people are supposed to, you know, sell art.
“The awful tumblers with the stretched out pixelated AI images send me,” said one commenter. Why waste money on an AI image that’s vaguely what you wanted?
Another commenter said, “Same thing is happening at antique stores. Starting to be filled with drop shipped garbage or a wood table from TJ Maxx someone painted with ‘distressed’ paint they’re selling for $300 as vintage.”
As somebody who is married to an artist, I’ve seen the struggle of trying to get people to realize investing in good art is worth it. Having AI spit out an image or buying someone’s stolen art stretched thin on a tumbler isn’t showing support to the artists who deserve it.
