Colorful artwork and creative handmade pieces filled the halls of the Cesar Chavez Student Center Art Gallery Dec. 5 for the kick off of the Makers Market Fair.

Local and independent artists gathered in hopes of promoting local community art and handmade crafts. The fair featured dozens of vendors and booths all comprised of artwork from SF State students and alumni.

“I like looking at the artwork not many people get a chance to look at,” said Jordan Shou, 20, a kinesiology major. “There’s a wide array and diverse mixture of artwork here.”

The two-day event offers students a chance to engage with the campus and local art community. Many on campus groups such as Photo Guild and Printmaking Guild set up booths to sell original work.

“We want to get our art out there,” said Devon Kearney, 21, a photo major and member of the Photo Guild. “It’s a small community and there are a lot of artists.”

The Photo Guild is an art group of students from the photo department who seek to expand their artwork from outside of the classroom, according to Kearney, who has been a member for a semester.

“(The fair) has been going well,” Kearney said. “There has been a lot of interest.”

The Printmaking Guild, another on-campus group, was featured at the fair. A variety of items such as tote bags, bookmarks and prints are on sale.

“All my friends are printmakers,” said Nina Aragom, 25, an art major and member of the Printmaking Guild. “It’s a good way to come together and collaborate.”

One of the many vendors offering unique, handmade crafts is The Lei Stand, which is a sibling run business that started in June. Handmade crafts such as leis made with ribbon and yarn, crocheted baby booties and jewelry are on sale at the fair.

“We’re here to help support local artists and we want to be a part of that,” said Jason Chang, 24, a designer for The Lei Stand. “It has been a good experience and seeing a lot of familiar faces has been rewarding also.”

Chang is an SF State alumnus who recently graduated this past summer after majoring in business marketing. He now creates live terrariums for The Lei Stand, and they are currently available at the fair this week.

“I have a strong connection to the natural environment,” Chang said. “Terrariums are a cool way to liven the room and it helps remind people that we come from nature.”

Among all of the vendors, students also have a chance to participate in free workshops where they create handmade crafts themselves or for a holiday gift.

“It gives you an opportunity to do something creative,” said Zeni Brown, 21, a broadcast and electronic communication arts major.

One workshop has supplies for students to make booklets with accordion-shaped pages and show off their own creativity.

“Students have been really responsive to the workshop,” said Lindsay Brand, 20, an international relations major. “It gives students a chance to chill between classes.”

Julia Hernandez, 21, is a labor and employment major who attended the fair for the first time this afternoon.

“I find that it’s really awesome for students to engage in different cultural things and art,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez participated in two workshops during the fair where she was able to make her own pins and accordion booklet.

“It’s a good way to bring students together,” Hernandez said. “I enjoyed the interactive work, and I would come back next year.”

The fair will continue through Dec. 6, from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Cesar Chavez Student Center Art Gallery and surrounding Terrace level.