Queens Botanical Garden became otherworldly as guests dressed as mythical creatures and medieval-era outfits roamed the gardens at the Lunar Faire. Held on Saturday, July 11, hundreds of guests gathered to shop witchy items, do tarot readings, drink potions and socialize with others. Guests were also able to watch a drag performance, as well as various musical performances throughout the park in Flushing.
The Lunar Faire featured various musical performances. Photo by Alice Moreno
Photo by Alice Moreno
Attendees could take part in a drum circle. Photo by Alice Moreno
According to their website, “It is a nomadic and surprising and exciting adventure in performance art that is as much influenced by the crowd of attendees who participate as the artists and makers who help bring oddball wares, curious crafts, intuitive services, esoteric arts and exciting performances to the magickal venue designated under the auspices of the universe as the most perfect moment and location for all to gather under collectively as Lunar Faire!”
Photo by Alice Moreno
Tarot card readings were available to attendees. Photo by Alice Moreno
Photo by Alice Moreno
One of the highlights of the event featured a plethora of vendors, all selling esoteric, witch-like items. Many sold art prints, tarot cards, jewelry, accessories and more.
Photo by Alice Moreno
One of the vendors featured is Bent Queer Shop. Run by Eli Wagner, they sell a wide variety of hand-illustrated items, such as screen-printed t-shirts, patches, buttons and prints. They began their business after lacking creative freedom at their 9-to-5 job as a graphic designer. Wanting to expand from that, they created Bent Queer Shop.
Eli Wagner at the Bent Queer Shop table. Photo by Alice Moreno
“This kind of allowed me to create whatever I wanted and connect with people more so on a personal level through my art,” Wagner said.
Most of their work has a special message, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, the protection of trans and queer people and the abolishment of ICE. In addition, with the rise of AI, Wagner hopes to create more original artwork as a way to connect with the art world.
Another vendor includes Solo Souls, which is run by Chynna Williams. Williams creates art prints, stickers and bookmarks, focusing on ghosts as well as the divine bodies. She creates her art on 8 x 10 paper – using pen and markers – uploading them and printing them out.
Chyyna Williams at her Solo Souls vending station. Photo by Alice Moreno
She began Solo Souls shortly after graduating from college during the COVID-19 pandemic. Struggling to find a job, she noticed many art businesses have their start on social media. From there, she decided to give it a shot.
“Most of my artwork is about mental health,” Williams said. “My business name is Solo Souls, so I depict the ghosts by themselves, and I really want to capture the meaning of how you interact when you’re in your own space, when you don’t have anybody watching you and the ability to be free and be yourself.”
An interesting vendor featured at Lunar Faire was Metal and Marrow, run by Tara Gavin. Gavin creates casts of real human bones into sterling silver jewelry. She does a lot of memorial work, using post-death items such as cremation and teeth. To create these jewelry, she makes molds of real bones, using a process called Lost Wax casting. This process is made with a centrifugal casting machine and, according to Gavin, “a lot of trial and error.”
Tara Gavin at the Metal and Marrow vending table. Photo by Alice Moreno
Gavin’s family has a rich history with sterling silver jewelry, with her parents holding up a tradition to wear sterling silver bracelets up to the elbow – being told that they could never take it off. Gavin and her family, including her husband and children, continue this legacy to this day.
Photo by Alice Moreno
Photo by Alice Moreno
Photo by Alice Moreno
Photo by Alice Moreno
For more information on the Lunar Faire, visit lunarfaire.com.