How’s your January going so far? Me? Thanks for asking, I’ll tell ya. I tend to look at months as mileposts with my art market at each end, and January through the first Saturday in February makes for a five-week stretch. A little breathing room for me.
Speaking of January, the First Saturday Arts Market on Jan. 3 was one of the busiest we’ve had in a long time. January markets were always very busy, and we speculated that was because people were ready to get out and shop for themselves, get back to normal so to speak. A few January markets have been busy, but I don’t recall seeing such big crowds since 2019, and you know what happened a few months after that…are we back? I like it! I’ll let the art lovers decide that one.
By now you’ve surmised that I’m winging it in Art Valet this week with no announcements or interviews. (Uh oh, run away!) To me this week feels like the end of a marathon that began in late October and continued until this past weekend. The last week of 2025, I met a few Art Valet readers at holiday parties which is always humbling. Very nice meeting you! At one party the host had a collection of La Catrinas that I found absolutely fascinating.
La Catrina is that iconic, elegantly dressed female skeleton you see everywhere during Día de los Muertos. She’s the ultimate reminder that death doesn’t care about social status, rich or poor, we all end up as calaveras. Look them up, the history is fascinating.
Chrissie Ramirez and Mitch Cohen catching up at Casa Ramirez Folk Art Gallery a beloved spot for Mexican culture in its final months. (Photo by Stephanie Shirley)
And in my typical sing-song writing style I brought the Catrinas up as a reminder that our beloved Casa Ramirez Folk Art Gallery is winding down operations now, ahead of the store closing permanently by March 2026. I did some last-minute gift shopping there on Christmas Eve, and I’m happy to tell you there’s still a chance to visit. While Chrissie Ramirez, the store owner, works with an archivist to catalogue her late husband Macario Ramirez’s vast collection of writings, folk art, and memorabilia for public access, the store has limited hours.
Open most weekends through mid-March and some scheduled weekdays. Get the latest on pop-up openings, special closeout sales, and events like the 19th Street White Balloon Sale this weekend, on the gallery’s Facebook page, or call for an appointment 713-880-2420. facebook.com/CasaRamirezFolkartGallery.
Meanwhile, back at the art market, February marks the last month of the market’s 21st year as March rolls in with the 22nd year introducing the most diverse, talented and eclectic group of artists in Houston. One could say my opinion is biased (after all, I was there before the beginning). But I do not go after the artists, they come to us and the artists do a fine job of curating new applicants that join us. First Saturday Arts Market isn’t the only artist-juried art market in the country. The claim is very few and far between, though, so credit goes to the amazing attending artists who keep the quality high through their peer review process.
Happy New Year and stay tuned, I’ll be bringing you more fascinating interviews this year than ever. Cheers!
Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market. Visit ArtValet.com for more.