Pike Place Market

Field Study for Sept. 17^th 2010

Integrated Studies: Artist in Place

Claire, Michael, and Amelia

In our adventures of exploring the market and looking for the many places described to us on the list I began to notice a few key elements to Pikes Place Market. Specifically this market is an indoor market but it gives the feel of being more of a open environment. It has many levels and many shop keepers and booth workers. Each one is unique with what they sell and what the make. The market is normally extremely crowded and moving from place to place can be rather difficult if you are claustrophobic but everyone there has a type of atmosphere about them that makes you enjoy your experience just a bit more. It’s a wonderful place to go exploring if you have some time and the shop keepers are friendly and wonderful to talk with.

Personally I feel like Pike Place Market is a great addition to Seattle as a city and holds not only historic value but sentimental value to everyone there. We spoke with a fishmonger, a flower seller, and a performer (three people commonly found in the market) each one of them had something important to say about the value of Pike Place Market to the city of Seattle. The performer by the name of Emery Carl informed us that the value of the market is seventy two dollars and thirteen cents. This of course made us all laugh and he spoke about Pike Place Market for him being a place that supported and helped him “make it” at what he loved. Emery also gave us a word of advice. “No amount of money will get you what you want, what will is the amount of time and dedication you have towards it.”

The fishmonger had something different to say. He felt that Pike Place Market was good for the city of Seattle because it helps bring people from all over the world together to experience an amazing place. He informed us he was very happy with his job and he loved meeting and helping new people every day.

I’d like everyone to note that I bought a sunflower at this part of the journey but I also really enjoyed speaking with the flower seller because he didn’t really feel like he had a specific thing to say about Pike Place Market adding to the value of Seattle but he did tell us how he enjoyed selling flowers because he was able to bring a little bit of beauty into everyone’s lives with the flowers, something I found very touching.