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Derek Gentry created an Instagram account for his love of crochet in 2021. Two years later, he set up at his first-ever market, then a few months later he made crochet his full-time job.
He’s the artist behind SoGayCrochet, where he makes crocheted plushies — mushrooms, cats, frogs and more adorable creatures.
Derek has long supported the community — 10% of his proceeds go toward mutual-aid and community care — but in 2025, he took it one step further.
Last April, Derek debuted Art 4 All, a market where vendors don’t sell anything above $25. It’s a market about accessibility and mutual support between local artists and community members.
“I started Art 4 All because there’s really no worse feeling than going to a market and leaving empty-handed,” Derek says. “Here, it’s that feeling knowing you’ll be able to leave with art.”
The sixth rendition of the market will take place 3-7 p.m. Saturday, July 25 at Celestia Collective, 1122 N. Stone Ave. (Expect two more Art 4 All events this year on Oct. 3 and Dec. 5.)
The upcoming market will feature 10-plus vendors with items like plushies, jewelry and stickers.
“Art is part of humanity. We sing, we dance, we need to consume art. We need to have it around us to feel good,” Derek says. “Consuming art is very important to your well-being. It’s such a good feeling going to a market and finding a piece of art that you know is yours. Someone else created it and as soon as you see it, you know it’s yours.”
Derek hopes both shoppers and vendors take away something valuable from the afternoon.
“I love to make people happy. I love to see people’s smiles on their faces. I really love that sense of, ‘I did it,’” Derek says. “I’ve been doing this market long enough where I had a bad one — not bad in the sense that no one came but I had one of my worst moods of my adult life and the market still ran as it should. People still came and supported.”
Celestia Collective is a queer-friendly witchy third space and coffee shop. Derek encourages shoppers to bring a case of water to the market — anyone who does will get an extra punch on their Celestia loyalty card when they order a drink. Derek will then go beyond the market to hand out the waters to our unhoused neighbors and anyone in need.
“When I started SoGayCrochet, I was like, ‘OK, it rhymes. It’s cute.’ The name was a pun, but it was me. I’m extremely visibly queer and I realized that allows other people to feel safe,” Derek says. “When I started SoGayCrochet, it was to be a business. But since I’ve been running it, I’ve realized I am queer visibility. People are saying, ‘Thank you for being gay. I love you for being gay.’ Now this means something to somebody.”
🎨 Art 4 All takes place 3-7 p.m. Saturday, July 25 at Celestia Collective, 1122 N. Stone Ave. Parking is located on the east side of the building with an entrance on Helen Street. For more information, head to SoGayCrochet’s Instagram page. 🌈
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