Gathering of The Martians in San Marcos

Kevin Baxter | Staff Reporter

SAN MARCOS – On Sunday, October 10, Zellicks Icehouse in San Marcos held Martian Culture’s 70th event. The celebration included two live DJs and local vendors selling their products.

Daniel Currey is the man behind Martian Culture, he started the event with another bartender at Zellicks a little over seven years ago.

“I’m the main founder of the event, another bartender and I here had been talking on it for a long time and had the idea bouncing around,” said Currey. “One night, we were just like, hey, let’s get this written down, so we went back to my place after work around four in the morning, wrote out notes, and talked about our ideas and how we were going to do it. Then we brought those notes in the next day to the owners and presented them.”

Since then, the event has grown every month into what it is today. Every second Sunday of the month, when it can be held, Martian Culture takes place at Zellicks.

“It’s always been done here,” Currey said. “I have used the Martian Culture name to do other events that are not affiliated with Zellicks. I did a little mini-festival out in Norton Mill right before the pandemic hit. We were trying to do more, but everything’s been crazy.”

According to Currey, the only thing that has changed about Martian Culture is the size of the gathering.

“It’s grown so much, but it still has the core elements of what we wanted to create in the beginning,” said Currey. “Create a space for people to come out and express themselves, and have that little community-like festival vibe, but in town, so you don’t have to stay a whole weekend.The only thing that’s changed is that it’s grown, the love has grown, the name has grown, the community has really grown, but it’s still the same thing at heart. It’s a free art event; we don’t charge the artists or the vendors. We just have you sign up in advance.”

The vendors at Martian Culture were eye-catching. Anything from paintings to loose leaf tea was there to be sold.

Catnip Studios, run by Mikayla McDonough, Texas State art student, began as a response to the COVID-19 lockdowns.

“Once COVID hit, everything shut down,” explained McDonough. “I’m an art student at Texas State, and they shut down all the studios. I didn’t have a place to make things, so I started making things on a smaller scale like jewelry products inside of my own apartment.”

Catnip Studios can be found on Instagram at catnip.studios.

Another vendor at the event was Ricky Bowen. He was selling apparel that he designed and promoting a music show taking place on October 30th. Originally from Houston, Ricky decided to start his business in San Marcos after going to school for graphic design at Texas State. He has been coming to Martian Culture for about six-years now.

Kelly Stone was also vending at the event. She’s a local comedian who hosts a weekly show at Sean Patrick’s every Wednesday called, ‘Waxed and Vaxed and Ready for Acts.’ She was there selling her book, “Mom, What Is The Opposite of Guacamole?” a coffee table book filled with comedic quotes from her two sons.

Walking through the center of Martian Culture, it was hard not to notice a new booth that had been set up midway through with art made from animal bones. Lexi Hogan and Tanner Whitaker operated the booth. Lexi made turquoise and amber necklaces and also collected the bones to make her “little creations.”

“I collected these bones when my grandma passed away, she handed down all this jewelry-making stuff to me, so since then, I’ve been making jewelry,” said Hogan. “I’ve been loving it. I’ve been here a couple of times; this is my second time vending.”

Anyone interested can find Lexi’s jewelry and creations on Instagram at littlebones_creations.

Tanner was selling his handmade fish flies.

“I’m from Northern Utah, I just moved here about two months ago,” said Tanner. “I work for Gruene Outfitters fly shop in Gruene, Texas. I’ve been fly fishing my whole life. All I do is wake up, go to work, sit around flies and go home and tie flies.”

It was Tanner’s first time vending at Martian Culture, his work can be found on Instagram at scurvy_T.

Walking around Martian Culture, one can find almost any kind of artist they can imagine, and those you wouldn’t.

“Everyone’s super nice, everybody was really happy to be here,” event founder Currey said. “It’s once a month. You know you only get this opportunity once a month, so come on out. You won’t be disappointed.”