Under the hot Texas sun, “Beer Alley” in Denton fills with patrons exploring booths at The Artists’ Grove’s First Friday Market. This monthly event, located between the Denton County Brewing Company and The Bearded Monk, features music and attracts local artists seeking to showcase their work.
Xana Hammonds, a university alumnus and co-founder of The Artists’ Grove, did not initially plan on becoming an artist. After earning a pre-med degree in 2020, Hammonds became disillusioned with medicine and pivoted to tattooing.
“I was growing more disenchanted with medicine,” Hammonds said. “I worked at an infectious disease lab that had mass hirings and firings due to COVID-19, and my shift was eliminated.” Hammonds started helping Chai Sun Lee, the co-founder of The Artists’ Grove, and eventually became Lee’s assistant, which led to a tattooing apprenticeship.
Last September, Hammonds and Lee opened The Artists’ Grove as a tattoo parlor and event space. Initially, they were the only two artists. Now, Hammonds is the sole owner and has welcomed three more tattooists to the shop.
“I wanted to create a safe space where people feel happy, confident, and safe in their bodies,” Hammonds explained. “Healing the Earth starts with healing people, and that goes beyond medicine.”
Hammonds envisions The Artists’ Grove as a community space for various artists, unlike the more private tattoo shops they had experienced. While tattooing covers the bills, the space also hosts events to build a community.
Jenaveve Lester, owner of Bunnyya Prints and a university alumna, participated in the market to sell her art. “I’ve been doing art since middle school. Last year, I decided to start a sticker business,” Lester said. She used to be anxious about placing stickers permanently but learned to enjoy art everywhere as she grew older.
“Stickers are little works of art that connect people,” Lester said. “I worked hard to make my dream happen.” This market was her first since starting Bunnyya in March, and she shared a table with her friend Nicole Hedge, owner of Nik Knacs.
Hedge, who is finishing school to become a teacher, has always loved jewelry. “I’m unhappy just working without doing something I love, so I took time off to focus on my jewelry,” Hedge said. “It’s working out.”
The Artists’ Grove has seen growing interest in its markets. To manage this, Hammonds posts vendor availability on The Artists’ Grove’s Instagram a month before each market. The process includes questions about business specifics and accessibility requirements, as Hammonds themselves deals with chronic illnesses.
“Denton may not be huge, but people from Dallas and Fort Worth come here to share their art,” Hammonds said. “Our town is known for creating art and music. It’s easy to find a new band or an artist’s gallery just by walking around.”