SPiCE indie creators’ expo returns to Savannah for the weekend

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The Savannah Pooler Indie Creators’ Expo, known as SPiCE, is back in town for the weekend, with local artists setting up tables at the American Legion in Savannah to showcase their work.

SPiCE features more than 50 artists, from local Coastal Empire favorites to SCAD students and out-of-state creators.

Doors open, capacity reached quickly

Occupancy at the Legion is 299. Organizers say it took only 10 minutes to reach that limit after the doors opened at 3 p.m. Attendees walked down the rows of tables, stopping to support the artists and vendors.

“If you put a lot of love into making something and then other people get so excited to see it and buy it and spend their money on it, it’s really special,” said Chloe Shaw, a vendor and SCAD student.

New vendors join the lineup

SPiCE works to give up-and-coming artists the space to showcase their work. Showrunners say each event they try to have at least 60% new faces. Artists tabling for the first time Saturday were nervous but eased in quickly.

“It was really nerve-racking at first getting here seeing all the people who do this stuff professionally already setting up, I felt a little out of my depth but its been so fun learning and experiencing all of this stuff for the first time,” said E.B. Boland, a vendor and SCAD student.

Why organizers launched the expo

Co-showrunner Roman Fruehan said he and Avery Ott decided to launch the expo after feeling that artists’ needs were not being met in the area.

“I never got that feeling that I had a place to express myself, and so this was kind of giving that back to the community,” Fruehan said.

Artists on the role of AI

Some vendors say that with the rise of AI in artistic spaces, seeing artists face to face is essential now more than ever.

“A lot of the human touch has been taken out of the art we are seeing more and more, these events are important to like connect with each other to see what other people are creating,” said Anthony Barbara with Pizzeria Press.

SPiCE will be back at the American Legion Sunday from 3 to 9 p.m. The second day will feature even more artists, bringing in some more fresh faces.