The Wednesday morning sun shines down through the cracks of the canopy covering the Ann Arbor Farmers Market. The sun reflects off of the art work made by Dana Ray in her stall 17. She sits content, watching as the locals walk through the market admiring her artwork and buying the fresh produce that the farmers sell.

Ray has sat in the same seat and in the same stall for the last 18 years. However the items that she has been selling have not always been the same. When Ray started at the farmers market in 1995 she started selling t-shirts to shoppers. She sold a few here and there but it wasn’t a substantial amount. Ray had to find something that people in Ann Arbor would want but something that she would also enjoy selling. She then realized that artwork was one of her hobbies and passions so she decided it would be worth the gamble.

Her gamble paid off and now 18 years later she is still selling her unique art pieces at the market. Her tip to success is, “First you need to make a product that is unique. Something that is different. Then make it so a wide variety of people will be attracted.” Ray has stuck to those guidelines and it has lead to success. She says that people are surprised at how different her art is and that is what makes them interested in buying. “I enjoy reusing old things and making them into art. I use old barn wood and sand and refinish it and then use it to make frames for my art. I also use old bolts and screws I find. I scavenge to find most of my art materials,” Ray said.

Your job should be enjoyable but it should also support you enough financially to live a healthy lifestyle. Ray is a great example of someone who adapted into her environment and evolved to a different employment to support herself. Originally selling t-shirts but then realizing that it wasn’t something that the community around her wanted, she changed what she was selling and evolved to fix the issue. Ray is very willing to change her career if needed. “I love my art but if it came down to it I would find another means of employment to sustain my lifestyle. I would never stop making art though, I would just make it a side job or hobby.” Flexibility and adaptation are key traits that someone at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market must have to succeed.