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The Tucson Museum of Art's Spring Artisan's Market is today through Sunday, highlighting the work of more than 100 artists from the Southwest.

The outdoor courtyards and the lobby of the museum will be filled with booths; a roving harpist will play; and the Museum of Art School will be open to tour and meet faculty.

The market was started 25 years ago to help highlight other works from artists who were already selling items in the museum shop.

Potter John McNulty was part of the original group of artists who set up the first show, and he has been at every one since.

Now the museum shop manager, McNulty studied art at the State University of New York-Potsdam, where pottery became his main focus. He works from his home studio now, but taught at Tucson Museum of Art School for 20 years.

"Functional pottery — things like decorative ceramic frames with mirrors. A lot of my pieces are adorned with decorative hearts and flowers."

Are there other artists who have been at the show from the start?

"Yes, Janet Burner will be there selling her pottery, and Cathy Haun does carved wood sculpture."

"It's a juried show. They have to submit their work. Once they are juried in, they can show their work at both the fall and spring shows on an ongoing basis."

What's the difference between the spring and fall markets?

"The fall show is geared more toward holiday items, while the spring show has more things people buy for themselves. People are thinking of how to decorate their own space instead of getting gifts for others. In the spring, people have the attitude of 'it's all about me; I am buying for me.' The spring show also tends to have more upscale and expensive items."

What are some of the most memorable items you've seen for sale?

"Christy Fischer, an artist from Sedona, made earrings, pins and jewelry from recycled glass and metal parts. She hasn't been at the last couple shows, but people still ask for her."

"There are enough interesting booths that you must stop at all of them. We do have a new vendor called SisterBloc Atelier. Sisters Cindy and Wendy Sumner use found objects like beer trays, cookie tins and teapots and recycle them into drop earrings, bracelets, pins, brooches and necklaces. Their pieces are colorful and fun."

"Furniture, garden art, jewelry, photographs, watercolors, oil painting, pottery, glass works, wind chimes, sculpture and fiber arts."

"I trade. Artists usually trade stuff."

"This is a major fund-raising effort for the museum. The museum gets 25 percent of the sale profits. The money goes toward exhibitions, underwriting and museum school programming."

"Some of the jewelry can be $4,000 to $5,000, but someone sells $6 pots."

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