Oddities market fills the gap in macabre curiosities

An Oddly Curious Market in Winnipeg is a gathering for artists and makers of macabre and unusual goods and art. The event, now in its fourth year, featured 45 vendors showcasing their unique items, including taxidermy, jewelry, pottery, and alternative clothing. One of the vendors, Katherine Blahut, sells dolls with a macabre twist, inspired by her childhood dolls and Halloween creations.

Blahut's dolls, called KATOD, are made from unwanted children's dolls found at thrift stores and garage sales, given new names and backstories. Visitors to the market expressed curiosity, admiration, or discomfort upon seeing Blahut's sinister-looking baby dolls. The two-day event, which took place at the Center Culturel Franco-Manitoban, attracted more than 1,000 attendees, highlighting the growing interest in odd and macabre curiosities.