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The Firehouse Art Center is providing an alternative to big box stores this weekend. With its Holiday Market and current gallery, shoppers can buy local goods this holiday season.
The Holiday Market runs from Nov. 26 to Nov. 27 from 12-5 p.m. Prints, jewelry and fabric work are a few offerings from the 14 participating artists.
“It's just a really great way to shop around and shop a variety of creatives, so that you can find that really unique gift for the people in your life, whether they're hard to shop for, or they just love supporting local artists,” said Elaine Waterman, Firehouse’s executive director.
Among the many goods at the Holiday Market are intricately embroidered pieces by Longmont artist Betsy Anderson. The roughly 40 items for sale are centered around animals, insects and the natural world. Anderson said the body of work pays homage to the planet’s beauty and ecosystems that humans need to protect.
Anderson, who is selling work in the Holiday Market for the second time, said her favorite part is meeting her customers face-to-face. She enjoys taking a moment to slow down in contrast to the hustle-and-bustle of shopping malls.
“I like when they stop by and they ask me, ‘what was my inspiration,’ ‘what materials are these.’ Then maybe they tell something about their life,” she said. “It's just some really positive, pleasant, inspiring conversations, the whole both days, that's what I’ve found. And if people do purchase from this Firehouse sale, it's a really fun little market environment.”
With a portion of the sales going back to support the Firehouse’s programs and art outreach, Anderson added that she loves contributing to the market.
In addition to the Holiday Market, the Firehouse’s art member show “Hang Time” is displayed in the main gallery throughout the end of the month. The community group art show features around 40 pieces from 14 Firehouse members.
“Everything is going to be hung at the same time. So while we have the holiday art market that is local artists and local creatives, everyone's going to be surrounded by local art and most everything is for sale,” Waterman said.”It's really just a very creative and colorful place to shop local and support local living artists.”
“Hang Time” opened earlier this month on Nov. 11. It’s artist members, a creative community of visual artists, musicians and writers, were welcome to submit art for the show and help hang up their work.
Fred Diehl, Longmont artist and owner of Fred Diehl Creative, has his abstract painting “Here and There” in the art show. To celebrate his participation in the art show he’s holding a Black Friday giveaway for one of his print calendars to be announced on Nov. 30.
