The Art Mart supports local artists during the holidays
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: The Art Mart supports local artists during the holidays
Reporter Helaina Stovin: Tis the season to find that one gift for that one coworker, the one you drew for Secret Santa who you barely know. Well, look no further than Art Mart, a unique gallery featuring creations from more than 30 local artists and crafters.
Stovin: The mart has been serving downtown Syracuse since 1954, and president and CEO of Syracuse Allied Art, Judith Brown, says there is nothing that compares to shopping local for the holidays.
President and CEO of Syracuse Allied Art Judith Brown: “If you can keep the sales locally, you and I both know that that’s good for the economy here, but secondly, you are supporting someone who is doing something really gorgeous or trying to do something different, OK, so you can see it. It is a juried show, but we bring things that are so totally different that you’re gonna wanna see them, you know, for yourself while you’re here.”
Stovin: While Art Mart has received love from the entire Syracuse community, it has also received support from its neighbors right next door.
Judith Brown: Sound Garden. People walk from the Sound Garden over here all the time. The most we work with, we do a promotion for them. They do a promotion for us.”
Stovin: Behind every sponsor, beautiful ornament and handmade gift is an artist trying to make a living from their craft. Brown says many of them rely on Art Mart to continue working in that reality.
Judith Brown: “Some of our artists and crafters that are here, this is their income, OK? So they can make, like, just on an average, I’ll give you last year’s statistics, one of the people made over $1,000. That is a chunk of your income. They do do other shows, but for two months, we are here to support you. There’s no profit involved here, it’s nonprofit.”
Stovin: From that impossible-to-shop-for coworker to supporting artists who need it most, Art Mart continues a seven-decade tradition of making the holidays a little brighter for everyone in Syracuse. It’s the gift that keeps on giving, long after leaving the wrapping. Helaina Stovin, N-C-C News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Tis the season to find that perfect gift for that one coworker, the one you drew for Secret Santa who you barely know. Look no further than Art Mart, a distinctive gallery showcasing creations from more than 30 local artists and crafters. The holiday marketplace offers everything from handmade ornaments to unique jewelry, providing shoppers with gifts they won’t find anywhere else.
The mart has been a staple of downtown Syracuse since 1954, giving shoppers an opportunity to discover one-of-a-kind gifts while supporting the local creative community. For seven decades, the annual event has connected Syracuse residents with local artisans during the busiest shopping season of the year.
Judith Brown, president and CEO of Syracuse Allied Art, says nothing compares to shopping local for the holidays.
“If you can keep the sales locally, you and I both know that that’s good for the economy here, but secondly you are supporting someone who is doing something really gorgeous or trying to do something different, OK, so you can see it,” Brown said. “It is a juried show, but we bring things that are so totally different that you’re gonna wanna see them, you know, for yourself while you’re here.”
Art Mart has garnered love from across the Syracuse community, but it has also gained support from its neighbors right next door, including Sound Garden, a vinyl and record store. The downtown businesses have formed a partnership that benefits both establishments, creating a shopping destination for holiday visitors.
“People walk from the Sound Garden over here all the time,” Brown said. “The most we work with, we do a promotion for them. They do a promotion for us.”
Behind every sponsor, beautiful ornament and handcrafted gift is an artist trying to earn a living from their craft. Brown says many depend on Art Mart to continue pursuing that dream. The two-month marketplace provides crucial income for local artists during a time when many struggle to make ends meet from their creative work alone.
“Some of our artists and crafters that are here, this is their income, OK?” Brown said. “So they can make like, just on an average, I’ll give you last year’s statistics, one of the people made over $1,000. That is a chunk of your income. They do do other shows, but for two months, we are here to support you. There’s no profit involved here, it’s nonprofit.”
From that hard-to-shop-for coworker to supporting artists who need it most, Art Mart continues a seven-decade tradition of brightening the holidays for everyone in Syracuse. It’s the gift that keeps on giving, long after the wrapping paper is torn away.