JAMESTOWN, R.I. — With the holiday gift season in full swing, the Jamestown Arts Center is gearing up for its 12th annual Holiday Arts Market.
Lucy Paiva, Jamestown Arts Center (JAC) development and marketing director, said the Holiday Arts Market is a festive and celebratory opportunity for the local community to meet and buy from working artists. With a wide range of fine art and crafts including ceramics, prints, sculpture, paintings, jewelry, glasswork, handbags, candles, scarves, and other exquisite home goods and gifts, Paiva said there is a piece of art for everyone to leave with something they love.
“The [Holiday] Arts Market started as a way for local artists involved with the JAC to connect directly with the local community and sell their work and to be a community gathering spot around the holidays,” Paiva said. “It’s a great time to come see your neighbors and friends, and to support local artists while purchasing one-of-a-kind jewelry, glassware, ceramics, fine art, works on paper and much more.”
The JAC Holiday Arts Market is tomorrow night from 5:30-7:30 pm and Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The opening reception will be held during the Friday market hours with light refreshments Both evenings are free to attend.
The show was judged and curated by Terry Allen Lanza, an independent curator, designer, stylist and JAC Exhibition Committee member, and Marie Samuels, independent arts advisor, founder of Newport Curates, JAC Board Member and member of the Exhibition Committee.
“Work undergoes a jurying process conducted by members of the JAC exhibition committee,” Paiva said. “This ensures that the event maintains a high standard of artistic quality and diversity.”
Each exhibiting artist will have their own booth in the main gallery and visitors can purchase their artwork directly from them, Paiva said. Both credit card and cash is accepted.
Twenty artists were ultimately selected for this year’s Holiday Arts Market. The selected artists are Olga Bravo, Jillian Barber, Lisa Bliss (Aquidneck Island Art Club), Mia Campopiano, Catherine Curtis, Jennifer Clancy (Clancy Designs), Gillian Christy, Mary Jameson, Erica Klein, Beth Lee, Amy Machado, Enrique Newman, Kate Petrie, Sally Strasser, Peg Twist, Didi Suydam, Susan Tasca, Kate Wright, Channing Gray and Kathy Ward. Artists from Out of the Box Studio and Gallery will also have a shared booth in the main gallery,
In addition to the art in the main gallery, Paiva said the JAC studios will display ceramics, prints and paintings from resident artists, instructors and JAC staff. This work will also be for sale.
Overall, the JAC Holiday Arts Market is not only a way to discover and buy unique gifts and works of art, it’s also a wonderful way to build a direct connection between artists and their community.
“Support artists, foster creativity [and] access to the arts — you won’t leave empty handed,” Paiva said.
Jamestown Arts Center is located at 18 Valley Street in Jamestown. For more information on the JAC Holiday Arts Market, visit jamestownartcenter.org/events.
