Side Street Studio Arts brings curated pop-up experience to Elgin for Small Business Saturday
Side Street Studio Arts in Elgin will open a pop-up shop, "MADE," just in time for holiday shopping. It will feature the original artworks of area artists, as well as Side Street Studio Arts and Elgin Fringe Festival merchandise. "MADE" will open Small Business Saturday, Nov. 30, at 10 a.m. and remain open through Sunday, Dec. 22.
Located in one half of the LAB space at 13 S. Spring St., "MADE" features the original work of area artists, including "BaM!" (Bruce Bachelder and Mike Rende), Erin Cramer, Crighton Studios, Jane Erlandson, Conor Goetz, Horror Floral, Ivette De Santiago, Karl Jahnke, Natalie Pivoney, Jess Rocha, Melina Scotte, and more. All "MADE" sales will be split between the artists and Side Street Studio Arts to support all of the nonprofit organization's year-round programming.
"This is a test run," said Tanner Melvin, founder and executive director. "We are hoping 'MADE' is wildly successful, and allows us to host a store to sell artists' work year round. We think it is a perfect compliment to the other wonderful retail options available in downtown Elgin"
Not only are these talented individuals supplying their artworks, but some also will be working store hours to offset costs, and allow more money to go back to the artists.
The gallery, located right next door to "MADE" at 15 Ziegler Court, will feature the final weekend of "Before My Eyes," an instant film exhibition, curated by Elgin artist Brian Garbrecht, featuring the work of photographers from all over the United States. And, the gallery also will play host to its annual Small Business Saturday deals on arts education classes and Lab memberships, and have the new "INKTOBER" calendar available for purchase.
"Our annual 'Not-So-Silent Auction' opens in the gallery on Small Business Saturday as well," said founder and executive director Erin Rehberg. "Every year artists and groups donate artwork and experiences, and area businesses donate gift certificates, and we partner them with SSSA classes and programs for bidding on-site and online, as our fundraiser for Giving Tuesday."
This year, there are 12 lots available for bidding, which range from a package from Elgin Public House and Chamber Music on the Fox with a starting bid of $35 to a full year of unlimited art classes for a young artist at Side Street Studio Arts with a starting bid of $600. More info is available at "Not-So-Silent Auction" at Side Street on Facebook.
Side Street Studio Arts was founded in 2013 by Melvin and Rehberg as an outlet for the artists of Elgin. Its mission is to provide an inclusive space, run by artists, encouraging all aspects of the artistic process from creation to curation. For more information, visit sidestreetstudioarts.org, call (847) 429-2276 or email info@sidestreetstudioarts.org.