The Tennessee Artisan Market, which opened in December 2010 at The Renaissance Center, is having a store-wide 20% Off Sale to celebrate the 1st Year Anniversary and as a Valentine’s gift to patrons and participating artisans. The Anniversary & Valentines Sale runs February 7th through February 14th and includes 20% off all items in the store, from large paintings to jewelry and crafts. The gallery store, which features fine art, crafts and handmade goods made exclusively by Tennessee artisans, has had a very successful first year and wishes to give back to the community while continuing to promote the wonderful talents of area artisans.
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Formerly a bookstore, the market area was transformed into a beautiful gallery store last fall, where artisans across the state could display and sell their wares, including fine art such as paintings and sculptures to crafts such as pottery and jewelry, as well as handmade furniture and stained glass. It has recently been expanded from the original 2,000 square feet to include an additional 800 square feet of space. The market now features over 140 artisans, representing all areas of the state, from the Great Smokey Mountains in the east to the banks of the Mississippi River in the west. “For many years artists in Tennessee have wanted a central location to display and sell their work,” states Bob Kucher, Senior Director of Fine Arts. “We’re extremely proud to provide Tennessee artists a space, and to give both residents and visitors a wonderful opportunity to purchase great art and support our creative community.” The central location in Tennessee, right off of Interstate 40, also attracts out-of-state visitors, and creates interest and tourism opportunities in the middle Tennessee area.
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The market, which offers a consignment-based retail opportunity to Tennessee artists, includes works from both active professionals and qualified hobbyists. “Pottery is our top seller, especially the colanders and oil and vinegar cruets,” says Lisa Wright, Manager of the Tennessee Artisan Market. “And lately we’ve had a lot of interest in our wood items, including boxes, bowls and decorative items. They’re very reasonably priced and make great unique gifts”. Other unique items that have been popular are the clay Fairy Houses by Sylvia Byrn and beautifully marbled silk scarves by Gail Looper. The market is also proud to offer John Walker’s artisan knives, which are collected by enthusiasts around the world. And several participating artists have also been featured on WNPT’s popular “Tennessee Crossroads”.
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Prices for items in the market range from two dollar prints to large paintings for several thousands of dollars. “The 20% discount of the Anniversary & Valentines Sale will be taken out of the market’s share and not from the artisan’s consignment monies, “ explains Kucher, “so the artist will still receive a fair price for their work and talents”. “And because of the low overhead of the market and the support of The Renaissance Center, we can offer these wonderful pieces to the consumer for a much lower price than is usually found at Nashville galleries and gift stores. It’s a win-win situation for all,” he adds.
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“The Tennessee Artisan Market provides an incredible opportunity for Tennessee artists to display and benefit from their creative talents and the Renaissance Center’s convenience, professional staff and facilities makes it the ideal location,” states Rich Boyd, Executive Director of the Tennessee Arts Commission. The market also offers free artisan demonstrations throughout the year where people can see the artist at work and get great tips and advice for that craft. “They’re really like mini-workshops,” explains Kucher. “Many people then actually take up that craft.” Videos of these demonstrations will be posted on The Renaissance Center website soon: www.rcenter.org.
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In addition to fine art (paintings, sculpture, photography, etc), products offered in the market include pottery, jewelry, leather, home accessories, artisan pens, quilts, bath products, artisan knives, handmade furniture, wire art, baskets, stained glass, turned wood, hand-blown glass, knitwear, rock art, hats, greeting cards, lamps, natural soap, mosaics, books by local writers, walking sticks, hair pieces, botanical art, handmade puzzles, flagstone paintings, metalwork, painted kitchenware, fairy houses, lariat baskets, fiber arts, puppets, painted saw blades, handmade clothing, and very uniquely decorated guitars! To mark the 1st Anniversary of the Tennessee Artisan Market in December, the store held a drawing for a stunning blown glass vase by Curt Brock, which was won by Martin Culpepper of Dickson.
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A selection of items from the Tennessee Artisan Market are also available to purchase online with flat-rate shipping to U.S. addresses. Gift wrapping is provided for free and the market also offers gift cards for any amount that can be redeemed in the Tennessee Artisan Market or used for any program at The Renaissance Center including theatricals shows, concerts, classes and workshops.
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“We have a wonderful extended family of talented artisans involved in the center,” explains Kucher. “So if there’s an interest in any particular craft, we can certainly schedule a free demonstration, workshop or continuing class in that technique,” explains Kucher. Artisan demonstrations and workshops can also be designed for field trips and groups and the Tennessee Artisan Market is also available for private parties and events such as a recent gathering and presentation for Tennessee interior designers.
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The Tennessee Artisan Market is open Mondays through Saturdays, 10am – 7pm, and often on Sundays during the Renaissance Players Community Theatre performances. Artists interested in selling their work at the Tennessee Artisan Market should contact LeAnn Polk: leann.polk@rcenter.org, (615) 740-5503. For information, artisan bios and photos of some of the market items, visit the website: www.rcenter.org. The Tennessee Artisan Market phone: (615) 740-5512.
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The Renaissance Center is a state-of-the-art facility for fine arts, performing arts, media production, technology and education located about 35 miles from downtown Nashville in Dickson, Tennessee. The Renaissance Center includes several art galleries, the Gaslight Dinner Theatre, the Renaissance Players Community Theatre, the Tennessee Artisan Market and the CyberSphere Digital Theater. Support for the arts programs are from the Tennessee Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. www.rcenter.org, (615) 740-5572, 740-5600, or toll-free: (888) 700-2300.