We're open this Saturday-November 20

Shop!

We'll be open for some early bird Holiday Shopping again this Saturday from 10-5. If the hustle and bustle at the Dena'ina Center Art and Craft Emporium as too much for you-then walk up G street and shop a bit at Upstairs Studio! We'll have an intimate gathering of local Crafters and Artists selling their Modern Handmade Gifts at the Studio.

In addition to our Upstairs Studio Artists we will be joined this Saturday by Myler Almandinger,  Marie Polito and Dallas Wildeve.  

Myler Almandinger is bringing her exotic woven and knitted Quiviut items along with many other felted knit items. She has mittens, slippers and more. Given our recent weather-her goods may need to be given as early gifts !  They are warm, stylish and functional in our Arctic North.

 

 

Marie Polito of Saucy Kitchen Coveralls will have her reclaimed denim coverall wearables. (I'm hoping I can talk her into an Artist Apron design for myself.) She pairs some fun fabrics and designs into her skirts aprons and more.

Dallas Wildeve, ( you may remember  her stiched tyvek art showing at a recent First Friday with us) will have her jewelry made from salvaged plastic pipe, paper and more. She has away with using an unexpected combination or overlooked or scrapped items and turning them into  wearable art. I'm sure she'll have a showing of completely unique and one of a kind gifts for a friend or yourself.

Some of our Studio Artists have also been busy making new items for the Holiday Shopping season. I encourage you to stop by this Saturday and say hi-you'll have a chance to Shop!, meet great Artists and Crafters and spend some time in our unique Gallery Space without the distraction of First Friday crowds. We will also be open December 11 and 18-with a different mix of Artists and Crafters selling. Each Saturday will be different-so you could make them all and find new items and Artists each time.

Come on up!

Creativity this week at the Studio

This was a busy and creative week at Upstairs Studio.  Monday is our "Art Coffee" or play day. We set up tables in the Gallery and work as a community. Sometimes we explore a new medium or technique-mixed media collage was a recent favorite and one we will revisit. Experimenting and sharing together is a great way to not only have fun but get fresh new inspiration and ideas that can be used in our usual mediums.
This week there were variety of activities on Monday.  We set out to make paper marigolds for next First Friday-we will be celebrating the Mexican observance of Dia de los Muertos along with the Government Hill 6th grade class. We also have paper plaster cast skulls to decorate for the event and a call for art related to Dia de los Muertos. Information is on our facebook page "The Upstairs Studio" about the call for art.
Kim brought in some frames she wanted to refinish, Erin is our resident expert and got her going sanding, distressing, painting and rubbing-wish I had before and after photos of her frames. They turned our great.  We think Erin is convinced it would be a good class to offer in the future.
Katie started working on her polymer clay flowers and we joined in helping her choose compositions of  shapes and colors to make her flowers. I had to buy one of the flowers that came out of it-a red poppy!

Getting going on projects in the Gallery

Polymer clay flower design

New flower ideas

Paper Marigolds

Erin working on a frame reclaim

The Puppets did not stop moving!

Our day of creating together ended with a Field Trip of the Winterberry Enrichment Program kids to see the working Studios and Gallery.  They were most impressed by the fused glass, polymer clay pasta machine and the Puppets.  The Puppets won them over completely,  Erin let them all play with her puppets and they finished by getting behind a draped table and pretending to put on a puppet show.  It was fun to see the imagination spark on as soon as each child got a puppet in their hands.