With the number of COVID-19 cases rising throughout the state and tensions running high, it might be easy to forget that the holiday shopping season is already within reach. This weekend marks the official start of the season with Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and, most important for the local arts community, Artists Sunday. For Cuyahoga Falls and Northeast Ohio, this day of shopping has taken the spotlight, with Up Front Art Space announcing they have joined the Artists Sunday program as the first business in the area, and only the second in Ohio.
Located at 127 Portage Trail, Up Front Art Space is a small, independent art gallery and custom frame shop. Having recently moved from their upper-level Front Street location, owners Kay Phelps and Mystye Gorgan have faced the same issues from the pandemic as other small businesses.
“If we emerge on the other side of this and independent artists do not, there’s no point,” Phelps said. “We’re nothing without our family of artists.”
Small businesses and artists alike have been hurt the worst by the spread of COVID-19 this year as unemployment has risen and the ability to shop in-person has become dangerous. This has also canceled large vending events where many artists would normally earn necessary funds for the year. This is especially difficult during the holiday season.
“I think it’s important to shop local all year round, but especially holidays! It’s so meaningful to shop local because the money from that purchase stays in the community. It doesn’t get shipped out of state or even out of the country to a large corporation nor does it go to line a CEO’s pockets,” Phelps explains. “Every purchase from an independent artist or maker literally helps keep them alive. It’s what puts food on the table; it’s what keeps their growing kids in new clothes, helps pay for prescriptions and oil changes—all the things people need to pay for to stay alive. That kind of direct support goes so much farther than what that person can earn at a low-to-moderate wage job.”
Artists Sunday is dedicated to encouraging customers to shop with artists and give unique and hand-crafted gifts this holiday season. Across the country, the movement has gained the support of over 3,200 artists and organizations, with new deals being announced daily for the shopping day. What’s more, having Artists Sunday follow Small Business Saturday serves to remind the public of the importance of supporting artists who have both suffered and continued to create during the pandemic. Throughout the holiday season, including Artists Sunday, Collide: Cuyahoga Falls will promote these local vendors in videos on social media, reminding followers of where they can find meaningful handmade gifts.
“While we did intend on an in-person event for Artist Sunday itself, we know that stretching the shopping out the entire season instead of one day is safer for everyone, and better for the businesses as well,” explains Molly Manning of Collide: Cuyahoga Falls. “Amazon doesn’t do a happy dance with every order they get, but I promise you, when you purchase from an artist, it makes their whole day.”
With a new storefront, Up Front Art Space has been able to spread out more, allowing for distance among gallery patrons. Still, they continue to limit studio occupancy to 10 people at a time, as well as reserving times for private shopping or browsing, either in person or virtually. In addition, a brand new framing space online has allowed patrons to upload photos and choose frames, mats, and glass from the comfort of their own home, with both shipping and curbside pickup available.
“I think people will be a lot more cautious. I don’t think we will see the kinds of crowds we usually see out during the weekend after Thanksgiving, but I still think there will still be a fraction of people out and about like usual,” explains Phelps. “I think online shopping is going to be huge this season, and very essential. At Up Front, we’re working diligently to get ALL of our products available online, including framing, so we’re not putting people at risk by insisting they physically walk through our door to shop here.”
For more information about Artists Sunday, visit artistssunday.com.
Up Front Art Space can be found online at upfrontartspace.com.
