Christmas Gifts, Where Art Thou
Christmas season is here, and the yearly dilemma of gift buying is upon us again. Inevitably, there’s
someone on your list that has everything. Where can you find a unique, creative, one-of-a-kind gift? The answer to that problem may just lie in the hands of our local artisans.
Southern WV is home to many fine craftsmen and women. Instead of settling for a zebra print Snuggie, or a Shamwow, try visiting one of the many local art galleries to find handcrafted gifts that show you care. Bonus: you’ll be shopping local.
Here’s a list of some of the galleries and their locations in case you want to check out what they have to offer.
Tamarack
Probably the best known of all the local shops, Tamarack houses a great many artisans under one roof. Whether its pottery, hand carved bowls, hand blown glass, jewelry or any of a number of other items, Tamarack is THE place for WV goods. With 59,000 square feet of crafts and studios for the resident artisans, it is conceivable to spend a couple hours there and not see everything. Located right of I-77/64 in Beckley, it is conveniently located for much of southern West Virginia.
Riffraff Arts Collective
Located in downtown Princeton, this gallery and performance center houses two live performance venues, a recording studio, 6 artist studios, a music school, and a fine gallery. The gallery houses works from local and regional artists and includes paintings, photography, pottery and stained and blown glass. Located on the corner of Ninth and Mercer Streets, the Riffraff Arts Collective is part of a rejuvenation of downtown Princeton.
Harmony Ridge Gallery
Located on West Washington Street in Lewisburg, this gallery’s mission is to bring handmade arts and crafts into daily life. Offering handcrafted works from artists all over the United States, Harmony Ridge Gallery focuses on providing an outlet for artists to share their wares with the public. Specializing in art for life, the gallery has items like handcrafted clocks, garden art, furniture, lighting and jewelry.
So many others . . . .
And depending on where you are in southern WV, chances are good that there is a great little gallery or studio somewhere very close to you. Check out our website to learn about more local shopping.
Where are you shopping this holiday season?