Artists Sunday, falling on December 1, 2024 this year, is the celebrated day after Thanksgiving dedicated to supporting local artists, creators, and performers. This year marks the fifth annual Artists Sunday, a unique shopping experience featuring a growing alliance of artists, non-profit agencies, and community organizations across the United States.

This event, spanning coast-to-coast, is not just a day but a movement to highlight local artists and the richness they bring to our communities. Consumers are invited to #ShopArt and discover extraordinary pieces ranging from paintings, sculptures, and pottery to jewelry, textiles, and more, perfect for those seeking distinctive holiday gifts.
 
Artists Sunday, initiated in 2020, sits nestled between Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. It’s a day that spotlights the importance of art in our lives and encourages the public to support local talent.

The holidays are fast approaching and what better way to celebrate than with Montpelier’s very own Moonlight Magic!

Many downtown businesses are offering discounts during the event, including Artisans Hand! Shop at the gallery and get 15% off the item of your choice during the sale. In addition, we’ll be holding a raffle for a $50.00 Artisans Hand gift certificate!

So come get a jump on your holiday shopping a support downtown Montpelier businesses - and feel good about yourself while you’re at it!

Keep an eye on the Montpelier Alive website for the most up-to-date information about the event.

The next Montpelier Art Walk is coming up on October 4, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. This event is a great way to get a taste of the local art scene in our sweet city.

For October’s Art Walk, Artisans Hand will be featuring an autumn-themed mini exhibit for those who love crisp days, crunchy leaves, and apple cider. Think pumpkins, maple leaves, and everything orange.

The event is free and open to the public.

Guidebooks will be available closer to the event, so be sure to stop by the gallery to get yours!

The next Montpelier Art Walk is coming up on August 2, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. This event is a great way to get a taste of the local art scene in our sweet city.

Artisans Hand will feature painter Peggy Watson. Her work reflects life in Vermont and often includes scenes local to Montpelier, where she lives.

A former art teacher, Peggy works in both acrylic and oil paint, and mixed media. She incorporates recyclables into her pieces, building up layers of singular shapes with whatever materials she has on hand.

Guidebooks are now available in the gallery, so stop by!

The next Montpelier Art Walk is coming up on June 7, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. This event is a great way to get a taste of the local art scene in our sweet city.

Artisans Hand will feature Montpelier fiber artist Gail Carrigan. She’ll show her needle-felted sculptures and demonstrate her creative process.

Gail is constantly inspired by the challenge of capturing the essence of her subjects in wool. Each sculpture is a labor of love, requiring hours of meticulous work to sculpt and shape the materials into lifelike forms.

Living in Vermont, being surrounded by so much natural beauty, has had an enormous influence on her subject matter and choice of medium. Her work reflects her environment, including her wildlife sculptures with a specific focus on the parent/child connection, which represents to her the now and the future. It expresses her hope and appreciation for maintaining open spaces and natural, wild environments.

We’ll have guide books closer to the event.

The next Montpelier Art Walk is coming up on April 5, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. This event is a great way to get a taste of the local art scene in our sweet city.

Artisans Hand will feature Wolcott blacksmith Alder Hardt. He’ll show his hand-forged pieces, including work not normally on display in the gallery. He’ll also share his creative process.

Alder's journey into work with metal began at eight years old while watching a blacksmith demonstrating at the Shelburne Museum. The combination of sparks, heat, fire, and sound was irresistible to him and his love for the craft never left him.

In Alder's own words, "Every piece of ironwork that leaves Alder Hardt Ironworks is a testament to the care, precision, and passion that goes into its creation. When you choose our hand-forged items, you're not just acquiring a functional or decorative piece – you're welcoming a piece of craftsmanship that has been honed over years of dedication and love for the craft."

We’ve got guide books, so stop by and pick up yours!

The next Montpelier Art Walk is coming up on December 1st, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. This event is a great way to get a taste of the local art scene in our sweet city.

Artisans Hand will feature Waitsfield jeweler Amy Dalton of Ojalá Designs. She’ll share her handmade necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, including some work not normally on display in the gallery.

Her original career path was that of an elementary school librarian. After leaving that profession in 2016, Amy’s chance encounter with a jeweler at a bead shop led to her current life as an artist.

Amy is a collector at heart, both of materials, techniques, and sources of inspiration. All of her pieces are made entirely by hand and each is different from the next. “Organic, eclectic, vibrant, and imperfect describe the pieces I make.”

Guidebooks are now available in the gallery, so stop by!

The Montpelier Art Walk is returning on Friday, October 6th, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. This event is a great way to get a taste of the local art scene in our sweet city. Guidebooks will be available closer to the event.

Randolph fiber artist Kelcey McAnulty will share her knitted and sewn wearables and demonstrate her process. She focuses on using natural fibers and repurposed fabric. You can follow Kelcey on Instagram - @pussyknits.

Stay tuned to our next newsletter (sign up here) and follow us on social media for more details.

Artisans Hand will be participating in Montpelier Alive’s Art Walk on June 2nd from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. This event is a great way to get a taste of the local art scene in our sweet city. Guidebooks will be available closer to the event.

We’ll be featuring printmaker Uncle Erok (a.k.a. Erik Gillard) who will show his original linoleum block prints. He'll also have blocks and tools on hand for visitors to make their own prints.

Uncle Erok is an artist, activist, mentor, poet, muralist, and printmaker living in the Western Abenaki lands of north central Vermont.

Instagram: @uncle.erok

Be sure to stop by!

For April’s Montpelier Art Walk, Artisans Hand will be featuring a spring-themed mini exhibit for those longing for warmer and longer days. Think flowers, animals, and everything green. The event is free and open to the public.

If you stop by, you'll find that we've changed a few things in the gallery. We're loving our new layout and it feels like a breath of fresh spring air.

We look forward to seeing you in the gallery!