Art Mart Closing Soiree TONIGHT!

It's been a great second year for Art Mart. Diane Teti did a great job managing and promoting the shop and many area artists sold fine art and other creations. Join the artists TONIGHT starting at 5 p.m. at the store at Holiday Inn at 9th and Hamilton in downtown Allentown.

Here are the details from Diane:

This Thursday (1/6/11) starting at 5 pm, we will be offering 25% off everything in the store. We will also be serving complimentary beer and wine and munchies. If beer and wine are not your thing, Made in Brazil has 1/2 price drinks in the bar between 6-8 pm Even if you've been in the store, come join us as we have gotten a larger selection of some really nice things since opening. I encourage you to make this a friends and family event - enjoy free wine and beer and mingle with the local artists that made the Art Mart possible. Happy New Year!!

Art Mart is OPEN! Help Wanted!

Art Mart is up and running for the month of December. Please stop by when you have a chance. There is artwork by Chris P. Jones, Ely, Chris Neyen and Nicole Bogac, among others, plus handmade jewelry, knitted hats and scarves, floral hair clips, holiday greeting cards, cooking sauces, screenprinted shirts and other gift items. All items are locally produced.

Please support the shop and consider volunteering for a shift. Hours are tentatively set for Wed. 11-2 and 4-7, Thursday 11-2 and 4-7, Friday 11-2 and 4-8 and Saturday 12-7 as volunteer participation allows. To volunteer, contact Diane at allentown.artmart@gmail.com

Art Mart is located at Holiday Inn at 9th and Hamilton in downtown Allentown. Visit Art Mart online at: www.facebook.com/allentownartmart

Art Mart press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 23, 2010

BUY LOCAL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

Art Mart, the valley’s premiere artist-operated and locally created holiday shop, is returning to downtown Allentown for the second year. The store officially opens Wednesday, Dec. 1 and will be open during the Downtown Tree Lighting from 4-8 on Dec. 2.

The shop is being graciously hosted at the Holiday Inn at 9th and Hamilton streets and will exclusively feature handmade, original goods by area artists and artisans.

You can find one-of-a-kind gifts such as knitted and crocheted hats and scarves, jewelry, hair accessories, home décor, original art and more. Demos by artists will be held on Saturdays throughout the season.

Art Mart is an independent effort of Diane Teti, Sarah Fulton and Yodi Vaden that strives to support local artists and advance downtown Allentown through its annual holiday store. Special thanks to Cathy Minnich, general manager of Holiday Inn, for hosting the shop for 2010.

COMPLETE SCHEDULE:
Art Mart will be open from Dec. 1 through Dec. 31 as follows:
Wednesdays 11-2 & 4-7
Thursdays 11-2 & 4-7 (Dec 2 is City Tree Lighting - we will be open until 8)
Fridays 11-2 & 4-8 (Dec 24 and 31 there will be no 4-8 shift)
Saturday s 12-7

For more information please contact allentown.artmart@gmail.com

Buy Local this Holiday Season!

Art Mart is returning for the second time! Diane Teti, Yodi Vaden and Sarah Fulton (that's me) are working to bring this locally produced artisan's shop back for the holiday season. And appropriately, the Holiday Inn at 9th and Hamilton Streets has graciously offered to host us.

We are currently looking for artists/artisans/crafters with unique, reasonably priced handmade items to sell in the shop. Please contact me if you are interested in selling items there. We may need to look at a few photos to see what you're planning to sell.

Art Mart is tentatively scheduled to open Black Friday, Nov. 26. We will be open during the Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony from 4-7 p.m. (or beyond) Thursday, Dec. 2. Please join us in welcoming the holidays and commit to supporting the local economy buy shoppping for locally handmade, unique, original gifts this season.

Contact: chenarts.info@gmail.com

Christmas Carol Crawl this Wednesday

From Diane Teti:

The 1^st Annual “We don’t need no stinking bulletproof vest!” Christmas Carol Crawl!

Join us as we brave the downtown and scare away any would be “perp’s” with our singing as we crawl to a couple of local watering holes, starting at 5pm Wed. Dec. 23 with complimentary beer (courtesy of the Allentown Brew Works) and wine at the newly-opened Art Mart at 813 W. Hamilton Street where we'll hand out our song lists and we’ll then head at 5:45 to the House of Chen (732 W. Hamilton) – Jenny, the owner, is extending their happy hour prices for us (be prepared to step back in time!), and then at 6:30 we'll roll onto the the newly opened Made in Brazil restaurant (bar area) in the Holiday Inn (try the Caipirinha!), then we'll finish at the Allentown Brew Works for our final round of song and a sampling of the Rude Elf beer!

Yes, we really sing, song list/ words provided. Wear your Santa hats, ugly Christmas sweaters or other holiday flare and let's get merry!

Email partyAllentown@gmail.com to RSVP and you're welcome to join us anywhere along the crawl. Happy holidays!

Coat Drive for the Homeless at Art Mart

Through the rest of this week, Art Mart will be accepting coats, hats, gloves and first aid materials to distribute to the homeless in Allentown and Bethlehem.

Please donate what you can. Winter is almost here and those without shelter can use adequate clothing and first aid to make it through the season.

Please drop off during these times: Wednesday 11 am to 2 pm, Thursday 11 am to 2 pm and Friday 12 to 4 pm. Distribution will take place Saturday. Art Mart is located at 813 Hamilton St., across from Allentown Brew Works.

Have a happy holiday season!

Kick Off the Holidays at the City Tree Lighting - and Art Mart!

The City of Allentown's annual tree lighting ceremony will take place from 4-7 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday, Dec. 3) at the pocket park at PPL Plaza, directly next to Art Mart at 813 Hamilton Street.

Please join us at Art Mart. We will be open for the duration of the events. Get most of your holiday shopping done in one place! We have fine art, handcrafted goods, hats, scarves, totes and more. Shop local this holiday season.

Here is the full list of events for the Tree Lighting:

Crafts for Children
Elf Parade
Elf Preparation Station
Music
Ice Carving Demo
Nutcracker & Pip the Mouse appearances
Arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus
Tickets for Sale to Lights in the Parkway
Free Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides
Tree Lights Up at 7 pm

Hope to see you there!

Art Mart coming soon...

A small group of us met Saturday at the former Allentown Opera House at 809-813 Hamilton. After viewing the two spaces available we decided to open the gallery at 813, where Greg Coates has been curating a window project called New Museum.

We plan to clean out the space and prep it for use as a gallery and shop called Art Mart. Please contact me if you would like to volunteer to help with the clean-up. We will also need volunteers to sit in the gallery (in pairs) on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11-2 and on Fridays and Saturdays from 4-8 throughout the holiday season. Contact: chenarts.info@gmail.com

Art Mart will feature original artwork and handmade items for sale in a show titled: Holiday Gifts.

Pictures will be posted soon.