Side Street Studio Blog | The best locally crafted gifts that B.C. can offer

1.  Uniqueness – locally crafted work is unique. Unlike items made in a far off factory; local crafts people make work that is individual and one-of-a-kind. This does not just apply to a magnificent vase or a glass bowl. Even with a humble coffee mug, every one has a very slight difference. 

Humble Cat Mug - Very Rare!

 When just one person or a husband & wife team make an item the numbers are by the nature of the process – small. It’s great to have or give as a gift something that is genuinely unique.

WESTERN MAPLE SALAD BOWL

2.  Quality – artists always take a personal pride in their hand-made work. I have yet to meet an artist who was not passionate about their work. From potters to glass artists to textile makers – this is their life and they are justly proud of their work. If treated well much of this work can last a lifetime.  How many things can you say that about in our society today?

GIVERNY GLASS BOWL

3. Value for money – Contrary to what many people still believe, buying directly from the artist or their local retailer can most often cost less than buying some mass produced item from a department store. Reduced transportation costs, no middle men and low advertising helps to keep costs down.

4. Excellent after purchase service. The artists really do care about their work! Artists are available to repair, alter, clean or replace your purchase. They are interested to help if there is ever a problem. You never need to speak with some remote Customer Service line.

CARNIVAL PEARL NECKLACE, EARRINGS & BRACELET

5. Personal service – many artists will custom -make work to your specification. If you need a gift for a special occasion then very often, provided that you allow enough time, the artist will make to your requirements.

6.  Availability – Most ranges are always available so that you can add to your range or just collect individual pieces  over time.  Not just for pottery but jewellery or even glass.

COPPER RUBY VASE

7.  Help your local economy!  Shopping locally helps your local economy, by supporting local artists it keeps money in the community and  ensures that hard learned skills are alive for future generations.

BABY WOOL SLIPPERS

8.  Help the environment! Local arts & crafts produce a minimal carbon footprint – little transportation is involved. Conservation is important to all of us. Much of what local artists use is recycled – including what little packaging is ever used!

9. Fun and Learning. It really can be a fun shopping experience – you get to meet the artist and find out about their skills, how they make their work, the huge time and effort that goes into a single piece. 

CHARLES VAN SANDWYK ANIMAL WISDOM BOOK

10.  Support you local Community. A locally handmade gift reflects the community and region in which it was created. It has greater relevance for the person who purchased it or the person to whom the gift is given.

APPLE DESIGN CASSEROLE

 Side Street Studio has been supporting local artists for over 26 years. More than 300 local artists from pottery, jewellery, textiles, glass art, wood turnings, aromatherpy, cards, books, and lots more. Shipping is world wide with FedEx and Canada Post. www.sidestreetstudio.com

BRONZE JAPANESE STYLE NEOLITHIC JAR

NEWS RELEASE

August 3, 2010

Humboldt Valley Summer Festival August 14

(On Humboldt Street between Blanshard and Government)

VICTORIA – Humboldt Valley, Victoria’s new downtown arts and culture district, is having a street festival and everyone is invited!

On Saturday, August 14 from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., the Humboldt Valley will be in full swing with great entertainment, art and food offerings.

Here’s what’s cooking: beer and barbequed bratwurst from Café Mela; cotton candy from Winchester Galleries; lemonade, popcorn and corndogs from the Marriott Victoria Inner Harbour; cupcakes from Kiva Design; scones, curries and old-fashioned iced tea from the Fairmont Empress Hotel; ice creams at the Soda Shoppe; and shucked oysters and fish tacos from Pescatore’s and The Oyster Bar.

And playing: Karel Roessingh and the kr3 Trio, Sean Fyfe, the Noah Becker Trio, members of the Pacific Opera Victoria chorus and June Katz will perform; Shakespearean players from Camosun College will offer vignettes from The Taming of the Shrew and Richard III; magicians and jugglers will surprise and delight; and the Belfry Theatre will perform under the porte cochere at the Union Club.

And providing a feast for the eyes: Winchester Galleries Modern opens an exhibition by embroiderer Les Chan; Winchester Galleries Humboldt Valley offers a retrospective of George Gordienko oils; 18 local artists will paint, sculpt and draw en plein air; at Side Street Studio – craftspeople including one of Canada’s most famous Jewellers Honica Zylstra (whose work has been sold in Saks & Neiman Marcus), master potter Vic Duffhues, wood carver Kees Luchs, local jewellery maker Sheila Smedley and glass collage artist Linda Woodbury will demonstrate their crafts; and several important Canadian sculptures will be unveiled for all to enjoy on the plaza in front of the Belvedere and Astoria buildings.

You can enter to win some fabulous giveaways including a gift basket from Five-Star Whale Watching and a diamond ring from Armeni Jewellers; learn about the history of afternoon tea and the Bengal Lounge; indulge in a spa treatment at Willowstream Spa; or update your look at Fiorio Salon. Macdonald Realty Victoria will have an open house to show off their current listings and their own art offerings; Scala Boutique will feature stunning fashions; and Victoria Spirits will be on hand with an exclusive tasting of their Victoria Gin.

“When Mayor Dean Fortin helped us raise the Humboldt Valley’s fuchsia banners on June 8^th, we promised everyone a summer festival – and here it is!” said Elizabeth Levinson, Chair of the Humboldt Valley Merchants Association. “We have a dynamic group of merchants here in the Valley and we know this is going to be a terrific party.”

Media inquiries:

Nigel Hayes

Side Street Studio

Email: info@sidestreetstudio.com

250-592-1262

Web: www.sidestreetstudio.com

Victoria and B.C. in general have a wealth of artistic talent; possibly one of the greatest concentrations in North America. Art benefits all who live or who visits this beautiful region. But the survival of our artists to practice their art is under greater threat than ever before.B.C. and Vancouver Island in particular have become increasingly expensive places in which to live and artists rarely earn huge sums of money, so the pressure to move to more affordable provinces is growing. Most of the local media takes scant notice of our artists unless they fall into the ‘fine art’ category and are ‘established’. No surprise really as Victoria is a relatively small city and journalists, like most people, wish to be associated with ‘success’.

But so often they miss the point that ‘art’ is not just reserved for a few high level individuals – it embraces all forms of creativity. Be they potters, jewellery makers, wood turners and carvers, textile, glass artists and photographers.

All these arts are creative and well worth our attention. Unfortunately, the focus by local ‘champagne’ journalists on ‘fine’ art’ leads people to believe that ‘art’ is for the few who can afford it. How often have you heard, “I love it but it’s far too expensive for me”. Which is both sad and misguided.

Art is for everyone. All of our local artists’ work is both of great value and superb quality. Much art is functional – look at the local potters work for bowls, dishes, mugs, casseroles or wood turners for salad & fruit bowls – well cared for these can last a lifetime.
Almost everyone can afford to own a piece of local art. Magnificent wood turnings or decorative pottery can add presence & style to a home. Well crafted jewellery is can be both stylish and classic. Our local glass artists produce work that is good enough to be presented as a gift by our Prime Minister to other heads of state! Yet when did you last read in the local media about such outstanding work…..? Visitors to Victoria are confronted by an array of ‘tat’ – junk imported for far off countries which can be found in any tourist centre anywhere in the world. We strongly believe that visitors would like to see ‘locally’ made work rather than cheap T shirts sold on our streets.

Take a moment to visit your local artists’ studio or visit your local artists’ co-op and see for yourself the magnificent work that is available. Local artists markets and craft shows can be a source of excellent work and are fun and well worth the time for a visit. But be sure to check that work is really made locally.
So while you may not hear about local artists work in the media – ignore the T shirts and come and support your local artists be it in Vancouver, Victoria or in any local studio! Keep your hard earned $ in B.C.!
It really is a use them or lose them situation.

On the 1st June 2009  Side Street Studio will be opening their new store in downtown Victoria, British Columbia. The new location is on Humboldt Street and lies directly opposite the Marriot Hotel and close to most of the major Hotels and Guest House’s of Victoria.

For over 25 years Side Street Studio has been located in Oak Bay and now with the growing demand for hand crafted local artists & artisans work a second and larger store will open. Much of our business has been and will continue to be for local people. But when visitors come to B.C. they often want to buy something that is unique and hand made in B.C. Not made in an anonymous factory in some far off country.

“This new and larger studio will allow us to include and show more of the magnificent work that is created here in British Columbia” says owner Sue Hayes. “The province is home to a huge wealth of artistic talent and Side Street is proud to be representing some of the very best that can be found”.

“Currently the studio represents over 265 B.C. artists work and we hope to increase this to around 300 by the end of this year”.

Unique and original, Jewellery, Pottery, Woodturnings, Glass, Textiles, Carvings, Greeting Cards and West Coast Art; all hand crafted and one-of-a-kind.

There are new first nation artists as well as some fantastically talented Pottery, Jewelers and Stone Carvers.

Side Street has always focused on unique, locally crafted Gifts for all occasions; Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings, Housewarmings, Thank Yous, Romantic Events, the Family, the Hostess, Business Associates…and most importantly ‘For You’.

The hours of opening are 10.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11.00 a.m. until 4.00 p.m. on Sunday and Bank Holidays.