Art Show in Cullman - John Sachs

There's an interesting tidbit about this blog that I think is funny:  I can never remember the email or password.  Well, the password is not a problem.  I can attempt about 4 versions of a similar combination, and eventually I will get it right.  But when I try the email sign-in for this blog, I have to try so many times that Google starts thinking I'm a robot.  I made it though!  (And I'm writing it down...)

Thanks for visiting today.  We would really like to blog more, but a lot has been going on.  We are gearing up for our first full-sized version of Christmas.  Last year we opened in mid-November and hardly anyone knew we were here.  Over the past 10 months, the word has spread more.  We feel like we will be a GREAT place for Christmas gifts.  So many people come in the store and say it's the perfect place for someone who has everything.  Well...I don't have everything, and I think I could take home quite a bit as well and be pretty content.  I suppose it's good to like your own merchandise?  Something like that.  (I kinda felt like a bragger there!  Haha...)

This post is for all you heavy readers out there!

We are having an art show on Friday, October 15, 2010 from 7:00 to 9:00pm.  Featuring John Sachs from right here in Cullman.  I found an older website describing him, and I like it:  "John Sachs is a respected artist, well-known for his work in oils and his historical drawings of Cullman.  He has been commissioned to do portraits of Congressman Tom Bevill, Speaker of the House for the State of Alabama Tom Drake, and President of Woodmen of World Life Insurance Company John Bookout."

He's taught classes and been an advocate for art in our area.  He has benefited Cullman in a major way when it comes to the art culture here.  He has now opened The Arts Center down 278 East past our store.  You can check out his website HERE.

We will have quite a few of his pieces available for purchase or if you just want to come check them out.  We've been carrying his sketches of the Series of Cullman, and they have flown out the door.  They are mostly historical buildings from around the area.

So we definitely would LOVE to see you there!

Richard and Patricia Stacey - Cullman Art - Happy 4th of July - Third Street Promenade

We have two artists that have recently added the most amazing pieces to our store.  Richard and Patricia Stacey reside in Arley, Alabama - on Smith Lake.  And yes, they are both very talented.  We have a variety of their paintings (some with really cool wooden frames), handmade clocks and wooden boxes with works of art on the top.  Many different colors for many styles of decorating...and not outrageously priced.  Check out their facebook page for photos of their work.

I thought this was an interesting statement that Richard wrote regarding two of his more multi-colored pieces, and I wanted to share it on the blog as a patriotic - 4th of July post:

HERO SERIES
Inspiration for the Hero Series came mainly from my memories of post Vietnam apathy towards returning Veterans.  As opposed to the warm welcome of today's Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.  This is my small tribute to all Veterans and the heroes that serve for the public.


Enjoy my Artwork.
Thank you P. Richard Stacey

 SOLDIER SAM

 SAILOR MAN

Hope everyone has a HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Come hang out with us tonight between 6-8pm at an Art Show with Chad and Meghan Nelson.  We're also having a Sidewalk Sale all weekend.  Lots of fun to be had.


Stacie Carter

Third Street Promenade - Cullman, Alabama

It is official.  We have started a blog.  This is Stacie Carter writing, but hopefully, I will not be the only author of this blog....although for a while I have a sneaky feeling I will be.  It would be pretty cool to have some of our artists join in or even some of you who have deep, meaningful things to discuss....or funny stories...who knows.

My husband, Steve, and I started this business with Gene and Carol Green in November 2009 - right in time for Christmas in Cullman.  From the beginning, we have set out to promote, display and encourage as many artists as possible through our store.  We have been so fortunate to welcome in almost 30 amazingly talented artists so far.  We also have some unique home decor pieces.  Everything meshes together quite well.  Rather than writing something that has already been written...for the first post I am going to include the full details of our business that we all four created when we were recently nominated for New Small Business of the Year (yeah, no kidding!)  Another business won the award (and they surely deserved it.)  We were pretty excited to even be nominated.  So here's the scoop:

Our goal is to provide a fun, unique experience to our customers and to encourage, promote and support local and regional artists.  In July 2009, a business model for The Shops at 3^rd Street Promenade was born.  It included supporting artists but also the community.  Upon completion of the business model, it was quickly realized what skill sets were needed in an individual to be our partner.  There are many talented artists in the area that do not have the opportunities or outlets for the amazing work they produce.  We immediately began contacting artisans possessing the skills needed to make this happen.  These ideas were quickly grasped with tremendous enthusiasm!  Promenade has gone beyond the original boundaries of Cullman and now includes Birmingham, Huntsville, Nashville, Hartselle and Oneonta.  We provide a beautiful, historic space in downtown Cullman where artists from all over the South can display and sell their work.  We focus mainly on original, handcrafted items such as paintings, photography, pottery, furniture, clay and metal sculpture, and wood work.  Offered is a vast array of work at prices that allow everyone to join the effort of supporting these artists.  It is an honor to have a chance to connect with them, contribute to their success and give Cullman something new and different to enjoy.

The store is located in the historic West Side Furniture building.  We had a vision of various types of “shops” along a painted cobblestone path that circle around a “park” with greenery and trees.  The shops include a mock theater for displaying large work and a marquee to announce the featured artist of the month.  Customers can take a stroll through the area and see original works of art and many handcrafted and home décor items.  Great attention was given to maintaining the original charm of the building by using the beautiful tin ceiling and exposed brick walls.  Enclosed is a photograph of the original business owner and employees taken in the early 1900s in our present day space.  It doesn’t take much imagination to see the similarities today!  We are pleased to be caretakers of this proud old building and take seriously our part in the continued vitalization of downtown historic Cullman.

We wanted to create a venue that allowed us to support and participate in a variety of events in support of the community.  We have held art classes called “Painting at Promenade.”  These are open to the public, and everyone is invited to come in and have a great time.  Additional plans include offering various classes such as painting clay flower pots, sketching, stained glass art, landscape painting, Mag Art and many others.  Our talented instructors will guide participants through the process step-by-step and help them create an original work of art.  These will make great gifts for weddings, graduations, Mothers and Fathers Day as well as birthdays.  This will be their own work of art bringing them or the recipients of the gift joy for years to come.  In our 5 months of business, we have already held an art show for our artists and a fundraiser for a non-profit organization in the community.  We plan to host these types of events on a regular basis.

It is our goal at Promenade to give our customers a memorable shopping experience that makes them want to bring friends (local and out-of-town) back to the store to share it with them as well.  We would love for them to own something special that will enrich their lives as well as the lives of others.  We want to be a place of which the entire community can be proud and join with us as we encourage the creativity of our surroundings and support the charitable spirit that is within the people of Cullman.