RB Artistry Studio/Makers Market Gift Shop, located at 25 So. Main St. in Newark Valley, N.Y., held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 26 with owner Robert Brown, Newark Valley Chamber Secretary Kat Amato, Acting President/Vice President Chris Byrne, and members John Amato and Marie Milicic, along with family and friends. A cooperative of artists showcasing their talents, the establishment is an art gallery and gift shop. For additional information, visit rbartistry.com, find RB Artistry Studio/Makers Market Gift Shop on Facebook, or call (607) 624-6051. (Photos by JoAnn R. Walter)
From left, Paul Tisdell and Xeque Wales, a jewelry artist, stand next to a case that displays Wales’ diverse work, inside RB Artistry Studio/Makers Market Gift Shop located at 25 Main St. in Newark Valley. Wales, a native of Newark Valley, now living in Johnson City, is one of several artists who are utilizing the studio and gift shop as a new way to promote their work.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Wednesday, Aug. 26 to welcome a new business to the village of Newark Valley, N.Y, RB Artistry Studio and Makers Market Gift Shop, located at 25 Main Street.
Along with family, friends and other guests, owner Robert Brown was joined at the grand opening by Newark Valley Chamber Secretary, Kat Amato, Acting President and Vice President Chris Byrne, and John Amato and Marie Milicic.
A native of Newark Valley and graduate of Newark Valley high school, Robert Brown has been an artist his entire life and a professional full-time artist for nearly three years. The opening of RB Artistry Studio and Makers Market Gift Shop is an opportunity for Brown to promote and sell his own work as well as give other artists an outlet to display and sell their creative pieces in a welcoming, gallery-type setting.
Brown is looking forward to sharing his experiences and art passion with others, and explained, “RB Artistry Studio is really an artist’s cooperative.”
Local artists attending the grand opening included Ramblez Marblez artist Erik Johnson, a glass blower from Newark Valley and Xeque Wales, a jewelry artist and Newark Valley native now living in Johnson City. Wales, who has been designing jewelry for the past eight years, enjoys her newest passion, jewelry made from polymer clay, and also creates one-of-a-kind pieces using vintage centerpieces, and natural crystals and stones.
Kristi Howe, an area resident and author of a children’s book entitled, “Bubbles and Puddles, Our Unschooling Adventures,” also attended the grand opening, as did Amy Miles, another Newark Valley native whose artistic talents bring to life characters she has created, and illustrations she hopes will be used in book publishing and other projects.
From left, Newark Valley Chamber Acting President/Vice President Chris Byrne presents a plaque to Robert Brown at a ribbon cutting ceremony at RB Artistry Studio/Makers Market Gift Shop, located at 25 Main St. in Newark Valley, N.Y. on Wednesday, Aug. 26.
Brown’s establishment, which includes dozens of artists, with hopes of drawing more from Binghamton to Ithaca and other points within the region, will help artists reach the public on a new level. An “art agent” so-to-speak, Brown offers low consignment fees, allowing artists to enjoy a better profit from sales, with the entire experience a win-win for all involved.
And, that means a win-win for the community, too. Bringing art back into the community helps restore art appreciation and builds respect for local artists.
“The community should treasure local art talent,” Brown said.
A personal mission of Brown’s is to teach and inspire young artists to consider making a career out of their passion. Brown will offer art classes and workshops in the future, and for youth especially, he hopes the studio will become a place to extend their talents, something not always available in the traditional school setting or elsewhere.
Brown’s artistry encompasses a variety of styles in nearly every medium including landscape and scenery paintings, murals, custom automotive, hats and tee shirts, vinyl decals and stickers for both business and residential, tattoo style art and cartooning, just to name a few.
Newark Valley native, Amy Miles, stands next to a display of her artwork inside RB Artistry Studio/Makers Market Gift Shop located at 25 Main St. in Newark Valley. Miles’ artistic talent includes illustrations of characters she has created.
For additional information, call (607) 624-6051, visit RB Artistry Studio and Makers Market Gift Shop on Facebook, or view the website, rbartistry.com. Shop hours are Tuesday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
