First, there was “Black Friday,” the massive shopping event that annually kicks the holidays into high gear on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
Then came “Small Business Saturday,” which highlights local mom-and-pop retailers on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Now comes “Artists Sunday,” the new, art-focused shopping holiday event taking place virtually on Sunday Nov. 29, the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Artists Sunday is a nationwide alliance of professional artists, nonprofit community organizations and sponsors encouraging consumers to do their holiday shopping with artists, artisans and craftspeople.
In addition to a nationwide directory of artists, Artists Sunday features 20 hand-picked creative folks for its “Best Gifts Picks,” including San Rafael artist and ceramicist Kathy Pallie.
After enjoying a successful career in commercial art design, Pallie began working in clay and fiber. Her work ranges in scale from small, three-inch coil baskets to large architectural installations, and she combines clay with other media to create three-dimensional pieces that equally embrace the abstract and the realistic.
Pallie often finds inspiration from nature, and her works can resemble bark, leaves and other organic objects. For the “Best Gifts Picks” showcase, Pallie offers up “Facets of Light,” her series of intricately designed ceramic candleholders.
“Picking a top 20 that represented diverse mediums and locations was a difficult task,” says Artists Sunday–founder Christopher Sherman in a statement. “But the team weathered the storm to choose the best-of-the-best gift picks for this holiday season.”
Artists Sunday’s other “Best Gifts Picks” artists hail from all over the country, including Arizona, New York, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Virginia, Illinois, California, Massachusetts, Alabama, Wisconsin, Colorado, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Beyond the “Best Gifts Picks” spotlight and the artists directory, Artists Sunday is also helping artists and art organizations host events and promotions to engage with consumers nationwide and to encourage them to “shop art” for the holidays.
The Artists Sunday movement hopes to uplift artists who continue to reel from the cancellation of in-person exhibition and sales opportunities since last March. A survey from American for the Arts found the arts-and-culture sector has suffered a $13.1 billion economic hit due to the Covid-19 crisis.
“In a year of social distancing, consumers can maintain heartfelt connections with friends and loved ones this holiday season by shopping with local artists and craftspeople while supporting individual artists and boosting the local economy,” Sherman says. “From one-of-a-kind, handcrafted items to monumental performances that take our breath away, the arts are boundless in their ability to inspire and deliver unique experiences that bring people together.”
Participation in Artists Sunday is free for artists, economic development agencies and nonprofits, who can all sign up to join the movement now.
Those interested in viewing the items featured in Artists Sunday’s “Best Gifts Picks” and in learning more about Artists Sunday artists, partners and sponsors may visit ArtistsSunday.com.
