Community supports student artists at Holiday Student Pop-Up Shop

Members of the Skidmore community and broader community shopped for handmade goods and one-of-a-kind holiday gifts at the Holiday Student Pop-Up Shop at the Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery.

The shop featured artwork and handcrafted items by 23 students, including ceramics, paintings, prints, clothing and accessories, stickers, candles, jewelry, books, posters, holiday cards and natural cosmetics, skincare and hair products.

The Dec. 6 event was organized by Emily Egan ’20 and Maya Ling ’20, members of the Tang Student Advisory Council. The Council gives students the opportunity to develop public programs in collaboration with museum staff, Skidmore student groups and community organizations.

“We both really like this process of organizing artists and getting the community together to support local artists and shopping small,” said Egan, adding that events like the Holiday Pop-Up Shop help establish the Tang as a community space where Skidmore students, faculty and staff can gather and interact with neighbors and visitors, beyond viewing the museum’s art exhibitions.

Marian and Hal Bigelow of Saratoga Springs were among the local community members who made their way to campus on the snowy Friday afternoon to shop the bustling event. Each found handmade items to take home, including a set greeting cards and a piece of pottery.

“The quality is really, really good,” said Hal Bigelow. “We just love well-made stuff.”

“And it’s good to support the students,” added Marian.

The Holiday Pop-Up Shop follows in the footsteps of the popular Handmade Pop-Up Shop, held in late April as a one-day sale of art and handmade items created by students in Elizabeth Dubben’s Marketplace for Artists class. The course has been teaching artists how to market, package, promote and sell their work for the past four years as part of the Arts Administration Program’s Entrepreneurial Artist Initiative.